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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.
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  • Fräkmüntegg

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    The Fräkmüntegg is a northeastern spur of Mount Pilatus in the Emmental Alps . From an altitude of 1,469 m (4,819 ft) above sea level, the ridge forms the border between the cantons of Lucerne and Nidwalden . The Fräkmüntegg is an intermediate station for the cable car from Kriens to Mount Pilatus, and it is a popular tourist destination with several attractionsRead more

  • Mt Pilatus - Pilatus Kulm

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Pilatus, also often referred to as Mount Pilatus, is a mountain massif overlooking Lucerne in Central Switzerland. It is composed of several peaks, of which the highest (2,128.5 m [6,983 ft]) is named Tomlishorn.
    A few different local legends about the origin of the name exist. One claims that Pilatus was named so because Pontius Pilate was buried there. Another is that the mountain looks like the belly of a large man, Pilate, lying on his back and was thus named for him. The name may also be derived from "pileatus", meaning "cloud-topped"
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  • Pilatus 2

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Of course, Laurie chickened out to go to all the high observation platforms, so we stuck to the "main area," which has beautiful views as well and treated ourselves to a couple of cold Rivellas

  • Alpnachtstad cog train

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    The world’s steepest cog railway starts its climb at Alpnachstad and tackles a maximum gradient of 48 percent, thereby passing forests, meadows, and rock faces.
    Of course we are taking it in reverse going down to the village of Alpnachtstad
    We saved a cabin with a couple from UK (their photos are not good as they were trying to get out of my way when I was taking pictures) and a lady from Hungary who now lives in Switzerland. She had a dog named Boobie and Laurie had a new friend.
    There was a paraglider and wile I did zoom in on him, he's there even in pre zoom photos
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  • Das Boot

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    The last leg of the trip is a mini cruise from Alpnachtstad back to Lucerne on Lake Alpnach
    We saw lots of people enjoying themselves on local beaches and these guys who were sort of para-boarding, but with wings-type contraptionsRead more

  • Der Kapellbrücke

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    The Chapel Bridge is a medieval covered wooden bridge over the Reuss River. It is considered a landmark and one of the city's most important tourist attractions. The Water Tower stands at its center . The bridge, tower, and series of paintings are listed as Category A (nationally significant) cultural assets in Lucerne .

    Check out https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapellbrücke for all the info on the bridge, the tower and paintings( I took only a few photos of them)
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  • THE Lion

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    This was without a doubt the #1 reason why we always wanted to visit Lucer - to see The Lion.

    Some perhaps heard of it by the reference of "The Sleeping Lion (of Lucerne)." That is not true!!!
    It's "The (mortally wounded ) Dying Lion" ...and it is incredibly moving to be standing there looking at this stupendous work of art, sculpture and the history behind the monument.

    The monument (six by ten metres), with Latin inscriptions and situated in an expansive English garden, was ceremoniously unveiled in 1821. The massive lion was designed in Rome by one of the most famous sculptors of the day, Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, and carved in the rock face of a former quarry by stonemason Lukas Ahorn from Constance. It commemorates the events
    10 August 1792, when an angry hoard stormed the Tuileries Palace and killed hundreds of Swiss Guardsmen serving King Louis XVI. (Think- The start of the French Revolution )

    Mark Twain (in his book "Innocents Abroad ") praised the sculpture of a mortally wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.

    Of course Wiki gives plenty of info
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Monument
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  • Museggmauer

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    The Musegg Wall is a well-preserved section of the city's medieval fortifications, constructed around 1365 to protect the city, particularly after Lucerne joined the Swiss Confederation in 1332. The wall, stretching for approximately 870 meters, features nine towers, each with its own history and purpose, and is considered one of the longest, best-preserved defensive walls in Switzerland.

    https://www.luzern.com/en/the-city/sights/top-s…
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  • Streets 2

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Concluding our Wall visit we walked along the bank of Reuss River and watched with amusement this local rendition of "tubing on the Delaware" (and don't for a moment think that we were not tempted given the chance) 😀

