BeaconMediaNews.com
6 August 19 - August 25, 2010
Burning for Bern in Switzerland’s Medieval Capital sandstone. So sturdy is the sandstone that the buildings are still incredibly intact, leaving Bern as one of Europe’s best preserved examples of 13th-century civic architecture. This preservation also led to Bern being placed on the UNESCO list of world cultural centers – a list shared by the likes of Rome, the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal. I returned to SwitzerBY GREG ARAGON land’s German-speaking capital last summer. I got It is only a five-minute there on a 45-minute train walk from the modern ride from Zurich. I flew to train station in Bern to the Zurich from Los Angeles city’s historic Old Town. aboard Swiss International But in terms of landscape, Airlines. it is a journey back 600 Once in Bern I years in time. checked into Best WestFounded in 1191, Bern ern Hotel Bären, in the was built as a wooden for- heart of the Swiss capital. tress along the Aare River. Though ancient-looking Comprised of long encir- on the outside, the hotel is cling walls with ramparts modern and comfortable. and towers, the city soon It features, free city bike usbecame the most powerful age, cable TV, Sauna and city-state north of the Alps. solarium, Laundromat and But in 1405, a large a fun bar. fire struck, burning most After unpacking I left of the city to the ground, the hotel and was instantly which led to a massive re- surrounded by giant 13th construction, using golden century buildings, all con-
nected in curving rows as far as I could see. In the middle of the rows there are narrow cobblestone streets, built for pedestrian traffic. Today the streets are also used by bicycles, trams and official autos. Every few hundred yards, the streets are in-
terrupted by large Renaissance fountains, built in the 16th century. Down one of the alleys, I found myself beneath the city’s mammoth clock tower, which served as one of Bern’s original city gates. Near here I discovered the city’s second
tower, known as the Prison Tower. Erected from 1256 to 1344, it served as a prison until 1897. A giant clock was added in 1961. Today the tower is used as a political headquarters. Continuing my walk, I headed out of Old Town, over the Aare River, to
the Bear Pits. Legend has it that the city’s founder, Berchtold V von Zähringen, killed a bear on the Aare peninsula, which led to the name Bern (from the German word for bear). This explains why the city’s coat of arms features a bear. The pits, in the same location since 1857, house brown bears who love carrots. Next to the enclosure is a visitor’s center and a beautiful walking path along the river. I followed this path back to Old Town, where I found the Einstein Museum - an apartment once rented by the scientist. Like Zurich, Bern is a year-round destination. One of the biggest celebrations happens during Christmas, when streets are closed and shopping and nightlights come alive. For more info on visiting Bern, visit www.myswitzerland.com or www.BernInfo. com. For flight info, visit or Swiss International Airlines at www.swiss.com.
Vicino Vacates Pasadena
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months in 2010. He has been Pasadena’s Deputy Chief since 2006 and has over a decade of command level experience. “Chris Vicino has dedicated his entire career to Pasadena” says Chief Sanchez. “I have known him for nearly a decade and have a great deal of respect for his abilities.” Vicino will join newly appointed Riverside Chief Sergio Diaz to rebuild the executive command staff of the Riverside Police Depart-
ment. “The men and women of the Riverside Police Department are hard working crime fighters. They have a great reputation in the law enforcement community and I will be honored to join their ranks. They deserve committed leadership that will help develop them for the future”, explained Vicino. The Riverside Police Department serves 350,000 residents with over 400 sworn police officers and 200 civilian employees in a geographical area that spans 80 square miles.
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