The clean, refreshing air is the first thing I notice in Switzerland. I inhale deeply, as we make our way to our hotel, nestled in the quaint neighborhood of Oerlikon. As I watch the smiling people stroll by, cigarettes in hand, and take in the pleasant quiet, I knew I was going to have a love affair with this place.
We stayed at the Swissotel, a classy and well-kept hotel conveniently located across from the train station, where you can get to the main city area in 10 minutes. (Our most frequent train stop was Stadelhofen.) The indoor rooftop pool is a great place to unwind after the long flight, complete with stunning views of the city.
To our delight, we learned we had arrived in time for the City Festival in Zurich which only happens every 3 years. Only I would touch down in a foreign county not knowing a massive festival, which draws millions, was starting that evening! The city shuts down with no buses, trams or cars allowed to make room for the activities. For 3 days, the streets are lined with food carts featuring cuisine from around the world and bars serving up cheap drinks. You can indulge your inner child with amusement park rides, enjoy unique music, watch a patriotic sky show, or witness a group of divers diving straight into the Limmat River. Every sense is stimulated but somehow, like the country itself, it’s not overwhelming.
I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be sitting by the river with a glass of bubbly in hand, watching boats leisurely sail by on that gorgeous summer night.
The real treat was watching the spectacular fire work show for the 4th of July. It doesn’t matter where you are, fireworks capture everyone’s attention, and for those few minutes, we are all focused on the same beautiful colors exploding into the sky.
While we loved the festival (and would spend time enjoying the city in its regular state the weekend after), hanging out in Oerlikon felt more authentic. Leisurely roaming the streets, we admired the pastel colors and mountains in the distance.
When in Switzerland you must try their famous fondue! My body weight is 90% cheese so the idea of dipping potatoes and bread into a melting pot of cheese is my idea of food porn. We indulged in a cozy restaurant, Raclette Stube, that solely offers the delicacy. The smell of burning cheese was potent, but I doubt any other place could mask the smell. Side note – if you want the free water request TAP water. Our waiter offered us sparking or still and when the bill came we realized that we were charged for the still. Only then did he tell us we should have requested tap. As if we would know that! So avoid our mistake and always ask for tap. Unless you have money to burn 😉
Summertime in Switzerland is absolutely gorgeous, but alas, one day it did rain. Since we couldn’t spend the day soaking up the sun at an outdoor café, we decided to get our culture fix and visit the Swiss National Museum. I highly suggest this for an inexpensive day activity. There were so many beautiful exhibitions, but my favorite was, cue the girlishness, the fashion & jewelry curation. The museum was hosting a huge collection of rings, many of which were from ancient Jewish wedding customs (being a Jew myself, I found this quite fascinating.)
Of course, no visit to Zurich is complete without exploring the city’s most famous street – Bahnofstrasse. Lined with both big name stores such as Zara’s and Starbucks to cozy mom and pop shops, the street is buzzing with energy. We walked into the famous flagship store of Teuscher chocolates. I brought home a few of their mini bars since they are easy to throw in my carry-on.
Cruising the beautiful Limmat river is a must in Zurich. You can get on a ferry boat at the end of Bahnofstrasse. We did the 3 hour option. I recommend sitting up in the front of the boat for the best views. As we cruised along, we saw many people swimming by the beach areas and riding around in their personal boats. The memory of the summer heat on my face, the breeze from the water and the mountains in the distance will stay with me forever.
On our last day, we stumbled upon a tent with Indian women decked out in Saris, cooking up heavenly smelling concoctions. For about 3 dollars, I was able to get a taste of another county. Everyday, something pleasantly surprised us in this kind-hearted country.
Next blog post will be about our journey to the Swiss Alps! Stay tuned and click the follow button on the right-hand corner so you don’t miss a post 🙂
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 