ZURICH

We woke up this morning and decided to splurge on breakfast in the hotel. Splurge it was as it was about $80 after all of the taxes and fees (they do the tip for you in London). It was good, but it was not that good!

The view from our hotel in London

We quickly packed up and made the roughly 1 mile "urban hike" to the bus stop for our ride out to the Luton airport. We rode on a large bus through small streets for roughly 6 years (Jackson says it was actually only about an hour) until we reached the small, rural airport.

I hate to admit how much this made me laugh!

Barn or airport?!

We were shocked at how small the airport was and were certain that we'd run into livestock once we got inside. Alas, we did not. It was quite an easy process, though. They move with haste in security lines here and once our flight starting boarding it was a really quick process. Jackson sat next to a lovely man, Paul, who was from the U.K. but lives in Zurich now. Paul spent the entire 1.5 hour flight giving Jackson tips on things to do and see while we were in town. Jackson found it hard to understand his thick British accent at times, but was grateful for the help nonetheless.

Jackson and Paul

Paul's map of things to see in Zurich

We got off the plane into an empty Zurich airport and headed for immigration. We were super nervous for Jackson's newly issued passport to work properly. It did! The woman checking it mentioned that they (the Swiss) will accept this type of a document, but that the U.S. would not do the same for their citizens visiting. She seemed annoyed at us for that, but we got passed along all the same. Whew!!

Jackson's new friend Paul even walked us to the train station so that we did not get lost! What a guy!

Happy to be in Zurich

We took the train to a bus station, got on the bus going to wrong way, turned ourselves around and went the right way then walked a few minutes to our hotel all while wearing our backpacks. I won't lie and say this was a pretty part of our day! ;) We got all checked in to the hotel, cleaned up and headed back out to explore the city sans backpacks! Lovely!

Train stop

We caught the train into city center and strolled around taking in the gorgeous sites.

Jackson ready to explore

I LOVE this building

Petefish.

I loved the clock on this church!

Zurich looking lovely behind me

A guy playing lovely music

Photos will never do justice to this town. I seriously have never seen a more beautiful place!

Where we dined

Jackson wanted to eat at a famous restaurant, Zeughauskeller, so that we did. It did not disappoint!

Dinner!

He had sausage with potato salad and I had their cordon bleu (pork!) with a potato cake (hashbrowns). Jackson naturally had a beer and I had the best tea I've ever consumed!

The restaurant's interior

Interestingly, the atmosphere of the restaurant is that of community and since there were only two of us they sat another couple of our four person table. I was a little off put by this at first, but the couple who joined us (Martin and June) were lovely. They live in Australia now but hail from the U.K. so we had plenty to chat about throughout dinner! It turned out to be quite a nice things being seated with them!

The prettiest chocolate shop in the world!

After dinner we went for a stroll and did a little window shopping. We cannot wait to go back out tomorrow when the shops are open to buy chocolates and other goodies that folks have requested we bring back home.

Quiet city streets

We really love it here and wish we had more time! I guess we'll just have to come to Switzerland again soon!!