Zurich, Switzerland - Jun 16, 2015

Baden Baden was becoming a safe little nest for me.  The hotel was cozy, the surroundings were beautiful, and it was easy to get around and do things - those little dessert holidays were the best.

When I started making my plans way back in March, I couldn't figure out the optimal amount of time to spend in each place, because it was all so new.  Now that I have had a chance to visit, I have a better idea of what I might want to do and see.

As you can tell, I really like botanical gardens and art museums, but most of all I like walking around a city and just looking at people, places and things.  You can do that anywhere, right, but it's also nice to be surrounded by so much history and, in this, case an environment so different from the one I am used to - old and tall and ornate buildings, trees, water everywhere, and it's green green green - did I mention it's green!  Eating has been a lot of fun too, but I'm not sure if I am doing a healthy ratio of walking vs eating.  Oh, well, as one of my FB friends said, I have a treadmill with my name waiting for me when I get home.

So, Zurich!

I left Baden Baden late this morning to catch my direct train to Zurich.  Fortunately, I was on the computer when I got a message from the train telling me that it was going to be 15 minutes late.  No big deal, right?  But what if it had been changed or derailed or there was someone on board holding hostages?  I never would have known, and you would probably be reading about me in the Enquirer about some probing or other (but I digress...).  Really, it was not a problem.

The trains are really nice here.  Lots of room for your baggage and plenty of leg room.  In fact, they usually aren't full, so you get to sit where you please most of the time, and the ride is really smooth and usually very fast.  But not so fast that you can't enjoy the countryside as it whizzes past.  Note of caution though, I don't mind sitting in the opposite direction that the train is traveling, but some people don't like that - it seems to make the sea-sick.  Just be aware that you may not have a choice sometimes.

I arrived at the train station with time to spare, and had a nice cup of coffee and read my book on my iPad - what a life, no?

The train arrived, and there was even a chart on the terminal where we were waiting telling us where the train would stop, and where we should stand to get on our car.  Like magic, my car stopped right in front of me, I got on, and off we went.  There were three major stops in all, but I didn't have to get off once to change trains (WHEW - thank you, Jesus!).  Less than three hours later we were in Zurich.

The train station is Zurich is HUGE! and busy.  But there is an information desk just as you leave your train and head out.  It is "manned" by one single young lady who did a very good job in many languages giving all kinds of people assistance.  I was in awe of her.  And of course, I too, had to consult her.

First I had to change my money.  I am now using the Swiss Franc (1 CHF is = $1.07 US) - and I was forewarned that this place was not going to be inexpensive.  I was able to get a room online with Ibis Budget Hotels, and my room is just big enough and has enough amenities to satisfy all my needs.

There were ATMs and banks in the station, so it wasn't hard finding a place to get currency.

Next, my research indicated that I should board the subway, and it gave me the train number and direction.  However, for the life of me, I could not make out where the subway was, much less where to catch my train.  Hence, my consultation with the nice young lady.

When I asked her about the subway and getting a ticket, she said I could buy my ticket at a machine which was nearby, and there were instructions in English.  Sure enough, I went to the machine, pressed on the British flag, and instructions came up in English; however, none of the options presented were anything I vaguely understood.  I wanted to get a 24-hour pass, but that option just wasn't coming up.  So, I accosted a nice young man who had just finished purchasing his ticket and asked if he spoke English.  HE DID! I asked if he would help me get a ticket (I would figure out the 24-day-pass thing later).  He said he was from Austria and wasn't too familiar with the system, but together we figured out how to make it work to give me a one-way ticket.

I thanked him profusely and went off to find my subway.

It pays to look up.  I had copied all of my instructions to my iPad, but I had never guessed that the subway trains would be listed right along with all the other trains/terminals that were coming and going from this station.  I finally found the one I needed, and headed to terminal 41 to catch it.  No ticket validation is necessary, so you go directly to the terminal and catch the train.  The stops are listed on a little screen in the car, so you know when your stop is coming up.  Mine was only two stops away, and before I knew it, I was near my hotel.

So, there is construction going on all around Europe, and now it's caught up with me near my hotel.  My handy little map app was working well, but it was really hard getting a fix, and trying to get around all the construction going on, but I did finally find it and got checked in.  Turns out there is another tram #4 that stops just a few feet from my hotel, and it also runs all the way to the sights I want to see tomorrow.

After I checked in and got settled (it's getting close to 4:30 pm), I went downstairs, and the young man who checked me in spoke excellent English, so I asked him about the 24-hour day pass.  He said, "Oh yeah, just press English, and the instructions are very clear.  You can buy your ticket right out at the tram stop."  Where had I heard that before?

I didn't argue.  I walked to the tram stop, and low and behold, as I entered my info in English, I was offered the opportunity to buy a 24-hour day pass.  Thank you JESUS!  But the machine also (laughingly) informed me that it would only accept cash!!!!!!  Guess What?

You figured it - when I went to the ATM to get my Swiss Francs, I got a 50 note - this is where I scream and pull my hair (what's left it).   So, I put my best foot forward and started walking.  In fact I walked all the way back to the train station and beyond using my little map app.  It was a ways, but I didn't get lost, and it gave me an opportunity to see the city.

Here's what I saw:

I couldn't have asked for a better welcome.  Like most European cities there is art everywhere, and sometimes it can be fun or very very serious.

Here's a picture of one of the major museums here in Zurich that I plan to go to tomorrow.  As you can see the cranes are busy, and there is scaffolding and sheeting everywhere.  Beautiful building but I guess you'll just have to look beyond all the work.  It's going on in other parts of the city as well.

I took a walk along the river bank.  I think it must be rush hour because a couple of hours later, things quieted down significantly.

Someone had to be the adult, and I'm really glad it was this guy.  I was dodging everything but bullets today.

The rest of these photos are taken walking down the river bank.  I hope to wake up early tomorrow and head back down there to do take some better pics in better light hopefully (we shall see).

Hollyhocks always take me back to New Mexico....

The Swiss are busy building and refurbishing too.

No bridge is safe...

I don't think I'm going to be able to make any day trips from Zurich, but I will have a very busy day tomorrow.  Let's hope the sun is shining.

Talk to you soon.

Steve