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Zurich - Part 4
Written by: Donald Miserandino
Photography by: Donald Miserandino
Off to Zurich, all business...
On my last morning, I was to leave Lucerne for Zurich by rail. Again, the Swiss rail pass comes in handy. I left the Grand Hotel National and walked the 20 minutes around the lake over to the station, trying to remember every detail of the city: mountains, lakes, food, people and history.
At precisely 11:10 a.m. the train to Zurich left the station with me on it. Precisely 46 minutes later, I departed the train and met the full tour group in the station. Each was bubbling over with desire to talk about their experience of Switzerland. After all the "hellos" and "what did you see?" we left the station on a tour of the former industrial area, where several buildings had been converted to residential and alternative uses. For example, a former factory was now an art museum. After a short walking tour with Susanne Staiger of the Tourist Board, lunch was at the Hotel zum Storchen overlooking the River Limmat. Later that evening we met up with her again to tour the city. From ancient buildings to small side streets and exotic shops, her knowledge of the city fascinated the group who peppered her with questions. Then it was to the Hotel Ambassador to check in, but it was no rest for the weary because dinner that evening was at "Le Pavillon" at the Hotel Ermitage. We accessed the restaurant by a boat trip around Lake Zurich. (Going back to the hotel would be by van.) The meal was a topper for the trip. Cuisine by Chef Gotz Rothacker, a sunset to remember and jovial company.
Switzerland, until this trip, was a far distant place, but now it is a place of adventure, history, food and wine. Maybe that's the real reason to drink Swiss wine: to remember adventure and a new love.
Part 1 - Switzerland
Part 2 - Geneva
Part 3 - Lucerne
Part 4 - Zurich
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