Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!

Once more I am playing "catch up" to Laurie's European Business Trip.
This time she was in a suburb of Stuttgart, GER but we decided to explore Zurich and maybe a little more of the Land of Swiss Cheese, Chocolates, Watches nand Army knives. Read more

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Trip start
June 26, 2025
Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Warminster Train Station
June 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
My son-in-law David graciously picked me up at home and drove me to Warminster Train station.
Here we are - me , a suitcase, a duffel bag and my belly.
Hopefully, the last one won't get too much bigger by the end of the trip 😁Read more
Safe travels! [Jeanine Belinger]
6/26/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Jack Dugan's at PHL
June 26 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F
Easy peesy breezy. Lots of new things to learn traveling (everything is pretty much self-serving tap-n-go) but made it through bag check in and TSA in a snap.
Figured I'll go Irish before immersing myself into all that Swiss Raclette, fondues and the like.
Irish Roasted Turkey sandwich (I know...boring... but good food pictures are sure to come soon)Read more
TravelerHave a great trip!!
6/26/25Reply
TravelerMy number ONE fan ❤️ thank you
6/26/25Reply
Boring? Nah, looks good. [Jeanine Belinger]
6/26/25Reply
TravelerWell I mean compared to what to come
6/26/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Met my honey
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
Reasonably easy flight
Came in good 45 minutes earlier, breezed through Passport Control (no customs)..and then waited 30 minutes at the baggage claim 😡
At the same, Laurie got to the airport and to the arrival area about 5 minutes after I walked out.
We grabbed a fast breakfast (hey I'm in Europe- I need my ham and cheese baguettes 😁) and sort of chilling now while working on logistics...

And then there's this and you can't make stuff like this up even if you tried 🤣Read more
Glad you arrived safely. Laurie looks beautiful as always. 😊 [Jeanine Belinger]
6/27/25Reply
TravelerYes she does. I could quip something about a portrait in the attic.... only we don't have the attic anymore 🤨😉
6/27/25Reply
Traveler I must show Jason the name of this business. 😅
6/27/25Reply
TravelerLol that's why I took the picture. And I tell ya one has to be a sch***k to buy anything there
6/27/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Zurich HB
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
Zurich Hauptbahnhof is Zurich's main station, often abbreviated to Zurich HB. It's a major terminus used by almost all trains serving the city and you'll often find yourself changing trains here. It's the largest station in Switzerland.
Serving up to 2,915 trains per day, Zürich HB is one of the busiest railway stations in the world. It was ranked as the best European railway station in 2023 and 2024.
It opened on 9 August 1847 (177 years ago) and has been rebuilt 3 times since.

We took a train to here from the airport (sorry but again it makes me feel ashamed the way our trains look... this was a typical epitome of European cleanliness) and thought that we'd leave our bags at the storage and go explore a little, but all the lockers were taken so at the end we just went with the luggage

One of the cons of AirB&B is that if check in is late you can't just leave your bags with front desk and come back laterRead more
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Bahnhofstrasse
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
Bahnhofstrasse is the city's main downtown street and one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues. In 2011, a study named Bahnhofstrasse the most expensive street for retail property in Europe
So think Rodeo Drive
We took a long walk on it but mainly refrained from taking too many photos (same as when we walked to the apartment- walking through the Old Town) as we'll be visiting these places again during our stay.
This one is a nod to my Mom who suggested that I should get Laurie a Cartier watch and this is the one Laurie picked (yes it IS a watch)Read more
TravelerBeautiful!
6/27/25Reply
TravelerThat will look great on her,
6/27/25Reply
Traveler😳
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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On the Waterfront
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
Wiled some time away at the
Bürkliplatz - a well-known public square situated at the southern end of Bahnhofstrasse. It opened in 1887 and is the ideal spot to sit and relax under the trees. In clear weather, you can enjoy marvelous views across the lake to the Alps. Since 1952, the terrace has been graced with the figure of Zeus (the eagle) and his lover, Ganymede, shown being borne up to Mount Olympus.

