Switzerland
Zurich

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    • Day 3

      Day 3 - Too Much Reliance on my SatNav?

      March 1 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

      Woke up early despite not finishing my blog until 1.00am. I started reading through the social media and realised that I had made a mistake in my blog for Day 2, because NMA did play ’Deserters’. Videos of 3 songs, ‘Deserters’, ‘Idumea’ and ‘States Radio’ had already been uploaded to YouTube from last nights gig. I couldn’t add any video to my blog because any uploaded videos to Penguin can’t be longer than 2 minutes. Noted for next time.

      I checked out of the hotel around 10.30am & bumped into a German also checking out in his NMA hoodie. The lightweight admitted his next gig was not until in his home town at the end of the year. I listed off my itinerary until his eyes started to glaze over.

      I headed out of the city faithfully following my SatNav which I had set to arrive at the Green Marmot Capsule Hotel in Zurich on the ‘Windiest Route’ setting again. In the outskirts, I found a huge U supermarket, so I parked up for breakfast. In the cafe area my eyes were bigger than my belly & I ordered an enormous poulet curry roll & a cafe au lait. Sadly the roll was too soft and sweet for my taste, so I picked out the filling out & ate just some of the base. To console myself I bought a 3 litre box of Cab Sav (to avoid paying Swiss prices) and a couple of packs of biscuits and sweets.

      With the panniers now heaving at the seams, I continued my journey only for less than 30 minutes later my fuel gauge told me that I needed to stop for petrol. After filling up, I went up to the cashier & in my best French accent I announced “Pumpf six’. She looked at me rather strangely and asked “Do you mean Pump Six?” I was slightly taken aback but I told her “I did”. After paying up & feeling a little miffed I returned to the forecourt to discover that all the cars were German and I was now in fact back in Germany. I had no idea.

      I continued south following my SatNav & it took me into alpine country. All the buildings were chalet like and the route took me through valleys alongside rock strewn fat flowing rivers. All was going well until the SatNav decided I had had it too easy. It directed up mountain roads that got narrower, bumpier, steeper and of course windiester!!

      The road got so narrow and bumpy with a steep unbarriered drop on my side that I prayed I didn’t meet a car coming towards me at any sort of speed. Luckily I only met one car coming the other way & he was kind enough to stop to let me pass. I was starting to curse my decision to do windiest route on my SatNav.

      Finally I arrived back on a wider road, but at the top of a cold mountain where all the signposts were for ski lifts. Luckily the now wide smooth roads had me racing towards Zurich and I was making good time. Unfortunately this didn’t last long, my route tried to take me along a road that was closed.

      I chose an alternative road which after several miles came to a muddy dead end. I then chose a 2nd road which took me on a 5 mile loop back to the road closure. By now very frustrated, I took a 3rd road in the opposite direction to the road closure, hoping that the SatNav would find an alternative route. After an approximate 10 mile loop, I again ended up back at the same bloody road closure.

      In the end I set my SatNav back to Fastest Route’, re traced my route all the way back to a major road, then turned east on to it until the SatNav finally gave in and properly rerouted me. As it happens the remainder of the journey was a pleasant experience. The border into Switzerland was almost non existent & if you had blinked you would have missed it.

      I finally arrived & parked up free of charge outside my Green Marmot Capsule Hotel at 4.45pm. The capsules were a bit of a shock to me. They were MDF boxes with a large single bed inside, but only a privacy curtain for a door. I was forced into paying nearly £10 a night for a large locker. The hotel is divided into men’s and women’s areas. At the end of our corridor is a changing room similar to in a shop, but the bathrooms are well catered with shower cubicles, toilets and basins. They even provide free towels!!

      I got changed then headed straight out for a walk around the city. I 1st crossed the Quaibrucke Bridge over Lake Zurich & followed the footpath around the lake. As I walked and looked out across the lake I saw what appeared to be a naked man on a pontoon jump into the lake. As I got nearer, I discovered that it was an obviously gay sauna establishment, where a whole load of naked men were flouncing about in and out of the water on the end of the pontoon. My mate, Alka, would have loved it there. Surprisingly, none of the other pedestrians took a blind bit of notice.

