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And what else would you be sent away with from a function showcasing Interlaken’s cutting edge than a Swiss Army knife?

Because while you may think you’re the ultimate thrill seeker and fully adapted to Europe’s Adventure playground.

You’ll be thankful for your mini-tool kit if you get yourself in a pickle on the slopes, valleys or lakes.

After all, Angus MacGyver, The Fantastic Four, Dana Scully in the X-Files and Matt Damon in The Martian have all reached for one.

While it’s been part of a NASA astronaut’s survival kit since 1992.

A refresher course

That, of course, is for when we’re back out there in the Great Swiss Outdoors.

While for the evening that was in it we were nicely ensconced in Scott’s Kitchen in Victoria Terrace in Edinburgh.

So we’re tucking into haggis, beef and chocolate mousse modern style with a fork, knife and spoon.

While getting a refresher course in Interlaken from when we scooted about in trotty bikes there some nine years ago.

Now we’re told that you can do almost anything from skiing, of course, sledding, to paragliding, abseiling and ziplining.

Fun on the water

And fun on Lake Thun, all at a more relaxing pace.

Whether on a cruise or raclette rafting, and don’t worry you won’t have to negotiate choppy rapids while dripping cheese.

Be prepared

While for the ultimate in opulence then you can take a hot tub out on Lake Brienz.

And maybe drain a Brienzer Breeze, the bottle green Sea Breeze-themed cocktails we lapped up with notres amis.

All of which activities we dare say might need small knives, scissors and the like to extricate yourself from situations.

Or manicure yourself.

While, of course, you’ll be prepared as all good scouts must be for the greatest emergency.

When out exposed in the wilds.

For when you need a bottle opener or corkscrew for your Hell lager or Alpine wine.

Now as ever second time around we’re better fitted out for our return to Interlaken.

Now we have our Swiss Army Knife.

We found an EasyJet round trip flight to Zurich from our airport here in Edinburgh for a random five nights in November from £648pp.

And you’ll get a high-speed one-hour train to Interlaken, checking out your Swiss Travel Pass.

And went to loveholidays for a five-nighter at Hotel Alpenblick, a saving of £149pp.

The Alps truly are a breath of Swiss air and to mark Helvetia’s national day today I’m lying back and thinking of Switzerland.

And inviting you to do the same.

Of course, the Alpine air, the hearty food and wine and the valleys playground can make your bed too inviting.

And you can end up sleeping in and getting the knock on the door because your party is about to leave.

Meaning you have to grab the quickest of showers, leave it running, and have to face Bertha in reception on your return.

Who greets you with a frozen Guten tag straight from the Eiger.

And lets you know that your shower water seeped through the ceiling onto the breakfast room and muesli eaters below.

Wake up on the water

In spite of all that, the Swiss have stuck with us and continue to invite us out to the Alps… probably to redeem ourselves.

The Swiss offer us a range of accommodations here from a boutique boat to a night under the stars to an, er, former prison!

The MS Attila Boatel on the lake at Murten/Morat offers a pleasantly luxurious interior and first-class service so that you can spend a carefree and unforgettable time.

And as a sample, on August 9, they offer a 24-hour Music Cruise with Swiss artist Bastian Baker.

The price per double cabin is CHF 1,750 (single occupancy CHF 1,500)

Reach for the stars

Open for business: Interlaken, Aarmühlesuite

Now the sky frames everything in Interlaken.

And whether you stay at valley level or climb the slopes or take the Jungfraujoch train up to the peak, we’re all looking up.

In the spacious Aarmühle Penthouse Suite, you can rest your limbs and take in the private panoramic roof terrace overlooking the rooftops.

Experience an unforgettable night under the stars in the cosy bed in the weatherproof, non-air-conditioned pavilion with glass roof.

A cosy warm night is guaranteed even in cool temperatures with vintage bed bottles, as well as a large selection of warming fur blankets.

The gazebo offers the additional choice of one of the two bedrooms in the suite, located directly under the terrace.

Two bathrooms are at your disposal, one with a sauna, the other with a large bathtub.

The unforgettable visit is rounded off with breakfast as soon as the sun’s rays have kissed you awake. And all for CHF1099.

Soft cell

Jailhouse rocks: Innenhof Hotel Barabas Luzern

And if you didn’t know it before you soon will when you get out there. All that fresh air makes the Swiss look at the world differently.

Even turning an old prison into the cult hotel that is the Hotel Barabas in Luzern.

The only reminder that these imaginatively furnished rooms, complete with shower and toilet, were once prison cells is found in the floor plans and the bars on the windows.

The Barabas Hotel offers a choice of 60 different prison cells and rooms including shared rooms with bunk bathrooms or single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with private bathrooms.

And you’ll get more than bread and water in your sample overnight package from CHF162.

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Interlaken’s cutting edge