APPENZELL

Path of the Past

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What started as a respite from the rain became a walk back in time.  Every bit of the St. Gallen Abbey Library is exquisite- the doors, the floors, the ceiling, the shelving.  It is a small space yet holds the oldest collection in Switzerland.  We were asked to wear slippers over our shoes to protect the wooden floor.  I found that it was a bit like ice skating!

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Path of the People

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In contrast to the Swiss precision and advancement I see in technology and engineering, voting in Appenzell moves at a slower pace. I wouldn’t have been allowed to vote there when I turned 18, since they didn’t grant voting rights to women until 1991. Also, people gather in the square to vote by raising their hands. It’s hard to imagine doing that with a huge crowd, but it definitely leaves a lot less difficulty to certify the votes.