      I then headed inland to take in the FIFA Museum, Paradeplatz, several impressive churches & bridges that I will revisit in the morning in the light. I also came across an impromptu shrine for Alexei Navalny where people were leaving flowers, lighting candles and saying prayers for him. It was his funeral in Moscow earlier today.

      Before returning to my capsule, I bought a litre of orange juice (for some much needed vitamin c) and some Fairtrade Madagascan dark bitter chocolate.

      I returned to the capsule that soon became nice and cosy. I had a chat with Jackie as she walked home after her work shift, then settled down to several cups of red wine, all the Twiglets, half a packet of Biscotti biscuits & some faux liquorice allsorts.

      Song of the Day - Motor Bikin’ by Chris Spedding.
      NMA - Song of the Day - Aimless Desire by New Model Army.
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    • Day 4

      Day 4 - Endless Art in Zurich

      March 2 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

      I woke up around 5.30am in my cosy Capsule 37 having had a deep undisturbed sleep. I watched Netflix until I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to get back to sleep. After using the perfectly adequate shower facilities, I treated myself to a fresh set of clothes (Yes, I know…….minging).

      (Morning to Angela & Pam, I see you are both following & liking my blog. I hope you are both keeping well & that Chris & Tony are also well. It seems strange being away on my own. I haven’t got Jackie to take the mickey out of or blame if things go wrong!)

      It was 9.30am, when I locked all my belongings away in my expensive locker and headed out for the day. I was keen to see if it was possible to get a cheap coffee in Zurich. It wasn’t. I headed first along Theaterstrasse passing Mascotte, the venue for tonight’s gig, just a 6 minute walk away, then on to Zurich’s Opera House. Outside the Opera House, was a large open space with numerous pairs of chairs presumably to relax in. The place was deserted.

      I crossed Quai Bridge and found myself up on Bahnhofstrasse, where I saw a super busy bakery which also sold coffee. I bit the bullet and bought myself a small Americano, costing 5 Swiss francs, nearly £5. I sat outside in the sun next to the random rhinoceros metal statue & ate half a packet of biscuits with my coffee. I got out my DK Eyewitness Travel 2008 guidebook & planned my route for the day.

      As I set off, I realised that I had actually chosen the most expensive street to buy a coffee on, because the street was just designer shop after design shop, including every high end Swiss watch makers. Along Bahnhofstrasse, I had to avoid a little old man handing out leaflets under a gazebo with the words ‘Jesus Sucht Dich’. I hope it’s not what it sounds like and I’m not sure googling it would be a good idea!

      My first stop was Fraumunster, the history of which dates back to 853ad. I took some photos from the outside & from Munster Bridge, where wedding couples where having their photos taken. I then moved on to St Peter’s Church with its large clockface, measuring 28ft in diameter, the largest in Europe. Next was Augustinerkirche, a 13th century Gothic church.

      I continued back along Bahnhofstrasse, past the monument to Alfred Escher on Bahnhofplatz, and on to Bahnhof, described as Zürich’s monumental Neo-Renaissance train station & one of the city’s greatest icons, built in 1871. It was virtually empty inside.

      I continued north to Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, the Swiss National Museum for history and culture. It was housed in a very impressive building, but I wasn’t enticed in. I continued through the park known as Platzspitz, then crossed the Limmat River. I followed the river back to Wasserkirche, meaning Water Church, where Felix and Regula were martyred in Roman Times.

      Next was Grossmunster, with its twin towers that dominate Zurich’s skyline. It was not open & in any event an admission fee required. I then wandered through the narrow cobbled streets of Niederdor to Rathaus, Zurich’s town hall.

      Within Niederdor, I found the 13th century church, Predigerkirche It was open and I was able to go in free of charge!

      On the way to the Kunsthaus, I saw signs for the Cabaret Voltaire which I followed to a beige coloured building, which was the birthplace of the Dada Movement which started in Zurich in 1916. I was more interested, because I assumed it was the inspiration for the Sheffield band of the same name.

      At 12.30pm having already walked 5.7 miles, I arrived at the Kunsthaus, which my guidebook tells me is Switzerland’s greatest art gallery. It cost 24 Swiss francs to enter and I felt that it was worth every franc. There was artwork from Monet, Manet, Picasso, Cezannre, Van Gogh, Munch, Warhol, Hockney, Miro & Rodin to name just a few. I studied & then memorised the artist & title for each and every piece of artwork on display. It included Claude Monet’s Winter.

