a tourist in Zurich

I  was pulled from standby to do Zurich! Wasn't ready...actually! But managed to pack in a span of time. I made sure I got clothes both for warm and cold weather. In europe, weather is very unpredictable. At this time, it is summer.

savoy hotel

Passenger profile : Swiss people are not hard to please. they're nice and very conscious with what they eat. Europeans love drinking wines, primarily because their climate is very cold and drinking wine helps them to warm their body. I got too many Vegan request and most of them love to take seafood for the main course meal. 

I was able to bring some food with me. Instant noodles, canned sausage, and tetra pack to-go-meal. 

I wasn't really prepared to do this flight as I am looking forward to doing London for the longest time, shopping in Primark, seeing my aunt and in-laws is what I have in mind. Wanted to visit my baby's cousin in east side that looked a lot like her, but was quite hesitant since I'm not travelling with my husband. So might see them the next time. 

Thank God I had someone to see in Zurich, my college friend have seen my recent check-in and we decided to see each other, just because I was looking for rice! but not until the day after. I was doing the flight with two lovely ladies from my country and one funny guy.

The next day, I woke up early but usually I sleep a lot. But doesn’t want to spoil my first visit to Zurich. Plus, I don’t wanna miss the buffet breakfast in the hotel. Ooohhh, looking forward to smoked salmon. I love having breakfast. After all, it is the most important meal of the day.

I let the other girls lead the itinerary for the day. We went to bahnhoftrasse.

Europeans don't do malls. they all have this street shopping. they love walking a lot. I envy them for being environmental friendly. People use bicycle as another means of running errands. The first thing I saw was this macaroon shop at the corner of the street. Sprungli, Switzerland’s oldest. Older than Paris’ Laduree. I have to go and check Laduree myself when I visit Paris. I saw famous brands : Longchamp, H&M, Zara, Gucci and a lot more. Just went inside H&M to check if there’s any sale and end up buying sneakers for myself that I will be needing in night stops. Will be walking a lot, and as much as every woman loves sexy heels I just can’t walk them in Europe.

swiss francs

I stood still at Sprungli’s waiting for my friend to arrive. As I don’t have any means of communicating back to her. Just that, the last message I sent her was I am on my way and will be waiting in that corner. Then she arrived. She went with me as we pass by some sight seeing in downtown. The lake, the boatride, the church that was closed that I eagerly wanted to see. From there, we went back to the shopping street and end up having an afternoon tea at sprungli’s. I mean afternoon hot chocolate maybe, cause I am in the land of Chocolates after all. As I ordered hot chocolate myself.

Every Christmas, it has been my common task in the family to make the hot chocolate for the Noche Buena. Probably one of the reasons why I wanted to try this one.

ohhh the good life

We were busy catching up with what we have missed. She just got married, while I’m a first time mom. About her amazing life in Switzerland, going back to school studying Deutsch. All I can hear was just all good stuff about swiss people. The Government, the money, the economy. I was enjoying so far, observing people. Old people walking with their spouses. Enjoying an afternoon chitchating with longtime friends I guess. But one old old woman I would probably not forget in my first visit here. I guess she’s just not 80 but in her 90’s. her skin totally wrinkly, walking in a very slow pace being guided by her son. I mean, wow swiss people are very healthy. They have long life span and they watch what they eat. I went peeping in other people’s plate and had nothing but just salad. Suddenly, felt embarrassed with Filipino cuisine, not that they are not healthy but they are really oily. When I told my sister who also blog, she actually have a food blog. She said that’s whay Filipino cuisine is not that popular except for adobo because it is very oily compared to Japanese food or others. Indian food in my opinion are very oily as well. But the thing with their food is that it has lots of spices and act as a guard against diseases.

It took us only 5 minutes to reach her house by tram. The hotel gave us a hop on-hop off one day pass in the tram. She gave me a little tour of her flat, and I find everything amusing. I peep inside her fridge and saw a lot of bread spreads. Same story when I went to visit London two years back.

For a minute, I’ve wished to live and work in Zurich.

I made a trip to the grocery also. To check what ingredients they have that is not available in the gulf. Thank God for having an interpreter. The thing with me is that I can’t figure out what to take with me besides the fridge magnet that my friend bought for me. I have to re-check my saved recipes in my iPad and Pinterest. I don’t wanna buy anything that I don’t need. It’s not cheap here after all.

Next visit : Lucerne