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| Exploring old town, Zurich |
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| Swiss flags along the streets |
We quickly raced from our business hotel in Kloten to the train station a mere hundred meters from the door. We didn't want to be late and miss our dinner reservation at Raclette Stube one of Zurich's famed fondue restaurants.
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| Zurich central station |
With the city's reputation of being so clean and efficient we doubted that the train would be late.
John had been attending a work training in the Swiss city and after several warm and sunny days inside he was ready to get exploring!
Kara had been spending the last few days leisuring about lake Zurich soaking in the sights, climbing mountains, wandering through forests and the like.
So with our day passes validated we boarded the two-storied train and chugged into Zurich's city centre knowing all too well we were about to blow our week's food bill on one amazing cheesy experience.
Zurich is a very old city and a very expensive city. Although it's very easy to get caught up in its rich history dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, Zurich also has a mass of some of Europe's wealthiest citizens and along with them come the inflated prices.
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| Zurich over the Limmat river |
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| View of the Grossmunster |
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| St Peter over the Limmat |
Zurich is a very old city and a very expensive city. Although it's very easy to get caught up in its rich history dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, Zurich also has a mass of some of Europe's wealthiest citizens and along with them come the inflated prices.
Money, money, money, it’s a rich man’s world.
After leaving the central train station we walked out onto Zurich’s expensive shopping street, the Bahnhofstrasse, lined with designer shops and private banks. We gazed hopelessly into the shop windows of Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and dreamed of what we probably wouldn't even buy if we came into a small fortune.
Supposedly below the street, a couple of meters below, unimaginable treasures are lying in underground vaults. It is the world's banking capital after all. With all the tall blonde-haired men walking around in pinstriped suits heading out for a pre dinner drink the city exuded an air of importance.
All around us people bustled by and the bars were full. Our restaurant was in the old town over the river Limmat and we arrived precisely on time.
Already we could smell that the kitchen was busy melting down the exclusive vacherin cheeses.
The smell caught between whiffs of warm crispy bread. The menu was simple with very few options. We went with a half Gruyere and half vacherin with a side of pickled onions and gherkins and a 500ml bottle of local ermitage wine. The smell was divine and the fondue couldn't come out fast enough!
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| View over Uraniastrasse |
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| Porticos along Lindenhofstrasse |
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| Sneaking a peak through the porticos |
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| Alley towards Kirch Fraumunster |
After leaving the central train station we walked out onto Zurich’s expensive shopping street, the Bahnhofstrasse, lined with designer shops and private banks. We gazed hopelessly into the shop windows of Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and dreamed of what we probably wouldn't even buy if we came into a small fortune.
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| John enjoying the view along the Limmat |
Supposedly below the street, a couple of meters below, unimaginable treasures are lying in underground vaults. It is the world's banking capital after all. With all the tall blonde-haired men walking around in pinstriped suits heading out for a pre dinner drink the city exuded an air of importance.
All around us people bustled by and the bars were full. Our restaurant was in the old town over the river Limmat and we arrived precisely on time.
Already we could smell that the kitchen was busy melting down the exclusive vacherin cheeses.
 |
| Fondue with bread |
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| Mmmhhh! Ermitage and Cheese |
The smell caught between whiffs of warm crispy bread. The menu was simple with very few options. We went with a half Gruyere and half vacherin with a side of pickled onions and gherkins and a 500ml bottle of local ermitage wine. The smell was divine and the fondue couldn't come out fast enough!
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| Our baked potatoes- yum! |
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| Pickles and onions |
After our amazing dinner we took a stroll through the city admiring many of the gorgeous buildings and strong Roman statues. In Roman times the city, then called Turicum was a tax-collecting point at the border of the Gallia Belgica region for goods trafficked on the river and the heritage is honoured today with many stunning monuments.
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| Limmat marina |
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| Roman statue, Burkliterrasse |
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| Zurich Opera house |
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| The stadthausquai |
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| Houses along the Limmat |
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| St Peterstrasse road |
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| Rindermarkt |
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| Waiting for the sun set, Lake Zurich |
We tried as hard as we could to walk off that absolutely stuffed, have-to-open-a-top-button feeling.
We wandered about on Zurich's cobbled streets, past its many museums and churches. Past the quays along the shores of the lake where we watched swans digging around for their dinner. The water was clear as a crystal and tourists lined up to catch ferries to other areas along the lake.
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| Evening by the lake |
Far in the distance at the end of Lake Zurich are stunning white-capped mountains where the rich and famous spend their white christmases skiing up a storm.
Kara pointed out the Uetiberg mountain that she climbed the day before (totally unprepared for the heat).
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| West view |
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| South View |
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| A 200degree panoramic over Zuirch from the Uetiberg mountain |
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| Taking a moment to ponder |
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| Boats on lake Zurich |
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| A grand building along the lake |
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| Kappelerhof plaza |
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| European streets |
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| Red church spire |
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| Napfgasse plaza |
Tot siens,
John and Kara
John and Kara
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