Zurich, Switzerland

My love of trains has come to an end

This post is part of a three-part series — a rapid trip through Italy and Switzerland. These are more of the “postcard” variety of travel essay, just quick snapshots of my impressions from each city.

By the time we reached Zürich, we had been on trains for a week. While I like trains, the Italian kind are definitely not my favorite. And the noisy college students on the ski train to the Alps generously passed their flu on to us.

Grazie, amico mio!

Taken from the train from Milan to Zürich. I have no idea where we were. The flu had already begun its impressive journey.

Zürich looked exactly as I expected. Everything is neat and tidy, and the stores are clean and precise. The shopkeepers were tolerant, but not exceptionally happy to see us, particularly the lady selling $800 shoes. To her credit, she had no idea that my husband is a Turk who can find exact copies of things for a pittance.

For the $800 shoes, he had already calculated exactly how much each wear would cost him and how many chickens he could buy for that price, even before we’d left the store. And, of course, he found the exact same shoe for $100 online within the hour, and from a reputable company no less.

The woman had no chance.

This trip was in the second week of February. I expected it to be cold and thus packed for snow. Yet Zurich was fifty degrees, even though there was a stiff, cold wind blowing down the river. My heavy wool overcoat was just too much.

The river is full of swans, but I could never get a photo of them in their beautiful selves, and I never had another chance because for the next three days, I was in bed at the hotel with the flu.

Our last meal out was in a rooftop restaurant with Asian cuisine that was very good yet ridiculously expensive for a casual cafe. Most of the city seemed overpriced compared to other cities we have visited in the past year.

Don’t laugh at my overcoat. When traveling, I cannot stand to carry bags or a purse. I put everything in pockets, and I especially like men’s oversized coats for their inside pockets. I also like skirts and pants with pockets to carry things. And zippers on the pockets are always a bonus.

I guess I’ve gotten over what I look like when I travel. I just want to be comfortable, yet have everything I need, and be ready to foil the pickpockets if necessary.

Next week we’re off to the Dominican Republic and warm weather on the boat. I’ll be back to writing after taking most of February off.

I’ll just be glad to be rid of the flu.