Zurich observations

A week ago I had the pleasure of visiting my friends Jen and Jeff for the weekend in Zurich, Switzerland.  And I loved it!!  Zurich is a really cute, charming, clean, friendly, well-behaved, crime free city that seems very livable (although EXTREMELY expensive).  I would love to spend more time there and am putting it on my list of European cities I wouldn't mind living in someday (along with Amsterdam, London, and Copenhagen).  So what did I observe, you ask?:

• First of all, this place is just adorable.  I want to put it in my pocket and take it home with me.

Sooo European

With Jen at the coolest viewpoint above the city

• People are nearly as chic as in Paris but with a slightly edgier, street vibe.  More combat-y boots, more color, more unruly, more trend than classic.  I liked it. 
• Switzerland does have a military, but they are not as rigid as America's (I presume).  I saw a guy in his military camo strolling through the train station, smoking a cigarette.  I think that someone in an American military uniform would be in big trouble for smoking in public... but I could be wrong.  So it seems a little more laid back than at home.
• Everyone follows the rules!!  At a crosswalk, you wait until it says to walk, even if there isn't a car or tram in sight.  A beggar was looking for change at a tram stop; she apparently found it, as she actually used the money she got to buy a ticket aboard the tram.  Beggars in Seattle would just hop on without paying!  When we were running behind for our dinner or brunch reservations, only by 5 minutes, we considered calling to tell them we were going to be late.  In Paris, they told us that if you show up within half an hour of your reservation, you're good.  As a person who appreciates following the rules, I liked this aspect of Zurich (although I DID want to cross the street when there was nobody coming...).
• The weekend I was in town it was Carnival!  I wouldn't have guessed that Zurich had a connection to Mardi Gras and Carnival and whatnot, but what do I know.  There were these fantastic funky informal marching bands all throughout the streets, playing music and posing for pictures.  Plus Zurich, which is normally spotlessly clean with street sweeping zambonis making regular rotations, seemed to be covered in confetti for the weekend.  I'm sure the zambonis cleaned it up first thing Monday morning. :)

Rock out with your bumblebee out

Evidence of a good time

• The people of Zurich are very trusting and trustworthy.  At brunch, when we were finished, the waitress asked us what we had eaten to tally up our bill, instead of looking at her ticket.  Jen told me that young kids ride the trams alone and it's normal to teach your kids how to get around by themselves at a young age.  It's unspoken that everyone will look out for the kids and make sure they get around okay.
• Zurich has some tasty food!  We enjoyed fondue, which is a very Swiss meal.  It came with bread, potatoes, gherkins (mini pickles), pickled onions, and pineapple.  So good, so rich, so Swiss.  We also stopped by Sprungli, which is a well-known spot for sweets in Zurich.  We enjoyed their Luxemburgerlis (like mini French macarons) and trademark hot chocolate.  It was sooo good!  I bought some of their hot chocolate mix to bring home with me, and it isn't powder, it's chunks of chocolate!  Who wants to come to my place for special hot cocoa?!

Hot chocolates with champagne, pistachio, and chocolate Luxemburgerlis

• Zurich is freaking expensive!  The cheapest and smallest item on the Starbucks menu was 6 Swiss francs (or about $6.50 USD).  A 1-time tram ticket is 4 francs (or about $4.35 USD).  I saw some fake (yes, FAKE) Converse in a store window selling for 140 francs!!!  And I tried to buy a wooden cow Christmas ornament (as Switzerland is known for their cows, and I collect ornaments when I travel), and it was 39 francs (or $43 USD).  Uhh, no thanks!
• There are a couple famous chuches in Zurich, and while I'm not a churchy kind of girl, I did love their stained glass.  One has windows specially made by Chagall that are just beautiful, and the other has slices of agate incorporated into the glass.  So beautiful.  They didn't allow cameras in either church, so I've borrowed these images from more gutsy travelers (those rule breakers!).

Chagall's windows at Fraumunster

Agate at Grossmunster

• Like a lot of European cities, eating outside of cafes is something everyone does.  Even though it was late February, we were able to sit outside in Zurich.  The difference?  All of the chairs are covered with big faux furry blankets, which makes it cozy and really, more fun.  :)
• Everyone talks about the Alps in Switzerland, but it was pretty foggy and gray the weekend I was there, plus it was dark on my train rides to and from, so I never saw the Alps.  Or alleged Alps, as I prefer to call them.  It's the 1 bummer for the weekend.  The closest I got to seeing the alleged Alps was while doing THIS:

Newport News!  My signature pose

• Those Swiss can get a little crazy.  We stopped in a shop with tons and tons of assorted alcohols that you could put into bottles of your choosing, and we stumbled across this blue Viagra vodka.  Dare you to try it!

Little blue... liquid?!

• Want the tastiest street food in Switzerland?!  Might I recommend a hollowed out pretzel bun, filled with ketchup and a tasty snappy hot dog?  YUM.

All it was missing was cream cheese

I had a really nice time in Zurich, and it was sooo good to see Jen and Jeff again!  Hopefully I can return the favor when they want to come to Seattle and need somewhere to stay.  :)