We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to both Switzerland and Iceland! Lovely Vanessa & Stephan, from projectphoto (based in both Switzerland and Iceland), have been a pleasure to work with. We have been looking forward to their feature and they have certainly not disappointed! We hope that you enjoy this fascinating insight into two parts of the world that some of us dream of living and working in. Thank you for joining in, Vanessa & Stephan, and for sharing stories (and breathtaking images) from your parts of the world with us! Enjoy!

//

Photography by projectphoto — Photography by *projectphoto*

1. Tell us about where you live

Switzerland

We are based in Switzerland. We mostly work here but also in the neighbouring counties – Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy and France, as well as other European countries (we just came back from a destination wedding in Greece).

Iceland

Iceland is our «second home». We travel and work there on a regular basis. We have a local address over there and work with (currently two but expanding…) associates - local Icelandic photographers for our brand.

2. What makes your town/state/country unique?

Switzerland

Switzerland is unique because it is such a tiny country but also one of the most beautiful ones, too. As far as landscape is concerned, you have got everything over here – lakes & mountains & old villages. It really looks like it is straight out of a Disney fairy-tale. The only thing we are missing here is the sea but hey - the sea is only a 5-hour drive away in Italy (Genua).

Iceland

Iceland is unique because you feel as though you are moving back in time to the beginning of the earth – in no other country can you witness genesis that tangible than in Iceland. Also, it is totally opposite to Switzerland as far as settlement and populations are concerned. Switzerland is really crowded - every inch is settled and used by someone (and there are laws for almost everything). Iceland is wide open, very rural and untouched, and its total population equals the population of Zurich City.☺

3. If I travelled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town/state/country?

Switzerland

Of course you have to visit the mountains and catch the postcard scenery – we would recommend to either visit the Matterhorn in Zermatt – «the mountain» of Switzerland – or Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau near Interlaken/Berner Oberland.

Iceland

The peninsula of Snaefellsnes is often called the «miniature of Iceland» as there you can find all the famous sights of Iceland at one glance and within a small distance – waterfalls, glaciers, & volcanoes.

4. What is something quirky we would find in your town/state/country?

Switzerland

Everything runs on time in Switzerland. It could reasonably happen that you miss the bus or train - even though you are at the station right.on.time. - because it can leave a bit earlier. ☺

Iceland

Of course you should try hákarl. Hákarl is a national dish of Iceland consisting of a Greenland shark or other sleeper shark, which has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. Fermented shark has a strong ammonia-rich smell and fishy taste. Fermented shark is readily available in Icelandic stores and may be eaten year-round, but is most often served as part of a þorramatur, a selection of traditional Icelandic food served at the midwinter festival þorrablót.

5. Coffee or chai/tea?

Switzerland

Frau Meise, Baden https://www.fraumeise.ch/

It is a café, bistro, bar, guesthouse, cultural center, & boutique ... all in a cozy living room in which one feels at home. The owners use local products. Of course you can get coffee, as well as tea & chai over here.

Iceland

Kex Hostel, Reykjavik http://www.kexhostel.is/

Not only is Kex Hostel a good place to stay – it is a hotel/hostel, too – but it is also a perfect place to take your coffee (you can refill it ☺), plug in all your electronic devices (especially necessary when you are travelling on the road with a camper-van), check your emails, upload your photo data and meet some friends & clients for a chat.

6. Best breakfast cafe?

Switzerland

Bohemia, Zurich http://www.bohemia.ch/

The stylish Bohemia has incorporated South America, as well as Caribbean and Californian influences, into its food resulting in an exciting balance of flavours. When it opened in 1999, the restaurant was one of the first to have its own coffee roasting facility and gained widespread reputation for its delicious breakfasts. While having undergone considerable transformations since then to include American-Brasserie influences, the quality of its brunches have lost none of their appeal. Next to homemade cakes and fresh ingredients, the light interior (with its wooden accents) contribute to a charming eating experience. The weekend brunch is renowned throughout the city and welcomes visitors until as late as 4pm.