    Crossed over to the other side on the other old covered bridge - Spreuerbrücke (Chaff Bridge). It's called the Chaff Bridge because the chaff from the city's mills, the waste from threshing grain, was thrown over the bridge's edge into the Reuss River. The southern half of the bridge, built in 1408, stands across the Reuss River, while the northern half is diagonal to it.
    Like the Chapel Bridge, the Spreuer Bridge is also adorned with an impressive cycle of paintings. The painter Caspar Meglinger created them between 1625 and 1635, strikingly illustrating the motif of the Dance of Death, a popular motif in the Middle Ages. The paintings depict how death is omnipresent and can strike anyone at any time. Another eye-catcher is the bridge chapel integrated into the Spreuer Bridge. It depicts motifs and figures from the cycles of the church year.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreuer_Bridge

    Walked by the Needle Dam, also known as the Reuss Weir. (For some strange reason, my sister-in-law came to my mind 🤣🤣😉) Built between 1859 and 1861, the weir is a historical monument and marvel of 19th century engineering.

    The water level of Lake Lucerne is still regulated manually by the removal or insertion of timber «needles». This regulation – to prevent flooding, for instance – allows the level of the lake to be kept at a height to suit the seasons, regardless of the weather.

    The weir was renovated and extended between 2009 and 2011.

    I initially thought that it was Sherlock Holmes and The Hounds of Baskerville but on the closer examination the hounds turned out to be ewes.. or goats (take your pick)
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  • Jesuitenkirche

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    Switzerland’s first baroque sacred building,the Jesuit Church stands there, radiant in its beauty, recognisable from afar: situated next to the River Reuss, it is a treat for the eyes.

    Construction of the church began in 1666, with the official inauguration being held in 1677. The Jesuit Church was modelled on the Church of the Gesù in Rome as the first major sacred building to be built in the baroque style in Switzerland. In terms of art, particularly worth noting are its baroque and rococo stucco, its high altar, and its organ and treasury. The imposing interior boasts a particularly fine acoustic, which is why the church now also serves as a concert venue; organists are also taught here.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit_Church,_…

    We only had a couple of minutes before The Mass started, so I had to content myself to just a few of the shots
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  • Lucerne train 2

    June 29, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 91 °F

    aka End of the visit
    By now we were quite exhausted 😩
    The day did turn out very hot, and we were now close to our starting point (thus concluding a nice little loop), so we beat to the train station and went back to Zurich.
    Upon returning to the apartment, we each drank what must've been 100 Gallo s of water, took refreshing showers and fell into bed....

    Gute Nacht, Irene
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  • Happy Birthday to me - Breakfast

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    As you might imagine- it was quite a late start after a full day yesterday.
    Klara's Kitchen is right outside our apartment lobby (you can see the door in a bit to the right), so we had a scrumptious breakfast.
    Laurie's Café Americano
    My Cappuccino ala Pumpkin
    My Cappuccino ala Nuclear Blast
    A freshly squeezed and blended Apple, Carrot and Beet juice... an interesting concoction, and we actually liked it.
    Awesome Avocado toast on multi-grain bread with arugula, baby tomatoes, and sesame seeds
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  • Grossmünster church

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    The Grossmünster Church is a former monastery built on the graves of the city’s patron saints, Felix and Regula, and is the site of the first secondary school, which according to legend, was founded by Charlemagne. His statue (a copy; see Crypt in 2nd set) stands on top of the south tower, the Karlsturm.
    The stained glass windows by Sigmar Polke, the Romanesque crypt, the choir windows by Augusto Giacometti, the bronze doors by Otto Münch, and the Reformation Museum in the cloister are just some of the highlights that can be admired here.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grossmünster
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  • Grossmünster 2

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Since 2009, artistically designed stained-glass windows by Sigmar Polke have decorated the Grossmünster church. This well-known German artist crafted seven windows in the nave from agate. He cut this semi-precious stone into thin slices that would let light pass through them and give the appearance of brightly glowing walls. The brilliantly colorful result was then expanded with five figurative glass windows.

