I budgeted approximately 72 hours for this charming city nestled in the very heart of Europe- A perfect Swiss excursion. Jumping on a flight from the American Southwest to my connection into Heathrow straight into the arms of my bonhomous gentleman hosts for a long weekend.
Upon arrival we set off into the Zeughauskeller, a medieval armory converted to a traditional German-style restaurant. The walls still adorned with 15th century weapons. We sat shoulder to shoulder in long banquet-style tables. Happy to have arrived and observing the patrons, we waited for the delivery of the finest schnitzel and rösti in triple portions. This was enough to satisfy the hunger of a meat-eating Midwest American girl and cause to celebrate the night with a table of friends and steins.
During the day I took in the quaint setting with all senses. A mix of trams, buses, and bicycle lanes; narrow cobblestone streets lined with little shops and boutique stands. Zürich does its best to cater to the foot-friendly pedestrians and daunt any oversized cars from traveling on the centerline of the city. You can tell the mystique of a destination with the modes of transportation that is readily accessible and Swiss topography to lead you to their urban treasures.
Reading up on the commute beforehand, Zurich politicians were persuaded to build a subway stem, alike all things swiss it would be perfectly engineered and architecturally interesting. Quality, efficiency, and good design are the marks of a swiss confection. Having this information at hand, I could appreciate each nook and pocket Zürich had to offer. I viewed a perfectly calculated network of city life using my Swiss Pass to view the shores, a small portion of Lake Zürich and the snow covered Alps.
48 hours into my adventure, I left my reservations and all technologies with my group of friends and nothing as much as even a wristwatch to guide me through the cobblestone streets of Bahnhofstrasse. This was a nice reprieve from my social tech-driven daily life. Irony taking hold, my first passing was a shop full of colorful watches, Swatches. A staple to the Swiss culture. I admired the precise craftsmanship that went into each intricate design.
On a corner a small stand called Sternen Grill at the Bellevue Place next to Lake Zurich I found them preparing Bratwurst with hot spicy mustard and round rock-hard bread rolls. Sinking my teeth into this steamy nob of meat, I was instantly gratified into the perfect world of my jet-set travel magazines. I had been holding this brochure as a recommendation wedged in my day bag for the better part of a month.
I walked the cobblestone streets up to the Christmas markets to meet my gentleman party. We warmed ourselves with Gluhwein on a street corner, a spicy German winter drink, present on each corner for walkers to carry in paper cups transferring the heat to cold hands.
The crest of my outing came with my entrance to Galerie Helvetia with troves of artwork mixed in with maps and atlases from the 17th to 20th century.
Sifting through these pieces I discovered some gems my cartography-loving friend would relish. I bagged my fortunes and ran through the streets as the sun set on the teal steeple of the Fraumünster church just in time to meet up with the bunch for our last night.
