Hergiswhat?

Yesterday we went with some friends to the small Swiss town of Hergiswil to visit the Hergiswil Glasi, a glass production company. There were also a museum, a ‘Phenomenal Glass’ exhibit, two glass shops, a big playground, and a nice lakeside café/restaurant as part of the Glasi complex.

The museum, which was free, was more entertaining than I expected. As you walk through the various sets, a narrator (in the language of your choice) tells you about the history of glass and the history of this particular glass production facility. Among other things, I learned that last century, it was popular to keep one’s liquor in a Schnapps Hund, a vaguely animal-shaped vessel with a pouring spout for a tail. At least I hope that’s a tail.

At the end of the museum tour we got to watch some grumpy-looking glass workers doing their thing. There was also a booth where you could do your own glass blowing.

The ‘Phenomenal Glass’ exhibit had lots of interactive things, including various musical instruments that had glass components. Surprisingly, neither the Urinophon nor the Bierophon has gained much popularity in musical circles.

As a wedding present, our friends had us pick out some glass we liked from the shop. Since no Schnapps Hunde were to be found, we settled on one of the signature pieces of the Hergiswil Glasi, a large tray with the outline of Switzerland on it. We also picked up some Tetris-piece-shaped interlocking candle holders, which promise to be hours of fun.

Outside on the lake, we played with these wacky interactive fountains.

We stopped in Luzern on the way home for dinner in what is becoming my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Switzerland. All in all, it was a nice little day trip. Good for kids, too – our friends’ children had a fabulous time (except in the museum, where the little girl complained loudly that it was MUCH too boring).