Zurich: New Years Day (01 January 2017)

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WE MADE IT!!! Sat up until 12.00 midnight to see in the new year. Sterling effort considering we have both been awake since about 4.00 am and I only managed to catch a small nap on the train from Innsbruck.

Thank you Zurich - what a crazy night it was! Leading up to the fireworks show at 12:20 am (don't ask why because I don't know) we kept hearing random fireworks going off from probably about 9.30 pm. Thought perhaps it may have been an early show for the kiddies - but no. In Austria & Switzerland you can buy your own fireworks and set them off on National holidays. This would be Ross Nelson heaven! And surprisingly, apparently Bruce Ballard heaven too!

We went out onto the street near our hotel as midnight drew closer and watched as randoms with their own fireworks set them off within about 20 metres of us. (Can definitely see why our government has a ban in place for private use of fireworks.)

By the time the big show finally happened we had seen police chasing after one guy that had lit a rocket (perhaps they have regulations re those ones because they can be fired into crowd). The guy disappeared as the cops approached and came out and launched another after they went somewhere else.

The show itself was amazing. We wondered what had happened to the 4 rockets that started the show only to realise after a few minutes they went so high they were totally obscured by the mist. For organisers the mist must have been a terrible disappointment because it obscured all high fireworks but the effect as the show went on was absolutely amazing. As the fireworks burst above the mist it would light up like a pink, green or white flash across the whole sky (I guess like sheet lightening but in colour). Then you would see what looked like lit raindrops falling out of the mist. It was eerie and very beautiful. And loud! The sound echoed off the buildings around the lake and was deafening and you could actually feel the thump as each of the fireworks went off! Fantastic night. ?

So a late start. Receptionist booked our tour and we headed off to The Old Town, Ferry trip across the lake and cable car ride up to Felsnegg. Weather was not brilliant but worthwhile making the effort.

First did a bus tour around the city (I may have had a little nap due to late night before), followed by a walking tour through the old town. Guide again was fantastic, pointing out a number of historical sites including the guilder building where Winton Churchill stood on the balcony in 1945 and delivered a speech about a unified Europe. Funnily enough, Switzerland never did join. Then we left the city and toured along the "Gold Coast" of Zurich. This side of the lake gets the most sunshine and and therefore attracts higher real estate prices. Tina Turner has a house there and has given up her American citizenship and become a Swiss citizen. Apparently Roger Federer used to have an apartment on the "Silver Coast" (opposite side of the lake) but has since sold it and purchased a block of land on the "Gold Coast" side for $22 million Swiss Francs. So my advice to all parents, get your kids into tennis!!! Crossed lake on ferry and then went up to Felsenegg by cable car. Still no snow but lots of frost. Would have been a beautiful view had the fog not descended again and we couldn't see down to the lake. All in all a wonderful day and have had a good look around Zurich. Beautiful city but very expensive.

Back to hotel about 6.30pm and time to reorganise bags to be ready for tranfer to airport in the morning.

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Photos

Zurich
"Churchill's Balcony"

Zurich
"Opera House"