17th of July, 2018
My friend invites me for a two-week trip to Switzerland, a country which he visited many times in the past and where some of his relatives and friends are living. It’s July and I am hesitant, as I like Holland in summer time and I am not too keen in travelling during high season. Too late, as my travel hormones are already flying through my body and in no time my bag is packed and my garden treasures are left in the good hands of my neighbour.
Our program will be very exiting, as we start in Zürich and go from there in different directions. On a sunny Tuesday we hop in the car and drive the whole day via a very quiet highway through Germany, until we reach ‘City Stay Apartments’ on the Kieselgasse in Zürich. Our spacious residence is convenient situated on walking distance of the lake and historic centre. We are just in time to catch a glimpse of the sunset over Lake Zürich.
The walkway along the lake is filled with people of all ages and nationalities. People are having a picnic on the grass, some are playing guitar and some are just chatting away. This is definitely the spot where people like to spend the evening. We reach the old centre after a thirty minute walk and are just in time to find a place where they still serve some food. This is my first encounter with Swiss prices (which are very high!) and I am glad we booked mainly apartments, so we are able to cook our own meal!
18th of July, 2018
The next morning, we visit some relatives, go for a hike up the mountain 
and relax by the lake in Uetikon am See in the afternoon. This place is great for swimming. No entrance fee and a fabulous recreation area and even a small cafeteria with reasonable prices. The views are amazing and the water is luke warm.
19th of July, 2018
On the morning of our last day in Zürich, it is time for discovering the old town. Today is a pretty hot day and most people left the city for their holiday in the mountains. We stroll via the bridges over the Limmat river, from one side of the city to the other, and admire the St. Peter church with its enormous clock. Supposedly, it is the biggest clockwork from Europe.
We walk through the famous Bahnhofstrasse, fall in the middle of the shooting of a German movie and visit the impressive Grossmünster and Fraumünster church.
Another attraction of Lake Zürich are the swans. I never saw so many together in one spot.
We return to our apartment via the walking trail along the lake, where musicians are trying to earn some extra money. Many come from South and Central America! We grab a beer and sit ourselves down on one of the many benches. Tomorrow, we will leave this charming town and go direction Berner Oberland.