      Photos from the Kunsthaus I will upload as a separate footprint.

      I left the Kunsthaus at 4.00pm exactly & then marched along the busy lakeside promenade to the Henry Moore sculpture, just another 1 mile away. It was a pleasant sunny walk.

      Back at my Green Marmot capsule hotel, I sat on the balcony in the setting sun & drank 3 plastic cups of red wine accompanied by just a packet of imitation Jaffa cakes. From my balcony I espied 2 obvious NMA fans.

      At 7.00pm I hurried out from my capsule balcony, for the 6 minute walk to Mascotte. I found the couple I had seen & I introduced myself to them. I found out they were German and they had spotted me on my balcony. We had several chats throughout the evening.

      The ground floor seemed tiny and I took advantage of the Swiss politeness to get myself a spot right at the front, next to Ceri Monger’s drums. I was not moving from this spot.

      The support band, Anger Management, were ok, but not worthy of a playlist on Spotify. Very annoyingly a security guard insisted that he had to stand at the front of the stage. With the kind assistance of a fellow NMA fans, we got him to agree to ‘work with us’ during the performance. It wasn’t perfect, but I took the opportunity to record pretty much the whole performance in less than 2 minute chunks.

      At the end of the gig, my German friends, told me they were disappointed that the gig had only lasted an hour and 35 minutes. They were used to NMA playing a double bill concert (of which I have experienced).

      The gig finished at 10.10pm local time & at the end I hunted out the NMA stalwart, Steve Clarke. I found him near the bar & I introduced myself as a fellow Magic Bus traveller. He asked me to call him ‘Red’ & told me that he and Jack were driving the Magic Buses. We agreed that we would meet in Bern & he disappeared into a throng of fans near the stage. One of his mates/companions handed me a bottle of beer which went down a treat, but not worth the £10 it probably cost,

      I returned to the Green Marmot Capsule Hotel to download my photos and videos. I necked the remainder of my 3 litre box of red wine.

      Song of the Day - Endless Art by A House.

      NMA Song of the Day - Winter by New Model Army
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    • Day 3

      J2 - Interlaken

      March 3 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

      Après vous avoir posté mon récit d'hier je suis allée boire un verre avec Jeanne. C'était très sympa, on a principalement échangé sur nos vies/expériences de vie respectives. Après deux bières (dont une offerte par l'auberge, ce qui nous a fait bien plaisir vu les prix en Suisse), une chenille avec un groupe de femmes trentenaires qui avaient envie de faire la fête, et des chansons suisses dans la tête on est allé se coucher. On s'est donné rendez-vous à 10h le lendemain pour randonner.

      Jeanne avait repérer un point de vue intéressant sur les deux lacs d'Interlaken, accessible en 6min en funiculaire durant la haute saison, ou par une montée de 2h30 durant la basse saison. Je pense que vous avez deviner l'option pour laquelle nous avons opté 😉 Pour accéder au départ de la randonnée nous avons pris un train de 3min, puis nous voila lancées dans une montée raide, sous le soleil, avec une vue magnifique, quelque soit l'endroit où nous posions les yeux. Les lacs avait une couleur magnifique, l'un d'un bleu turquoise qui ressortait parfaitement avec le soleil, l'autre d'un bleu un peu plus profond et mystérieux Nous avons finalement mis 1h50, ce qui nous a rendu assez fières ! Une fois en haut nous avons profité de la vue, dégusté nos sandwichs et c'était reparti pour la descente. Durant la montée nous avions vu que le chemin se séparait, il y avait donc deux itinéraires possibles. Pour éviter de revenir sur nos pas nous avons donc voulu prendre le second pour la descente. Un moment d'inattention, ou une erreur de lecture des panneaux et nous voilà en train de grimper sans comprendre pourquoi. Nous étions en fait en direction d'un sommet plus loin. Quand nous étions sûres de notre erreur nous avons fait demi tour, pas le courage d'aller jusqu'en haut ... La descente était agréable, plus simple que la montée, et toujours sous le soleil ☀️

      Après ce bel effort retour à l'auberge, je prends mes affaires, et Jeanne m'accompagne à la gare, j'ai un train pour Zurich. Le trajet est joli car longe un des deux lacs durant la première moitié. Je profite du trajet pour essayer de programmer la suite de mon voyage, ce qui n'est pas une grande réussite.

