Since my flight left at approx 12:30, I really didn't have enough time to actually do anything but get ready for my flight, and catch up on some correspondence.
The hotel where I was staying was very basic. Not a lot of "luxuries" but I don't shop for that when I look for a place to stay. I look for someplace that is in a good location, reasonably priced, and easy to get to and from via public transport. I have been pretty lucky so far. I don't like to spend a lot of money on a hotel that I can use to enjoy a venue or a great meal. Nevertheless, there are limits.
This hotel fit the bill entirely - the Ibis Budget Zurich hotel is a chain hotel, and it is well suited for the solo traveler who doesn't plan to spend a lot of time in his/her room. The tram stopped right outside the hotel, and it was located away from the city center, but close enough to walk to or ride to - and I did both.
By the time I was ready to leave, I had to buy another one-way ticket to the train station, and when I got to the train station, I had to purchase another ticket for the train to the airport. This public transportation thing can be very complicated (and especially in Zurich where you have to deal with "zones" and per zone pricing, etc.) - but 2-3 day passes are real tourist friendly. You buy a pass and you can ride anything anywhere for 2-3 days - simple.
I went to my tram stop, bought a ticket at the machine (I had the change), and off I went to the train station. At the train station, the machines are somewhat different, It took me a couple of tries to finally figure out that I wanted to go to the train stop which had the name of the airport (which was not "airport"). But once I figured out what it wanted me to ask for, it all went smoothly after that.
After I bought my ticket, I went to the platform designated and waited for the train which was scheduled to arrive in the next 5 minutes. Finding the platform was not an issue. While I was sitting there, a man with a mane of hair on his head and a beard, walked up and started to talking to me in Zurichese (I had no idea what he was saying).
When I explained I didn't understand, he spoke to me in English. He apparently wanted to be my friend, and he sat down next to me and began talking to me about "America." Now, I really don't know if he had a problem or not (I did not notice that his symptoms mimicked my own...). I just know that something did not feel right, but I didn't want to be mean or rude. So, I let him talk.
He turned out to be a very nice and gentle man. When the train did finally show up, he made sure to sit across from me. When the train pulled out, he pulled out his iPad and started working on it frantically. The two ladies we managed to sit with looked horrified, shocked, and little terrified with him, but he was just this big guy who smiled a lot and wanted to be friends.
When the announcer made the announcement that we were nearing the station (not named airport), he made sure I understood that this is where I got off. And as I left, he made sure that we shook hands. I think the two ladies moved away to another location right after I got off. You find kindness in some strange places and people, no?
Zurich Airport is HUGE! I had to walk all the way to another part of the airport to check in my luggage. Fortunately, there weren't many people, so I was able to check in pretty quickly. In this case, I made arrangements for checking in my bag because the rules were just too complicated, and I didn't want to deal with them. I'm glad I did.
When the lady helping me took my bag, she asked for my boarding pass, and when I gave it to her, she said, I would never have gotten through security. The hotel printed it out for me, and it turns out, they didn't catch the "bar code" which was what the airlines use to check you through now.
She very kindly printed me out another pass, and I was off through security, where I forgot that I had secreted a bottle of water in my ScottyVest (hidden panel #75 - so secret I forgot the water bottle). The TSA Zurich people didn't sound the alarm, and I was not forced to a have a full body and cavity search (Shoot!), and the bottle was subsequently removed from my vest and carried off in a lead box for further examination..... These guys are very thorough.
I got through security, and had some time to spare, so I walked around the airport - which now resembles a shopping mall in Dubai - Tiffany, Taghauer, you name it - the place was dripping with gold, diamonds, Swiss watches, cheese, and chocolate. Even the airport restaurants looked like something out of Beverly Hills.
So, I hauled my little back pack onto my shoulders, walked past it all, and found a nice quiet place to eat the apple I had brought with me from my breakfast at the hotel, and continued reading my fascinating novel by Dan Brown which I downloaded from Amazon after I had seen the book in a little cafe in Vilnius. I was not aware of this book, and now I can't put it down. It's called Deception Point - He's always a fun read, no?
