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Gotthard: Three days to go – holiday in the sun

Gotthard swissinfo.ch

6,500 francs a month, a secure job and a great relationship with colleagues - where's the catch?

The problem is that these plus points don’t help when it comes to coping with the darkness of the tunnel.

He followed his father’s footsteps on the Faido site. But after two years in the tunnel, he’s starting to have enough.

Douglas, a Venetian, is not made to stay underground – there’s not much air, the noise is continuous and you must always be alert. Inattention or fate can play cruel tricks.

But above all, there’s no sunlight. In winter, people on the day shifts don’t see the light for days. Douglas goes crazy. Ruin your health at the age of 25? Not a chance. When he earns enough money to build a house, he’ll get a “normal job”.

He won’t attend the celebration on Friday: tomorrow he’s got leave for five days. He prefers to return to his wife and son. Also because the party will be held in the tunnel – and who wants to go back into the darkness in their free time?

Luigi Jorio, Faido, October 12, 2010

It’s not always easy to go for days without sunlight.

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