[Zurich, Switzerland, Thu, Nov 23, 2023]

I decided to use the days off around Thanksgiving to do a little stopover on the way back to the US from Bulgaria. I started adding side trips to my Bulgaria trips back in 2014, but the COVID pandemic put a stop to that practice. It was high time I reinstated it! I chose Zurich because it had non-stop flights to both Sofia and Los Angeles.

My flight from Sofia departed at 4 pm, a welcome respite from my usual 6 am flights when I am traveling all the way to the US. I had an aisle seat but I still managed to snap a few shots of the Alps at sunset as we were approaching Zurich.

I went through the automatic passport control for EU citizens and I was outside in no time! Just past baggage claim and customs, I found the Zurich info store, where I purchased a Zurich card. I chose the 24-hour version (there is also a 3-day version), which gave me public transit access and discounts at numerous museums. I’ve used city passes in other cities and it’s one of my favorite money- and time-saver! I just wish the Zurich card had a bit more pizzazz.

I had to choose between the S-bahn and the train to get to the city center. At first I headed for the S-bahn, which was above ground. But then I remembered the lady at the Zurich Info store instructing me to validate my Zurich card before I go down to the train. I couldn’t figure out how to validate my Zurich card at the S-bahn stop, so I had to head for the train. *Sigh* . The train is faster though, and it all worked out!

I was amazed at the size of the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, where I got off. The place was huge with many stores and it was quite crowded. I just had to keep looking for signs for Bahnhofplatz to make sure I came out from the exit closest to my hotel. Once at the surface, I was surrounded by so many people that it was hard to even move. It was clear some special event was going on. Unbeknownst to me, I had arrived right at the the switching on of “Lucy”, a Zurich tradition on the second to last Thursday of November. Bahnhofstrasse had just been lit with 11,550 light crystals spread over one kilometer (.6 miles). I found this out from a random lady I asked. She also told me there was a huge Christmas tree inside the train station hall. I made a note to come back and check all of this out once I dropped off my bags.

My hotel was a short walk from the train station. The Limmat river and the city of Zurich flanking its banks looked beautiful and I couldn’t wait to explore more.

I loved the neighborhood my hotel was in. Niederdorf is part of old town Zurich and is full of charming little medieval streets and squares. I was pleasantly surprised by the Christmas market on the little square right by my hotel. It seemed that it had just opened that day, also. I could actually see it from my window and I also had a prime view of some ladies singing from the balcony above. It was the best welcome. I dropped off my bags and I promptly went there for a Glühwein (mulled wine).

The stroll on the newly lit Bahnhofstrasse was gorgeous. There were fewer people now, so I could actually enjoy it!

I also checked out the inside of the train station and realized there was another Christmas market there. I was tempted by the food, but it was so busy, I decided to wait. The Christmas tree was, indeed, beautiful!

Back at the Christmas market near my hotel, I decided to try langos, which is Hungarian fried bread. I felt guilty for snot trying something Swiss, but the langos reminded me of Bulgarian mekitzi, and it looked delicious! I got one with cheese and garlic and it was to die for!

While eating my langos, I noticed a poster advertising a kimono exhibit at Museum Rietberg. I had noted a few museums I wanted to visit with my Zurich card, but this was not one of them. I promptly looked it up and added it to my list for the next day. It was discounted with the Zurich card, too! It looked like it was going to be a museum-hopping day for me tomorrow, something I hadn’t done since I was in Berlin in 2016.