      Une fois arrivée à Zurich je vais en direction de l'auberge. C'est chouette car cette fois j'arrive dans une nouvelle ville quand il ne fait pas encore totalement noir, ça me permet de commencer à la découvrir ! Je m'installe puis ressort, téléphone à Nils et fait des courses pour le soir. Repas, douche, et au lit ! La journée était sportive et je ne sais toujours pas où je dors demain, j'ai des recherches à faire !

      J'avais prévu de prendre un train touristique dans le sud de la Suisse, mais mon manque d'organisation me fait réaliser trop tard qu'il est complet ... Changement de plan, demain je vais à Innsbruck, puis Salzburg, avec Ljubljana en ligne de mire ! Logements pour les deux prochains jours réservés, me voilà un peu plus sereine et apte à passer une bonne nuit.

      Bonne nuit à tous 😉
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    • Day 298

      Rheinfall ohne Touris

      June 21, 2020 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

      Nachdem wir unseren traumhaften Platz verhältnismäßig ausgeschlafen verlassen haben, sind wir mit ein paar Brötchen und dem Kocher für den Kaffee Richtung der Rheinfälle gefahren. Die sieben Kilometer dorthin waren schnell erledigt, sodass wir bereits um 8:30 Uhr morgens als eine der einzigen eine Bank in erster Reihe beziehen konnten.

      Gerade So menschenleer bei niedrig stehender Sonne, sind diese Wassermassen ein wirkliches Spektakel.

      Zum Größten Teil dann in der Schweiz ging der Weg weiter nach Konstanz. Das Wasser des Rheins und dann des Bodensees sind wirklich wunderbar klar und laden zu regelmäßigen Badestopps sein.
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    • Day 11

      Z U R I C H

      May 21, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

      Zurich est belle, mais je n'accroche pas a ce genre de charme prout prout avec une aura de m'as tu vu a chaque coin de rue.. J'ai quand même pris le temps de visiter la vieille ville et un peu le lac mais sans plus
      Par contre galère de ouf pour faire du stop, j'ai du faire le tour de la ville avant de revenir presque au point de départ quand on m'a finalement pris en stop !
      Contente de partir ahah
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    • Day 13

      Zürich - letzter Tag

      June 2, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

      Am letzten Tag unseres Zürich Aufenthaltes haben wir uns überwiegend im "District 5" aufgehalten - ein Viertel direkt hinter dem Hauptbahnhof. Hier ist es etwas multikultureller und man findet die eine oder andere Wand mit Graffitis. Das Viertel hat viele individuelle Shops und Bars/Cafés/Restaurants zu bieten. Die skurrilste Shopping Möglichkeiten bietet wohl das Zürcher Brockenhaus, ein "Kaufhaus" das in erster Linie Stücke aus Räumungsverkäufen und Haushaltsauflösungen anbietet. Ebenfalls eine Empfehlung (wenn auch wie so immer, nicht gerade günstig) sind die vielen Läden am Viadukt.Read more

    • Day 1

      Spontan klappte ziemlich gut.

