Zurich - The Heart of Switzerland

What a difference a day can make.  Yesterday's rainy day was gone, and  a much nicer morning replaced it.  Our hotel, the Continental (no connection with InterContinental) is a delightful, small hotel, decorated in the Swiss style with much light wood paneling and inlaid wood furniture.

To orient us to the city we started with a one-hour bus tour and were amazed at the natural and architectural beauty of the city. 

Founded in about 15 BC by the Romans, it used as a customs point for merchants.  We drove along the banks of the Limmat River which flows through the middle of Zurich,  The building on the opposite bank with the towers is the Swiss National Museum.  It is reported to be a fascinating museum depicting the history and culture of Switzerland, but we ran out of time to go inside.

Crossing one of the many bridges we drove through the vast university area where quite a few Nobel Prize winters taught.  Among them was Albert Schweitzer who discovered the theory of relativity and Wilhelm Rontgen, inventor of the x-ray machine.

Soon we were back on the river and stopped for a photo shot.  The sun had broken through the clouds and illuminated the snow-covered alps in the background.

The temperature wasn't nearly as cold as my coat indicates, but it was the only one I had brought.

This photo taken as we crossed this bridge is one of the most famous views of Zurich.   The light green tower is the Fraumunster church which is famous for its glass windows created by Marc Chagall  while the steeple behind it has the largest clock in Switzerland.  Once inside the church, we were not allowed to use a flash, and, unfortunately, my photo definitely does not do justice to this famous work of art.

The bus tour dropped us off at this church, and several of us took off on our own to do some window shopping on Zurich's most famous avenue.  I have never seem so many fabulous store windows from the world's most exclusive designers.  I wish I'd taken a photo of the white lamb's wool jacket in the Hermes window that was priced at 18,000 Swiss francs ( approximately, $18,000USD)  I thought it was pretty but not THAT pretty!

Next we headed up the hill to the Lindenhof Platz for what we had been told was the best view of the city, and we weren't disappointed. 


Below is another view from this wonderful vantage spot. We definitely could have

spent more time here, but now it was time to cross the river to a street that we'd been told was filled with great little restaurants.

We'd already had Swiss and Italian so decided it was time for some French food.
Definitely, a good choice.  We dined on delicious quiche, French Onion soup and crepes.  Our waiter was a great sport to put up with us and even agreed to have his photo taken with "those crazy American tourists!"

 
There are no fast lunches in Europe, and this one was no exception.  It was about 3PM before we left the restaurant and took a leisurely stroll back to our hotel.  Unfortunately, it was now time to try to get all our "stuff" in suitcases and try to avoid too much excess baggage fees.  I just hope the 19.95 Swiss Francs suitcase I bought last night in the train station holds together until I get to Austin.  Just noticed the wheels are held on with velcro so I'm not too optimistic.

It's been a wonderful 11 days  We've seen so many wonderful sites in these 4 countries,  eaten way too much good food, acquired too many Gluhwein mugs and, definitely, made far too many purchases, but everyone has had a great time, and that's all we could ask for. Well, except that we want to return again soon.

Time to say goodby to Europe and look forward to Christmas in Texas!
Linda


           



 
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