Hiltl, Zurich https://hiltl.ch/

The Hiltl restaurant is considered the first vegetarian restaurant in the world and has been in the Hiltl family for four generations. On Sundays and national holidays, it serves one of the best brunches in the city and visitors can enjoy the delightful treats until 2.30pm. The huge buffet features a range of vegetarian and vegan dishes from traditional eggs to Indian lentils. Alongside the breakfast, refreshing Prosecco, fruit juices and earthy coffees provide the perfect contribution to a healthy breakfast. The Hiltl’s elegant setting with its open architecture and elegant atmosphere, as well as its innovative kitchen, gives it a special place in Zürich’s brunch scene.

Iceland

Sandholt, Reykjavik https://sandholt.is/en/getting-started/

Sandholt is a bakery & eatery that makes great in-house sandwiches, pastry, cakes and coffee. Sandholt bakery (& coffee) is centrally located on Laugavegur and has a very cozy atmosphere. They offer a good variety of chocolates and other sweets, too, for those that are into that part of the food pyramid in the morning. Everything is made on-location & fresh each morning. Sandholt also belongs to a small luxury hotel chain.

Cafe Vinyl, Reykjavik https://kaffi-vinyl.business.site/

This all-vegan restaurant is a super hip coffee house/restaurant that has endless delicious options of vegetarian and vegan dishes, amazing funky music and cozy atmosphere like no other. Also, the restaurant provides great Wi-Fi, spacious tables and lovely staff. Don’t miss out on this one! And especially don’t miss out on their sandwiches. It is a great breakfast place for those arriving for a late breakfast &, of course, an easy recommendation for every other vegetarian & vegan traveller. By night, Café Viny turns into a buzzing meeting point for all kinds of hipsters and artists and students from all corners of the world.

7. Three reasons for why someone should visit your town/state/country?

Switzerland

1) Because it is in the «heart» of Europe (even if it is not in the EU) and has it all – villages & lakes & mountains

2) Because it is so tiny – you could easily miss it when you are driving through Europe

3) Because of cows & Swiss chocolate & Swiss watches - of course ☺

Iceland

1) Because it is so unique, unique, unique….. (so this is the first/second and third reason)

8. Train, bus, car or walk?

Switzerland

Walk if you are in the tiny towns. You have to take the «glacier express train» which runs from St.Moritz to Zermatt – it is such a scenic route.

Iceland

Rental-car – a 4 x 4 so that you can drive to the remote places. The Thakgil camping ground in the backcountry of Vik, for example, is such a unique place. For the road, you need a 4x4 to be on the safe side. The owners do not want too much traffic; therefore, they do not take too much care on the road conditions – only the toughest get there. The views from the road back to Vik and the sea are unique (and are very good photoshoot locations, too). The camping ground itself looks out of this world as it is surrounded by green mountains.

There are no trains running in Iceland. They have some busses but they serve only the very main connections and touristic routes.

9. Best accommodation?

Switzerland

Stay in some chalet or remote house in the mountains.

Iceland

Take a camper-van and be free. You should stay at one of the campsites; due to new laws, you are free to decide which one and how long you would like to stay there.

10. Must-see vantage point?

Switzerland

Hammetschwand-Elevator, Lake Lucerne - https://www.buergenstock.ch/en/explore

Uto-Kulm, Uetliberg, Zurich - https://www.utokulm.ch/en/uetliberg

Iceland

Top of Halgrims Church – http://en.hallgrimskirkja.is/

(There you will have the best view of the capital city of Reykjavik.)

Or the terrace of the Perlan - https://perlan.is/

(For the same reason as above.)

11. Number one thing you miss when you are away?

Switzerland

That it is all clean - you can even eat from the streets. That it is all very well-organised and running on time.

Iceland

The wide open and rough landscape is like being on another planet. That it is always windy in Iceland.

//

You will find Vanessa & Stephan here:

Website: projectphoto (Switzerland) & projectphoto (Iceland)
Instagram: @projectphoto.ch
Facebook: @projectphoto.ch