      June 13, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      Nach Pleite, Pech und Pannen mit dem Wohnwagen und unserem Vorhaben nach Schweden zu fahren, kramen wir notgedrungen den Minicampereinbau aus dem Keller. Verflucht ist der schwer. Wie konnte ich das vergessen. Gott sei Dank müssen nur wenige Dinge ausgebessert werden und somit können wir endlich in den Urlaub starten. Erstes Ziel (wie letztes Jahr), mein Schulfreund Aaron in Zürich.
      Die Parksituation hier ist wirklich unterirdisch. Gott sei Dank gibt’s vor dem Wohnhaus einen Besucherparkplatz. Ansonsten hat es uns Zürich angetan. Es fängt schon damit an dass alles so niedlich klingt. In Deutschland würde eine Bushaltestelle „zur Mooreiche“ heißen. Hier heißt sie „Dunkelhölzli“. Zum abkühlen geht es in das coolste Freibad. Ein kleiner Nebenarm der Limmat. Es ist umsonst, Bademeister gibt es trotzdem. Und durch die Strömung kann man sich entweder treiben lassen oder auf der Stelle schwimmen bis man Arme hat, die sich wie Beton anfühlen. Ich genieße die Sonne, Martin schmeißt sich in das glasklare Wasser.
      Wir kommen an einem zuckersüßen aber unglaublich großen Areal für Dampfmodeleisenbahn vorbei. Da haben sich welche einen sehr großen kleinen Traum erfüllt mit Brücken, Tunneln und allem was dazu gehört.
      Kurz staunen und weiter geht es für uns zum coolsten „Biergarten“ den wir bisher gesehen haben. Für Instaposer ist das glaub ich das Schlaraffenland. Theri erzählt uns das sie beim letzten Mal an der Schaukel fast Schlange standen :-).
      Für mich gibt’s Halloumifries, ich hätte mich rein legen können. Es folgen für alle noch Pizza, Hot Dogs, Kartoffelsalat…. Das Eis was sonst eigentlich immer noch passt, passte tatsächlich nicht mehr. Köstlich.
      Zum Abschluss noch ne Runde zocken und ab ins Bett.
      Der erste Tag gibt ein ziemlich hohes Maß an… ob wir das halten können ist sehr fraglich :-D.
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    • Day 44

      Old Town

      June 22, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

      I went to Landesmuseum which had an exhibition called ‘I’m Wald’ about the History of Switzerland forests and lots of art about sustainability , climate change and climate change protestors and recent events.
      There was an Anne Frank exhibition that I saw as well.
      I went around old town and found a cute park with a really nice view- people were sitting off the ledge of the wall and you could see the whole of the Limmat river which was so so pretty. The streets and buildings were also really nice 😊:)))
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    • Day 17

      R(h)einfall ?!

      July 25, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

      Auf unserer Strecke heute legen wir 3 Zwischenstos ein: Nr. 1 in Lustenau (Österreich) um für 1,96 € pro Liter zu Tanken, Nr. 2 um in Konstanz am Bodensee (Deutschland) einzukaufen (sieht ganz nett aus, könnte man sich auch mal genauer anschauen) und Nr. 3 am Rheinfall in Schaffhausen (Schaffhausen).
      Christian ist anscheinend mit dem falschen Fuss aufgestanden und mit nichts zufrieden zu stellen. Der Rheinfall ist im Vergleich zu den Wasserfällen in Schweden eher unspektakulär. Man kommt nicht ohne weiteres nah an den Wasserfall und wenn man dann doch nah rankommt wird man vorher abgezockt...Also bleiben wir nicht lange und fahren zum Campingplatz.
      Die Rezeption hat noch nicht auf und es stehen schon einige Leute Schlange. Als wir endlich an der Reihe sind heißt es, es müssen erst alle eingecheckt werden die reserviert haben, bevor man uns sagen kann, ob noch was frei ist. Das verstehen wir nicht so ganz und fahren weiter...
      Den nächsten Campingplatz finden wir durch eine Unleitung nicht, irren durch den tiefsten Schwarzwald und am Ende landen wir auf einem mittelmäßigen Campingplatz, der die Stimmung natürlich nicht hebt. Alles in allem war der Tag eher ein Reinfall... Morgen kann es nur besser werden.
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    • Day 8

      Rheinfall

      July 27, 2022 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Nachdem gegen Mittag die Tagung zuende war, ging es am Rhein entlang nach Schaffhausen an den Rheinfall. Ich hatte schon befürchtet, es wird ein Reinfall, weil der Rhein so wenig Wasser führt. Aber nee, es sprudelte ganz ordentlich.

      Der Rheinfall gehört zu den drei grössten Wasserfällen in Europa. Er befindet sich in der Schweiz auf dem Gebiet der Gemeinden Neuhausen und Laufen-Uhwiesen, rund vier Kilometer westlich unterhalb der Stadt Schaffhausen.

      Der Besuch hat sich auf jeden Fall gelohnt, der Sparfuchs hat mal wieder einen legalen gratis Parkplatz in der Nähe gefunden 😄 obwohl die hier wirklich bemüht waren das zu unterbinden.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Kanton Zürich, Kanton Zurich, Zürich, Zurich, ZH, كانتون زيوريخ, Zurigo, 취리히 주, Turitg

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