Gutten Morgan, Zurich!

Well, its 5:45 am on a Saturday morning...what do you feel like doing? Oh I know...how about a 3+ hour train ride to German speaking Switzerland....ummmm ok!

That's right folks, welcome to Zurich! An amazing city just 3 hours north of here. Thuli, Kadie and I headed there this past weekend aboard the train (which I think may have been the longest I was ever on a train...mom or dad remember?). Anyways, before getting on the train, there was a bit of nervousness (Kadie couldn't eat), but in the end we got on the correct train, and got off at the correct location, too! (Oh, and on our train was the Student Programming Board from here...they were off to Zurich for some bonding time...how cute!). Before arriving, this awesome man, called Snack Cart Man, wheeled this giant cart down the aisle, and spoke, no lie, like 5 different languages. We thought that was cool, anyways.

So, you're in Zurich...what's the first thing that you do? I know! Starbucks! Welcome back moderately expensive cups of joy! It was a great, tho kinda expensive (but it's Starbucks and some people will do anything for that stuff). Oh, this was of course after trying to check into our hotel (oh the hotel...we will get to that momentarily) at 9:30am...who does that...and we couldn't anyways...oh well.

After replenishing our caffeine levels, it was time to explore! We walked around the "Old Town" - the section that our hotel was in. There were soooo many cool shops (way too expensive...) and beautiful streets. And, we discovered something that was on the planning list since day 1...SCHOBER CAFE!!!!! That's right people, I found it! It was, no lie, one a block from our hotel...we couldn't have planned it any better. We didn't feel like eating/drinking another Starbucks-esque "meal" at that time, so we continued to walk knowing that we would be back soon. We passed some of Zurich's sights, including Fraumunster and Grossmunster, and around and over the river. It is such a picturesque city and so well laid out. We then checked this ridiculous flea market (proud...I didn't buy anything) and then we wanted to explore more, so we got on a water tour (a cruise around the lake with minimal German narrations...it was only 7.60 francs...we didn't mind).

Ok...checking into our hotel was...hard to say the less. When you are on the correct street, see 3 signs for it posted on a building, and even recognize it from pictures, finding the hotel would be relatively easy to locate...not so. It took us forever to realize that you had to take the same entrance as the attached Indian Restaurant, take some stairs, and pass through a very narrow hotel just to get to reception. From there on, smooth sailing!

Our room, and the world renowned Zic Zac Rock Hotel (google this place...it's a trip...) was...interesting. All of the rooms here are actually themed to rock and role legends (ie Beatles, Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Queen, etc.). Ours, however, was...Deep Purple. Name a song and I'll give you a dollar! Oh, and the theme stopped at the plaque on the door. Inside...nothing but two spray painted "gold records" and sunshine yellow walls...how themey! Also, as I see all over here, it was as if they literally heisted everything in the room from the Ikea Scratch and Dent Center. I will give them one thing tho...English television in the room. It was CNN and subtitled MTV, but nonetheless...Points for the TV, however, are taken right back with the lack of bathroom! We had to walk down the sketchy hallway...

Later that afternoon, we climbed the Grossmunster tower, which gave amazing views of the city. Back outside, there was something we were definitely taken back by...a gathering of what seemed to be every Swiss Scout...hundreds of screaming, running, singing, crying kids...We sat outside, trying to relax, but no, they all had to see if they could create a chain around the entire church which singing and swaying...and the did! Oy...sorry mom and dad...no grand kids from this one (ok...just kidding - for now).

Hey, now that we are in a completely new city for only two days, what's the one thing that you would want to do? Oh, I know! Let's see a movie! Sure enough, we had to - it was in English, and it took us fooorrrreeeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrrr to find the theater...But, after taking the tram, walking way too long, finding some English speakers in the Red Light District...no joke...and running for a while, we kinda had to. We saw Hairspray (great movie...just don't ask Kadie). If was fun, the theater was amazing (there were light up ottoman in the lobby, the theaters were really big, and the seats were sooo comfortable (but one complaint...the cup holders were in front of you...like on the ground...kinda annoying), and there were only like 7 people there...it was a Saturday night in Zurich...we are lame.

After a long walk, we found some food (that one could actually afford) and then headed back for the night - we were beat (and our street wreaked of cheese fondue...it was nasty).

I will finally add the Sunday portion soon - keep checking back for more!