Willkommen in Zürich

After an early morning start at SeaTac, a connection at JFK, and an overnight trans-Atlantic flight, we awoke from our light slumber as we began our descent into Zürich, Switzerland. It was a beautiful early morning here and the Alps were out in all their glory to greet us as we descended.

Clint, all set for our trans-Atlantic flight.

Descending into Zürich with a great view of the Alps.

We spent the morning exploring the lakeshore on what turned out to be a gorgeous morning. Zürich presents as a very clean and orderly city (very Swiss!) with pleasing green spaces along a picturesque lake. As we strolled along the lake, crew after crew of youth were cleaning the area. Sweeping, scrubbing, polishing. This is a city intent on keeping the public areas in tip-top shape, free from litter or debris. We were taken with the natural beauty here, but jet lag was having an impact and we found that a little nap was going to help us get through the rest of the day.

Morning calm on Lake Zürich

A view back toward the old city

Poppies adding color

Cleaning the city seems to be the name of the game.

Lady’s mantle with some morning dew

R & C, lakeside

After a nap, we went out to explore the riverfront and the old city. The river flows out of the lake and through the city with buildings 300-800 years old flanking it banks. As Americans, the history of European cities always floors us initially when we visit. Not only is this city old, it is beautiful, and still somewhat small with only about 300,000 people in the city itself. We explored here and there and then, it was time to do a “When in Zürich, do as the locals do” and have a scrumptious dinner of Swiss fondue. That will help us sleep off this jet lag!

A view of the old city and the river

Zürich’s riverfront

They had this sign waiting for Ryan

Interesting alleyways everywhere we turned in the old city

More riverfront

Fondue time! What could be more Swiss?

Love at first bite!

While fondue is the typical Swiss meal, we could think of a Swiss treat we wanted to try, too. Some Swiss chocolate. Out and about on our search, we heard some alpine horns being played and found a quartet of guys playing these, providing further proof to us, as if we needed any, that we were squarely in Switzerland. Then, the chocolate was found and savored as we enjoyed the evening sun. What a great first day of our Spring European adventure! Tomorrow, we’re off to Mallorca, in Spain’s Balearic Islands, in the afternoon.

One of the alpine horn blowers taking his horn and splitting