Zurich - 1980

During my junior year in college, I spent fall term in Graz, Austria studying German. I kept a diary of my adventure, and a few years ago I transcribed it into a Word doc. Yesterday I thought I would read what I had written about Zurich. Along with 3 other women on the same program, I flew from Chicago to Amsterdam and then we traveled around a bit (London, Brussels, Strasbourg, and Zurich) before chugging into Graz.

I took no pictures in Zurich (why not? I ask myself), but I wrote these two paragraphs about the day and a half we were there.

Thursday Sept. 25 (Strasbourg - Zurich)

     We got up and ate our own breakfast - much better than the hostel stuff.  By 10:00 we check out and caught a bus.  Unfortunately it didn't go to the Bahnhof, so we went to the end of the line and took the same bus back to where we could transfer.  It only took about 1 1/2 hours.  Then I bought a ticket from Basel-Zurich.  Then we left and transfered trains in Basel.  Switzerland is not on Daylight Savings, so we gained an hour.  It was somewhat comforting to see German - not French, but it is a Swiss-German - and it's virtually non-understandable for me.  We found the youth hostel with another couple - from Washington D.C., and then went to buy some food.  We've been talking to people in our room from Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.  My eyes are being opened wider every day.  This hostel is by far the cleanest, but most strict.  For the first time since London, I had a shower.  The water is hot here!

Friday Sept. 26 (Zurich)

     Got up early for breakfast.  First time to have hot chocolate (shockolade).  We left the hostel and got to the train station and checked our luggage.  Then we got my train ticket from Zurich - Graz at a travel agency.  To the Zurich Zoo which was wonderful, and wonderful animals.  Back to station to get food for lunch.  Wandered around.  Window shopped, saw several cathedrals (one closed for renovation).  From the other (with the Chagal stained glass), there was some sort of West Point-like graduation service.  What chaos - what fun!  Then we wandered down to the Zurich See and just relaxed.  Swans, fishing, sailboats, ahhh.  Back to the station for the rest of our good - and collecting our luggage.  We caught an 8:11 train for Graz.  Some 12 hr. ride!  Switzerland is beautiful and classy and expensive.  Want to go back sometime.

I guess I can look forward to hot water, beautiful scenery, being classy and spending lots of money. Apparently I got my wish and I am going back!