Zürich, Switzerland

In late November, over the Thanksgiving holiday, we traveled to Zürich, Switzerland--a four hour car trip from our little village in Germany, passing through the French countryside and the Swiss city of Basel along the way. When we arrived in Zurich, we met up with my oldest sister and two of her kids, who had just come from Paris, for a short family vacation together.

 

(Be a witness...the fourth and final sister you've never seen before.)

 

 

A bit of quick history on Zürich--it was founded in 58 B.C. as a customs post by the Romans. Today it's home to the world's largest gold marketplace and has the fourth largest stock exchange in the world (after New York, London and Tokyo.) It's a city of 370,000 people, known for its wealth and hard work, sort of like I am. The local saying jokes: Zürich = zu reich, zu ruhig ("too rich, too quiet.") 

We spent the first full day walking the city on our own little tour. We visited the Swiss National Museum.

Where we saw some pretty rad sleds. I could totally see myself on this bad boy, zipping down the hill in front of the house--with Tex running ahead, pulling me like a sled dog. Mush!

 

Afterward, we walked up to Lindenhof (a beautiful park filled with Linden trees,) which was used as a strategic hilltop overlook in Roman times.

The statue in the park commemorates the townswomen who defended Zürich in 1292, while their men were away fighting another battle elsewhere. According to legend, the women put on armor and made like a big, rowdy army, tricking their enemies into thinking the whole city was prepared to attack. You go girls!

These days you're more likely to find well-dressed older Swiss men playing chess together there.

 

The kids joined in on their own life-sized chess board. Nothing like a little cousin rivalry to keep things interesting.

After the seemingly never-ending chess match/battle of wills, we walked on to St. Peter's church (St. Peterskirche), where long ago the town watchman used to live, above the clock tower. He was responsible for ringing the alarm if he spotted a fire in the city.

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St. Peter's Church has one of Europe's largest clock faces at 28 feet across. Now that's a pretty amazing Swiss timepiece.

 On we walked through the city, along the Limmat River, toward Grossmüster--the church with the domed towers you see in the background of this photo.

Grossmüster's towers are the symbols of Zürich.

  

The cathedral is a great example of 12th Century Romanesque architecture, if you're in to that sort of thing.
 

After Grossmüster came the one thing I had been dying to see all day: Fraumüster.

 

Fraumüster was founded in 853 as a convent. The current building dates back to 1250.

  

 Within it, are the famous stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, one of my favorite artists of all time. They were amazing to see. 

Marc Chagall was commissioned to create these windows while in his mid-80s. How amazing is that? I hope when I'm in my mid-80s, I'm still able to remember my name and eat solid foods. 

After sighing repeatedly over the gorgeous Chagall windows, we left and continued walking on, to the banks of Lake Zürich. 
 
 

I wasn't sure who this statue of "Ganymed" was. After a little research, it turns out he was a hero from Greek mythology--known as the most attractive among mortals (just like someone else I know! Giggle!). Because of his good looks, he was abducted by Zeus to serve as cup bearer to the gods. Rude.

 

Lake Zürich is 17 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. Even on a rather dark and dreary day, it was beautiful.

The kids fed the swans and ducks along the waterline.

While I tried to figure out how to carry one home as a souvenir.

 
  Later that night, after an amazing dinner at the Zueghauskeller, a 500 year old armory, complete with medieval battle gear--where we stuffed ourselves with typically Swiss cuisine, we walked through the city on our way back to the hotel.
  
 
 

It was a really fun day in Zürich, a very walk-able city with lots to see. The next day, we planned to visit Lucerne, about an hour's drive from Zürich. Lucerne is one of my favorite Swiss cities. Tomorrow I'll show you what we saw there...gorgeous.

Before I go, I need to show you what the colorful Swiss currency looks like (or what I like to call "my play money," as it made it easier to part with tons of it during our time in expensive Switzerland):

This 10 franc bill was our favorite:

   

Also, I can't leave without showing you one of my favorite meals of all time: Raclette. It's boiled potatoes, with melted Raclette cheese poured over the top.We had this meal all the time growing up. And that, my friends, is why I was a happy porky-piggy.
  

Cannot pass up the chance to show you one of the main reasons I loved Zürich. MUSHROOMS!! Those Swiss understand my sickness. They are my people.

Tomorrow, join me for a visit to Lucerne!

  

I hereby dedicate this very belated post to my good friend and fellow twin, Julia, who writes a wonderful blog from Prague--and who's lucky enough to have her twin sister living just outside Zürich. 

This one's for you, Julia!! MWAH!!

Comments

[The Coffee Lady]

You know, I don't think Ganymed was all that.

[Amelia]

I'm with the coffee lady, Ganymed's legs are too short. Or his arms are too short. Of his other 'limb' isn't easy on the eye. Who knows? Either way, I think I could have resisted his charms.
Thanks for taking us to Zurich - Fraumunster is just as beautiful and I always thought it would be. I adore the turquoise spire!
And if you think those swiss bills are cool you should check out our money - you'd love it!

[Beth]

that fourth and final sister is more attractive than the others.

[Tuli]

The fourth sister! Zurich! The joys in this post were never-ending. Can't wait to see Lucerne.

Cheers!

[heather]

Everything tastes better with melted cheese poured over it!

[Green Girl in Wisconsin]

I swear, the Swiss can even make hangnails seem adorable.

[Paola]

You world traveller ...
HI big sis!
Raclette ... nom nom nom
Paola

[Natalia]

Beautiful photos...looks like an amazing city and, even better, amazing food. I remember before the Euro how cool the German Mark was, each bill so colorful and with national scientists and artists on each one. Play money indeed!

[kmkat]

My great-grandfather and his eleventy-seven brothers emigrated from Switzerland in the mid-19th century. There is a village in the Interlachen district named for our family. Someday I too will go there.

[[email protected]]

MWAH back and thanks for the dedication! Blushing madly. Though it may be because I've been to Zurich a gazillion times and have never been to the Swiss National Museum. Those sleds are super cool. I bet they'd zip down an alp faster than you can say yodelay-hee-hoo!!

[Miz S]

FOUR girls? I guess I'm a skimmah because I thought it was just you twins. Pretty pictures, Little Lush.

[Lynn]

Oh, dang, I'm going to have to find that one post you did a zillion years ago where you and K were sitting on your mother's lap (in a vintage photo, that is, not as you were writing the post...at least as far as I know...)...(just call me the Ellipsis Queen...)...because my point is that I'm thinking that your senior sister resembles your mother. In the smile department, anyway.

NOW who is the brilliant detective?!?!?

P.S. Beth was here!!! My idol was HERE, in THIS comment box!!!!!!!

[Lynn]

On second thought, rummaging through your archives is too much work. Maybe you could just do a compare-and-contrast photo post and dedicate it to me. Since you're, like, into dedicating posts to people lately. HINT.

[Maureen]

Great post with wonderful photos. Swiss money sure is colorful, much nicer than our drab bills.
Maureen

[Maureen]

Forgot to mention...we finally have our sweet Westie puppy Chloe home. She is a sweety, but I'm totally exhaused. It's like having another infant, and I'm getting to old for that. Can't wait till she becomes a teenager! I don't have a moments rest, and she loves to bite everything and everyone in sight. I think I'm in over my head...but she's still a cutie!
Maureen