Cheese and Chocolate Tour (with cheese)

---

Dublin to Milan to Zurich long weekend, part Deux. Observations: language barriers persist (see Milan blog!, si!) You know it's bad when I (n) have to assist Italian tourist checking into our Swiss hotel with my unique combo. of Italio-Germanic grunts. Was just getting better at it upon departure. We did get our cheese fondue along with a warning to avoid cold water as 'hard balls causing blockage might form' - have a nice flight! Zurich is quiet, clean, the richest city in Europe (oddly Dublin more pricey these days, ug), artsy (in a tidy sort of way) and super efficient. Not a lot of smiling going on though. Apply more chocolate!

---

Photos

Up the Alp
Ascending our chosen Alp - Mt. Rigi - by cog train from Arth-Goldau. No cars allowed. Good idea! A wee frosty.
Good enough for Mark Twain (he hiked it) and Queen Victoria (something tells me she didn't!)

Rigi Church
Little village or burg on the way up the mountain - only 1/2 way there! Snow intensifies.

Don't step off the train
Cog train passes across steep cliffs, ski trails, through tunnels and by little towns. Only about 45 minutes up and wooden seats are heated!

Rigi Hostellerie
We've arrived at hotel for the night. Almost could not find it due to visibility! No real snow gear with us. brrr. Here's the link...http://www.rigi-host.ch/

View from hotel balcony
So glad we got a room with a balcony to take in the stunning views, ha. Blizzard, white-out conditions, oh well.

Staying in
Rather cozy on the inside. Large rooms and hallways. Food good in the restaurant and all incluso. A bit like Trapp's but we actually like the VT 'Alpine Resort' better in some ways. good

More schnee!
Snowed overnight. Mini plow can barely keep foot paths clear. Getting worried about getting out of here!

Cog train plow
Now that's a plow! Not worried about catching the cog train now.

Zurich. We have arrived!
Getting down off the mountain on the little train, transfer to bigger train (bought kids fare tickets, oops), then on to Zurich city center in only 1/2 hour. View from train station side of Limmat River toward lake.Grossmunster Church to the left -one of the three major Protestant Churches.Midday but very dark.

Vom Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich
Nice shopping promenade. Mostly watches and chocolates!

Weinstube (wine room) back
Fancy paint job. House where friend of Goethe lived - discovered phrenology? Yess, worth a stop, ha.

Weinstube (front).
Nice piazza. I'm looking at the big clock.

Clock face and fresh water
View across plaza of largest clock face in Europe. N stopping for a slurp at one of the many interesting water fountains - quite fresh!

Two clock faces.
Look down the alley to see the other. Churches seem more significant as clocks.

Limat toll haus
Charming river and houses a bit nicer facing it. Centre City completely quiet except for the bells, the bells.

Zurich Zee
Looking out across the lake. Main ferry terminal. Peaceful and clean. Can only see Alp foothills.

Too Good to Eat
A gorgeous (and typical) Swiss chocolate shop window. Silk flowers and Easter chocolates. Took a self-guided chocolate tour of city. Who cares about the weather??

Wurst!
Ah lunch. Schnitzel sandwich with a weiss wurst chaser. Not the best-wurst but not the worst either, ha.
Note chalk board menu -they are everywhere but writing styles, plus language (Swiss German is actually v. odd) and unusual local dishes make ordering interesting. Two out of three cafes we go to = no English, not a word! We survive.

Teddy Bears plus
Small shop stuffed with (handmade) stuffed animals - charming.

Across from hotel
Our last glimpse of old, gold Zurich. Grande. Hotel in a good spot indeed.http://www.rigi-host.ch/