Exploring Zurich

After a few hours of sleep, we started wandering the streets of Zurich. The Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich is centrally located to many attractions as well as coffee shops.

Our first stop was for a much-needed cup of coffee. I had a cappuccino and Bruce had black tea.

We walked along the waterfront taking in the old-world charm.

I don’t know where the idea of locks on bridges started, but it’s here in Zurich.

We visited the Grossmunster, a Romanesque-style Protestant church first built around 1100 AD and originally commissioned by Charlemagne.

Across the bridge was the Fraumunster which was a former convent founded in 853 AD.

Some of the stained glass particularly the 5 piece series in the choir were the work of Marc Chagall.

The crypt under the choir details an exhibition on the history of the reformation in Zurich, on the architecture as well as rocks that were part of the original structure.

There is a $5 chf fee to enter this church.

We didn’t go in St. Peter’s but that is the oldest parish church in Zurich with the original walls dating to the ninth century. It is known for the largest tower clockface in Europe measuring 28.5’ in diameter.

Bruce stopped at one of the many available water closets. He said he pulled the seat down to sit on it and he was suspended over a large stainless steel funnel. When he flushed the water flooded down through the funnel. He said it was strange.

They have some very beautiful and interesting trees in Zurich. They do what they call pollarded, which is a way of pruning to ensure safety and also visual effect.

For dinner we ate at a little cafe. We ordered quiche with salad. It was a veggie quiche which had carrots in it. A little strange. I liked it – Bruce not so much. We were charged $13 CHF for water which wasn’t even bottled water. It’s very expensive in Zurich – total bill with tip was $75 US.

There are many chocolate shops around – the smell of chocolate enticed us into each establishment. However, we will be traveling for so long and don’t have any place to keep it from melting.

We went to bed early since we are both still recuperating. And we woke at 10. It was a slow start, sipping coffee in our suite.

We bought water taxi passes and decided to travel down the river to Lake Zurich.

It was a beautiful day and a relaxing way to see the area.

We disembarked at the beginning of the lake.

People were out and about enjoying the fine spring weather although for Bruce and I it was a bit nippy. Some interesting statues along the way.

And a Ferris wheel!

We stopped for coffee and pastry and more breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps.

It was such a lovely day just to walk and take in this stunning place.

For dinner we ate at this cute little Swiss place. They did have fondue in the menu but we had schnitzel and cordon blu.

All in all, we had a very nice time in Switzerland. Tomorrow we take the train to Rome.

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