When we finally boarded the plane, I discovered that this particular flight was the "Screaming Baby" flight. There were kids everywhere, and there were two special ones who decided that they were going to scream, cry, and torment their parents the entire flight. I'm sure it was not pleasant for them, and I have since learned to bring along my music to drown things out on occasions like this.
The flight from Zurich to Copenhagen took about 1.5 hours. Fast and easy, and the people from Swiss Air and their staff were very pleasant.
Arriving at Copenhagen Airport was not an issue either. I did my homework, and pretty much followed instructions and signs. First I had to get some money because we are using a new currency here - the Danish Kroner - 1 Danish Kroner is equal to about 15 cents US - but don't be fooled, because everything you buy is about the equivalent of what you would pay in the states. So, a sandwich costing $5 US would cost about 32 Danish Kroner more or less.
Looking around, though, I have found the price for food is very reasonable comparatively.
So, I go to the ATM, enter my card and my info, and ask for 200 DK, and as you would expect, I am given one 200 DK note -- ARRRRGGGHHHH! I really really really am hating these ATMs.
Once I have my cash, I go look for my bags, but first a bathroom break. In the airport at least, the bathrooms are for both men and women or men only and women only. It depends on where you are and how desperate you are. The man and woman bathrooms have a lock, so when you go in, it is "your" bathroom. That's nice.
Now I follow the signs which happen to take me on a mile-long journey to find my bag. By the time I get to the carousel, bags are already being unloaded from my plane, but as luck would have it, mine is almost next to last. I was really worried it had been lost - WHEW!
Now bag in hand, I have to get to my hotel. I had read that there is one metro train that takes you directly from the airport to the central train station (near which my hotel is located). I am also informed that you can buy your ticket for the train right next to the entrance at a station designated for selling tickets (real people or using an ATM type machine).
Since I didn't want a simple ticket, I chose to go to the real person for help. As I was waiting in line, I noticed the people conducting business behind the windows, and I was really impressed. Again, they were all multi-lingual and very professional, but there was one kid working his window who seemed to go out of his way to explain to people he was helping how to use the system and make sure they got all their questions answered.
I kept hoping I would get him when my turn came around, and I lucked out. He was very informative, kind, and helpful. I walked away with a very good feeling about Copenhagen.
Sure enough, the train showed up on schedule, and before you know it, I am downtown and near my hotel. Although the hotel is within walking distance from the station, it is a significant walk. I learned which buses stop closest to both and got some great maps at a Tourist Info office.
So, I settled in, went out and had some dinner, and now I'm catching up on the blog. No pics of Copenhagen today because it was pretty cold, rainy, windy, sunny and then start all over again. I'm hoping for better weather tomorrow morning before I head out on my adventure - wish me well.
As promised here are the pics from my outing in Zurich yesterday.
These first pics were taken at the Landesmuseum Zurich - http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Swiss_National_Museum - it is right next to the train station downtown and is currently under reconstruction. It is a museum of all things Swiss with an emphasis on religion and the Protestant Reformation, and the history of Switzerland going all the way back to prehistoric times. So, as I said, quite a collection, but here is what caught my eye:
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| This is where I want to keep my billions some day.... |
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| It's a heater... |
The next Art Museum I visited was the Kunsthaus Zurich - http://www.kunsthaus.ch/en/ - The older couple I had met earlier who asked if anyone ever checked the train tickets also mentioned that they had visited this museum earlier in the day, and they recommended it highly.
I did not know what to expect, but I went. Admission was free for the permanent exhibit that day, and WOW - what an experience. As you can see, they had some major pieces representing major movements in modern art by significant artists. In fact, when I first started the tour, I was faced with a very somber representation by a featured artist. When I had finished that section, the museum worker said, "You need to see the 2nd and 3rd floor. That's where the real treasures are."
Who was I to argue? Show me the way.
More tomorrow.
Steve
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