A Well Kept Man

Many have read or heard about the well-prepared nature of the Swiss people. Whether it be secret mountain fortresses, underground tunnels, or vast stockpiles of water and food, the Swiss share a paranoia that enables them to at least appear to be one of the most collectively prepared group of people. I haven't really stumbled across any of the secret military tunnels into the sides of mountains, nor have I noticed explosive charges on the overpasses that could shut down the nation's highways within minutes, but our apartment sits atop a unique structure that all apartments and home across this interesting country require... a bomb shelter.

Every Swiss basement is required to shelter the occupants of the edifice in the event of a chemical, biological, or nuclear event that would render the normal living conditions inhospitable. The first door is approximately 35 cm (~14 inches) and looks more like a bank vault door. It is made of lead. Once inside this door, you are in an airlock which contains a simple sign in French, which indicates that you must rinse off for at least 7 minutes before entering the next door. I assume there is some sort of water supply to this airlock which is covered by the boxes behind this door, but I can't see it. The boxes contain dry toilets and bed frames (cots) that are to be used in the case of an extended stay in the room below.

The next door is almost identical to the first, although it has a giant bolt and wrench to enable the door to be locked from the inside. I am guessing this is to keep the zombies out after the apocalypse. Once inside the roughly 2 feet of concrete and lead, you come to a hallway with wooden rooms that make me think I am a termite inside an over-sized piece of IKEA furniture. Each room belongs to an apartment above, ours in number 12 (in case something happens while you are here visiting, please calmly make your way to this spot where we will let you in. If we seem hungry for brains, don't let us in.)

It is rather dimly lit and cozy down here, and the air smells eerily clean (one can assume there is a filtration system in place to make sure we aren't breathing the same air as the zombies). Most everyone uses these rooms for storage, although there is supposed to be non-perishable food and water to feed you and your family for a specified amount of time (by the way they make great wine storage facilities). Hopefully we will never have to use this room for anything more than just hiding our ski gear and luggage, but should Switzerland accidentally find itself in the path of a weapon of mass destruction, rest assured that Alli and I (as well as our visitors) will be safe and thirsty (unless I put some water down there).