...because it is so lovely, like a childhood dream vision - soft kind hills, smiling houses, and a tremendous sense of luminous space. In the past I always thought that the naive art associated with this region was a painterly affectation, but I think I get it now: the landscape requires it.
Herbal lore and plant remedies are still widely practised, and traditions are conscientiously observed - men wear large gold earrings and the cows process through the streets in finery on their way down from summer pastures. It is a special place, perhaps partly because ski tourism has not contaminated it.
This morning's procession.
A live shamanic tradition.
Appenzeller paintings.
Shamanic 'Silvesterchläusli' figures in winter landscape.
