The Streets of Zurich, Switzerland

On my way home from Paris this year, I had a seven-hour layover in Zurich.  When I say it was planned, what I mean is that my choices were a 4.5-hour layover and a 7-hour layover.  So, of course, eager to add a stamp to my passport, I chose the longer stopover so I'd have a chance to roam the streets of Zurich, Switzerland.  

Switzerland makes getting out of the flughafen (airport) so easy, I'd have been embarrassed to spend time lounging in the waiting area.  Upon landing, I made my way to the Service Center, stowed my carry-on in a locker, and made my way downstairs to the train station.  Five minutes later, I was on a train speeding into the center of Zurich.

Medieval streets stretch out in every direction.  On this bright, sunny, mid-October afternoon, I was determined to meander Zurich's winding ways albeit keeping the train station as my geographical reference point.  Here, I spied the Fraumunster clock at the end of a quiet street.  

A bit of a mystery to me, I came across this mural on a side street.  With a little research, I've come to the conclusion that it's referring to the attack of 1292.  History reports that Austrian Duke Albrecht I thought he could take Zurich at a time when its military was severely depleted.  A group of women and girls, however, dressed up as warriors, confronted the Austrian army and prompted their retreat.

narrow

Everywhere I strolled, narrow, cobblestone streets offered brief glimpses of Zurich.  Clean, swept, and meticulously cared for, Zurich is almost a theme park-style city; too good to be true!

Every street seemed to lead to St. Peter's.  However, sporting the largest clock face in the world, the Old Clock Tower of St. Peter's Church offered its own enticing view.  I thought about all of the people before me who had glanced at the time since its inception in 853

I snapped this photograph simply because this building epitomized my view of Switzerland.  Again, research conducted later revealed it to be the Guild House of Zurich; a place where wine and food dealers plied their trade.

First mentioned in historical records in 1389, this classic Swiss building is situated on the banks of the Limmat, the wide, gently flowing river that meanders through this old city.

Although I had just a few hours in Zurich, my largely freewheeling stroll through the city led me to many historic and important landmarks.  After climbing back onto the train to return to the flughafen, I knew that a longer, return trip was in order.

This short foray, however, accomplished one selfish task that I had set out for myself to achieve, however: the prized passport stamp!

I do believe that my next trip to Switzerland will be a train adventure.  With the precision of a Swiss watch, the Swiss railway system offers effortless transportation across every square inch of this bastion of neutrality in the heart of Europe. And, perhaps, to meander through the streets of Zurich, Switzerland, and more, one more time...

Cheers!

@braveboat

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