Zeus or not, but this lady must've taken thousands of selfies with that thingy 😆Read more
Traveler Lol your shirt, 👍
6/27/25Reply
TravelerYes. A post-election acquired attire 😉
6/27/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Home sweet home
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
I tell you it's hard to walk the cobble stoned streets with luggage.... especially uphill 🙄
But I decided that we should try and come in ahead of "scheduled check-in" time and the key was there
It's a typical European studio apartment with little kitchenette and balcony
There are no great amenities, but it's clean.
You can spy 2 spires to your right on the balcony picture:
The right one is St Peter's church sporting the largest clock in the world
To the left with tall green spire is Fraumunster.
We plan to visit both of themRead more
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Weinerstrasse
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F
We decided to take a walk to a small grocery shop nearby for some simple provisions for tomorrow's and Sunday mornings breakfasts.
There are just some of the buildings along Weinerstrasse - our street
Oh yeah and couple of flowers for Julie
and a blast from the past - an old Soviet Ural bike

with yet another blast from the past - a house where Józef Piłsudski lived. He was a pivotal figure in Polish history, known for his leadership in the fight for Polish independence and his role in shaping the Second Polish Republic. He served as Chief of State (1918-1922) and later as Marshal of Poland (from 1920), and is often considered the "father of the Second Polish Republic".Read more
TravelerYay flowers and side cars.
6/27/25Reply
TravelerI love the old European architecture and streets.
6/27/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Abendessen im N-68
June 27 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
Ok so finding something to eat is quite a challenge.
To begin with there is not much around us so we had to go downhill to town ( meaning we'll have to climb back up).
Then there are lots of places but they all are sort of "normal American variety " even down to good Ole Philly cheesesteak. The big difference is the rather shocking price! Something equivalent to double whopper with cheese is 36CHF and you can do math with 1CHF = 1.22 USD.
We stopped at this place where we are sampling "meat off the hot stone" for practically same money.
Laurie is munching on chicken breast and I went for somewhat more Deutsche Tradition pork loin 😁
Dish served with 3 sauces and a side - individual choices.
So the kick is that meat comes out on that stone wich is beyond hot (you can see the sizzle on very short video - first of Laurie's chicken and then my pork) and you cut a small piece or a strip and let THAT sit on the stone , sort of sizzling on it.
Totally cool and it was delish-tasty.

You can also see the rest of the street beginning to hop - getting towards evening time.

Of course we merely went back to our abode, tired... and went to sleep

Tomorrow will start the full days adventuresRead more
TravelerNice hunk of meat. Looking forward to fun with fondue...
6/27/25Reply
TravelerThe British couple next table to us were digging into one of those. We figured we'll wait just yet 😌
6/27/25Reply
TravelerFood looks delicious! I love the outdoor dining.
6/27/25Reply
TravelerAgreed. Adds to the appetite 😃
6/27/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Serene Zurich morning
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Beautiful morning sunny weather
The birds are singing
The Swiss Alps with snowy peaks can be glimpsed way there yonder on the horizon
And a simple breakfast on the balcony of baguette, roasted meat, emmentaller cheese and tomatoes- all fresh 😊😋Read more
So, what is on the agenda for this beautiful day? [Jeanine Belinger]
6/28/25Reply
TravelerThe agenda will be downloaded at the end of the day. Meanwhile you can sing the Ketchup commercial 😁
6/28/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Streets of Zurich
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
The day was absolutely GAW-jas so we decided to simply walk a whole bunch of streets, gawking at the store windows, soaking up sunshine and all that

The Mühlesteg Love Lock Bridge: A Testament to Romance in the Heart of Switzerland**

Oozing the picturesque charm of Switzerland, the Mühlesteg Bridge stands as a symbol of enduring love and romantic commitment. This pedestrian bridge has become an essential pilgrimage site for couples wishing to immortalize their feelings in a Romantic Ritual
As per tradition, lovers from around the world journey to Mühlesteg Bridge to partake in a heartwarming ritual: securing a padlock to the bridge's metal railings and casting the key into the tranquil waters below, as a metaphor for unbreakable love. Each lock, adorned with names or messages, represents a unique bond, a promise of infinity between two hearts.

