T̶w̶o̶ One p̶e̶r̶p̶e̶t̶u̶a̶l̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶a̶t̶s̶ immigrant settling into home country number five.
Julie Last Sunday the weather was gorgeous, so we decided to go explore Luzern. We arrived just before lunch and headed directly to the ‘best vegetarian restaurant in Lucerne’, Restaurant Hofgarten. The food was yummy (if a little heavy on the sauce), and we enjoyed sitting out in the plant-filled courtyard. Then we went over to … Read more
To further my goal of getting to know every corner of Switzerland, I recently rounded up a few friends and took a day trip to Basel, which is about an hour away from Zurich by train (as I’ve said before – one of the big benefits of living in Zurich is all of the cool … Read more
Last night we decided to go check out the large stadium-like thing that has popped up on Sechseläuten Platz. After a bag search by some unfriendly security guards (who whipped my water bottle out of my purse and into the trash faster than you can say “the ref is blind”), we were allowed into the … Read more
I am, now that I’ve purchased these soccer-ball-themed napkins. Oh, and these soccer pistachios and soccer pretzel balls. For those who live under a rock (or in the US), the World Cup starts tonight in Germany. Switzerland is taking part for the first time since 1994, and the merchandisers are finally cashing in. Also, giant … Read more
For anyone who’s a bit bored with Zurich’s uniform cleanliness, peace, and order, a stroll down Langstrasse could be just what you need. Although still uncharacteristically clean for a street half-filled with head shops, dollar stores, and strip clubs, this neighborhood feels completely different from the city center, so much so that you may forget … Read more
…including myself, that it is, indeed, June. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go drag my winter coat out of storage, as the forecast is calling for below freezing teperatures again tonight. Plus, I really didn’t enjoy getting caught out in the freezing rain the other day while wearing a t-shirt. But you … Read more
We spent the weekend in Zermatt with some friends. Zermatt is basically the Daytona Beach of Switzerland, not because there are any beaches, but because it’s a partying resort town full of spring break types (although more likely to be wearing snowboarding gear than a bathing suit). It’s mainly a ski resort (and it’s possible … Read more
Zurich is not exactly a diner’s paradise. Like everything else in this city, most restaurants are overpriced. Seeing the prices on a menu, I often get my hopes up about the quality of the food, only to have them dashed by the overly salty and starchy disappointment of a meal that I am later served. … Read more
Sometimes it strikes me as odd that so many religious holidays are state holidays in Europe, given that Europeans themselves are much less involved with organized religion than Americans are. But when it means a day off of work for me (when I am actually working), who am I to argue? Today is Ascension Day, … Read more
It’s like the World Cup, except that it involves only Europe (and Israel and a bunch of former Soviet Republics) and instead of a soccer team, each country fields a singer or a band. And the winner is determined by voting. And there’s no off sides. The Eurovision Song Contest was ABBA’s big international break, … Read more