    The motifs feature Old Testament figures: the scapegoat, Isaac, the Son of Man, Elijah and David. They all move in the direction of the birth of Christ and thus toward the chancel window created by Augusto Giacometti in 1933.

    The photo of the aktar image of Christ just dies not convey what one sees from the seats of the Sanctuary - the whole blue area and His Hands are projecting a 3-D image.

    In the crypt is the original statue of Charlemagne.
    Although some claim that Sts. Felix and Regula (Zurich’s patron saints) are buried here, it probably is not true.

    Laurie is "playing Catholic " again... and it's not even a Catholic church (at least anymore)

    A view from the terrace across the Limatt River of Fraumünster (left) and St. Peter's (right)... and yes, unfortunately, it is temporarily closed.
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  • Its my Birthday- Celebration 1

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Sadly, we learned that according to the old and true "you snooze you lose" we won't be visiting Lindt Chocolate Factory (so much for my AYCE Chocolate during the tour and the Chocolate Fondue Fountain 😢😿😭
    The next available tour time is not until July 22 😯

    So we did some running around and secured a couple of other things on our list for the upcoming days

    It's still stiffening hot... over 90° ... so for my Birthday I'm treating myself and my wife to some yummy and refreshing gelato
    Laurie's Blood Orange with Lemon Ginger "taster" is on the top
    My Passion Fruit with Juniper taster is on the bottom.
    Two scoops, each and no raisins 😆

    Now... the shop next to gelateria and it's advertisement.... 🫨
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  • Its my Birthday- Celebration 2

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    Yeah... a refreshing gelato is awesome, but then just as refreshing mojitoes are literally 50 m away just around the corner

    Laurie is drinking a Pinapple mojito, and YT - a Mango one.

    I challenge anyone to spot the difference (at least in the looks)
    😇

    Happy birthday to me 🥳
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  • Its my Birthday- Celebration 5

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Can you say CHEESE?
    or rather RACLETTE? 😍
    This place serves it in a much more "civilized " way than the craziness we were given on TMB (although we were quite happy there as well).
    The plates are more manageable, and there are plenty of options. All Raclette 😋

    We went for "build your own"
    Laurie chose Smoked and Red Wine with bread while I decided to sample Soked and Garlic with potatoes.
    Each plate comes with pickles and picled onions "to cut the cheese."

    We washed it down with our new fave - Rivella - and sampled some Swiss Sider.
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  • Zurich's Drinking Fountains

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    I know that I took some photos of various drinking fountains, so I thought I'd give you some interesting facts about the system

    There is always a supply of fresh, top-quality drinking water in Zurich – thanks to more than 1,200 fountains that can be found every few meters throughout the city. As a result, Zurich is one of the cities with the largest number of fountains in the world. Fascinating stories and interesting facts and figures about some of these fountains can be heard, and there are six special fountains in the city center that are definitely worth a visit.
    The water is taken from the public water main and is constantly flowing (not recycled). There are even a few public fountains that have mineral water for free.
    And if course, the one next to Fraumünster can be converted to dispense wine on special occasion days 😊

    There are some 80+ fountains that can be used specifically for water emergencies
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  • Evening stroll on the embankment

    June 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Evening has come to pass
    The time of day doesn't last.
    Evening, has earned its place today. ..
    But I just have to say...

    I've never seen so many mondaine watches in my life

  • Eine Kleine Frühstück

    July 1, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Freshly baked bread and croissants (I smelled the Bakery when I was about a block away 😋)
    Sennenkase cheese - semi hard Swiss Cow milk cheese (a little potent but not bad)
    Carne secca bovine ("beef jerky" but not really, at least not in American sense)
    Hard boiled egg
    Tomato
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  • Polybahn and Zurich University

    July 1, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    The Polybahn, also known as the UBS Polybahn, is a funicular line that links the Central square with the terrace (Polyterrasse) by the main building of ETH Zurich.
    It's a very short hop and it takes you on the main terrace with a beautiful view of Old City
    You can recognize from previous photos Fraumünster, St. Peter's, Grossmünster, Lindenhof (red rectangle... now looking at it from the other side) and other buildings.
    The last one is Zurich Observatory
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