We really liked the ... lion?... dog?.. wolf?... bear? (well, definitely not a tiger) one

Then there were these 3 headless martyrsRead more
I would guess lion. So, which lock is yours and Laurie's? [Jeanine Belinger]
6/28/25Reply
TravelerWe left ours along with ball and chains at home 🤣. There was this one lock for August 2028!!! That's a lot of optimism!
6/29/25Reply
Traveler Wow... That's a big clock.
6/28/25Reply
TravelerYeah. We hope to be able to get in at one point. The information says "temporary closed" 😒
6/29/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Zurich HB and Reiz Hats
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
The first agenda for today was to walk back to Zurich HB and reasonably get ourselves situated with trains schedules and platforms. It's a pretty big place and we wouldn't want to scramble right before the train to the Airport.
Then we stopped at the Reiz hat store as I sorely needed a hat - my Barcelona had breezed its last earlier this year.Read more
Hats, hats and more hats! [Jeanine Belinger]
6/28/25Reply
TravelerCowboy hat!
6/28/25Reply
Traveleryeah.. the cowboy hats were all Stetsons and trust you me I aint buying one in Switzerland!!!!
7/7/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Lindenhof
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
The Lindenhof ("linden yard") is a moraine hill and public square in the historic center of Zurich, Switzerland. It is the site of the Roman and Carolingian era Kaiserpfalz around which the city has historically grown. The hilltop area—including its prehistoric, Roman, and medieval remains—is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

More info at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindenhof_hillRead more
TravelerLooks like you found a very serviceable hat! Beautiful area and weather. Enjoy!
6/28/25Reply
TravelerDanke schonn
6/28/25ReplyTranslate
Traveler Very peaceful looking. Great dress, too.
6/28/25Reply
Traveler Not sure about this goose-snake thing...
6/28/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Streets 2
Jun 28–Jul 3 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Sunlit strasses, beds of flowers, a Tiki bar that dates back to XVI century, a burgomister and Opera Haus (Located at the Sechseläutenplatz, it has been the home of the Zurich Opera since 1891, and also houses the Bernhard-Theater Zürich. It is also home to Ballett Zürich....also the site of so-called Opernhauskrawalle youth protests) and Larry 😉

And we were treated to a choir of Young Christians.
Nice to see that in Europe that is becoming increasingly and alarmingly more SocialistRead more
TravelerAgree, nice to see and beautiful voices.
6/28/25Reply
TravelerI actually emailed that video to Pastor Lee right on the spot 😁
6/29/25Reply
TravelerLove the choir!
6/28/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Fraumunster
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
The Fraumünster (German pronunciation: [fʁaʊ̯ˈmʏnstɐ]; lit. in English: Women's Minster) is a church in which was built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women which was founded in 853 by Louis the German for his daughter Hildegard. He endowed the Benedictine convent with the lands of Zürich, Uri, and the Albis forest, and granted the convent immunity, placing it under his direct authority. Today, it belongs to the Evangelical Reformed Church of the canton of Zürich and is one of the four main churches of Zürich, the others being the Grossmünster, Prediger and St. Peter's churches

It is one of the main attractions of Zurich and there is tons of info on it (starting of course with https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraumünster)Read more
Traveler I really love that blue in the background.
6/28/25Reply
TravelerThe "big guns" are traveling with on this trip so the colors are much more vibrant. On the other hand, it takes more time to post as I have to transfer and do some editing.
6/29/25Reply
TravelerMakes sense. I was wondering if you had more than the phone camera.
6/29/25Reply
TravelerMy phone, some of pictures from Laurie's phone and Fujii Finepix digital
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Fraumunster 2
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
With 6.959 pipes, the organ at Fraumünster is the largest in the canton of Zurich.

In the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance the Fraumünster is listed as a Class A object of national importance.Read more
Traveler ❤️
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TravelerNo en-chamade pipes here, though 😊
6/29/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Chagall Windows
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
The choir of the abbey includes 5 large stained glass windows designed by artist Marc Chagall and installed in 1970. Each of the 5 has a dominant color and depicts a Biblical story. From left (northern wall) to right, the 5 works are:

Prophets, depicting Elijah's ascent to heaven
Jacob, displaying his combat, and dreams of heaven
Christ, illustrating various scenes of Christ's life
Zion, showing an angel trumpeting the end of the world
Law, with Moses looking down upon the suffering of his peopleRead more
TravelerCeiling and windows are amazing.
6/28/25Reply
TravelerChagall is amazing 👏
7/7/25Reply
TravelerBeautiful
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Fraumünster's former cloister
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
Frescos by Paul Bodmer and Anne-Marie Bauer (I wonder what's going on between the snake and a frog)

Inner court

Scary heads (one looks like Tchaikovsky)
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
The Crypt Museum
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
The Crypt has made public since 19 June 2016. The oldest part of the church preserved the abbey's Holy Relics until the Reformation in Zürich banned the Roman Catholic veneration of saints. The foundations of the crypt date back to the 9th century when the abbey was founded. The crypt also comprises an exhibition on the history of the Reformation in Zürich, on the architecture and local history, assisted by a multimedia information system that illustrates the foundation fragments of the crypt, and how the church was rebuilt from the original Romanesque construction phase to its present Gothic appearance,
I specifically like the pipes and HVAC antique stuff 😆Read more
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Limmat river
Jun 28–Jul 2 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
The Limmat river commences at the outfall of Lake Zurich, in the southern part of the city of Zurich. From there flows in a northwesterly direction, continuing a further 35 km until it reaches the river Aare.

Lots of swans swim in it and the water is very clear as you can see.
Technically on one of the photos you can see the swan's head when s/he dived for some grubRead more
So pretty. [Jeanine Belinger]
6/28/25Reply
Traveler🙏
6/29/25Reply
TravelerNice to see such clean water.
6/28/25Reply
Traveler❤️
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Early afternoon thirst quench
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
They have these Strong Women displays all over the city (I'm sure you noticed Albert Einstein's wife's at Lindenhof)

Then I'm not sure if Winnie stayed at this house or just gave a speech where the stone is....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giilcPJsYuw

And it's dang nearly impossible to take Macro shots when the wind is blowing

But everything becomes mute when one sits down in a shade and relaxes with an Aperol SpritzRead more
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Brasserie Louie
June 28 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
As you well do, or perhaps do not, know Switzerland is a land of 2 cultures, so tonight we decided to "explore the other side " - gastronomically that is.

Pour Madame : Salade Niçoise avec un verre de Rosé Provençal,
et pour Monsieur : Saumon Flambé avec Rivella

We have now retired for the night, for tomorrow is an early start.Read more
TravelerLooking forward to seeing your adventures tomorrow!
6/28/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
On the way to Cape May
June 29 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
Well... no, of course not
We are actually off to Lucerne
The weather is beautiful in both places with Zurich clocking at 90° and Lucerne slightly cooler.
TravelerI love Lucerne! We were there a long time ago.
6/29/25Reply
TravelerTotally amazing city
6/29/25Reply
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
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Wilcommen zum Luzern
June 29 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
And just like that, we are in Lucerne 😁
The weather is absolutely beautiful, the birds are chirping..
Our 1st "perfunctory" glimpse at Old Town Lucerne, so we spy with our senior citizens' eyes famous Kappelbrucke and its Water Tower
The "white castle " is Château Gütsch - another Lucerne landmark.
But we'll tour the town later as we are off to Mt. Pilatus.Read more
Traveler I love this bridge! The paintings are amazing.
6/29/25Reply
Traveler👍
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Holy Cheese - its Switzerland!Traveler
Kriens
June 29 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F
We take Bus #1 from train station to Kriens, which is a municipality weather of Lucerne. It is here that we pick up the cable car ride to the mountain.
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