Finally in our apartment! :-)

West Fest!!!

Zurich & Uetliberg

Hello

Well it's been a few days since I did this and I have lots to update on.. including a mooch around North of Zurich Friday, our visit to the old town on Saturday and a day out walking to Uetliberg on Sunday!!

Not much time to write, so here's some pictures...

North Zurich - Wipkingen - Friday




Views from GrossMunster in old town - Saturday




Walk to Ueliberg/Adliswil and views from 'little mountain' - Sunday

Breaking for the border...

(today's soundtrack - Waterboys 'Dream Harder')

On Wednesday afternoon I drove up to the German border, which is basically the river Rhein. It's a beautiful, quiet area (part of Aargau and Zurich cantons) which doesn't appear in guidebooks but seems to house a number of small wineries, lovely rolling countryside and some cute villages. This picture was taken from the Swiss side (the village of Kaiserstuhl) looking across at the German border, marked with a black eagle on a yellow sign!).

I did cross into Germany over one bridge and come back across the one pictured and fortunately no-one asked for my passport as I didn't have it with me! However you shouldn't need it in theory as there is now a bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU which has given people free movement across the border...

Not sure, apart from the currency and possibly some language differences, what the obvious differences are between the two banks of the river... either way this was my first foray into Southern Germany as have never been South of Frankfurt before!

On the way home drove up to a hilltop village where you could see the peaks of the higher Alps in Eastern Switzerland - was a bizarre sight as there was a haze which made it look like the snowy peaks were floating in the heavens unconnected to the land below!

Also got a great view of Zurich from the North as I returned home, but only because I took a wrong turn ;-)

Looking forward to heading a bit further East towards the 'Rheinfalls' at Schaffhausen, north East of Zurich, not far from the end of Lake Constance (Badensee) - meant to be quite spectacular! We might go up to Uetliberg this weekend, and get out on Zurichsee too!

More job applications and German lessons today, who knows maybe I will be doing blog entries in German soon!

Going out for a couple of expensive beers tonight too :-)

Simon x

Edelweiss*

(today soundtracked by Teenage Fanclub, the Byrds, Bob Marley and Bad Manners)

Well I survived my first interview in Switzy-land! Auto trading company near Flughafen airport. Was a good experience, and seems like a very multicultural office, was interviewed by a Ukranian and a West Indian! Will see whether it works out...

So I thought I'd celebrate with a chicken curry tonight, well it is St Patrick's Day, as well as sharing a few more pics from the last few days. Will go out for a little excursion tomorrow (after day 3 of my German course!) down to Rapperswill, watch this space for more pics!

Simon x

*just thought it seemed kind of a Swiss title

One word... SNOW!

Pri and I went up on the train to Unterterzen (1 hour South of Zurich) and from there got the cable car up to the resort of Flumserberg (my first cable car ride!) It was really gorgeous despite fairly low cloud. The mountains are dramatic up there, and there were lots of people out enjoying the slopes, boarding and ski-ing. Lots of kiddies, think it's quite a family oriented place, and mostly swiss apart from a few Americans and a few coachloads of Germans!





















I have never seen that much snow in my life, it was about 10-12 feet deep in places - though maybe where they had ploughed it to one side so that people can get in (some people drive to this place, but we left the Lupo behind ;-) ). They've had an unusually large amount of snow this year, so the season will be a bit longer than usual I think. In a couple of weeks Pri and I will have out first lesson up there I think... yikes...

Here's a few pics for now, will add more pics an more text later but need to go tidy up this flat!!

Simon x

Out and about in Luzern

Very glad I can upload pics today...! Drove out of Zurich area for the first time today, and took the TomTom style 'shortest' route so that i wasn't on the motorway the whole time - headed to Luzern and then into the hills around to get a feel for the area.

Apparently this is the most 'traditionally swiss' of areas, and looking at the architecture certainly gave me that impression! William Tell was from round here apparently - and a lot of Swiss people come to the central parts of the country for their holidays. I think we'll be regular visitors - the lake really is spectacular. It is a magnificent location - shame the overcast weather made it feel less glamorous than I know it can be. We'll come back on a sunny day! SF

Swifficiency!

Think of the tidiest, most organised and efficient place in the world...
... are you thinking of Ikea in Zurich? You should be!

Went in to pick up a few essentials that were missing from our 'fully equipped' (sic) kitchen, and also checked out some furniture we may need to buy when we find a new flat from the summer.

After leaving the store I took the long way home - and drove up to the snowline at Uetlikon (Zurich's little mountain) before dropping back into the West of Zurich at Albisrieden - approaching the city from this direction gives it a village-y feel - and only half a mile in brings you to our apartment. We are lucky to have a location so close to the edge of the city. (only downside was tractor carrying about a cubic kilometre of hay!!)

And every time I get home and close the door, the heavens open outside - lots of little hailstones today that look like miniature polystyrene balls... at least I managed to make the best of the day again!! (took a pic but CAN'T UPLOAD PICS as there is some kind of problem which I can't work out...)

Definitely taking Priya up to Uetlikon in the car (or you can get a train but petrol much cheaper ;-) ) - the views will be amazing from up there on a clear day...

First job interview Tuesday, need to get some more lined up but it's a start at least!

Right back to the job hunt... after poached eggs of course. Priorities! :-)

Simon x


PS Ah - the Dead Kennedys - just the soundtrack for a quiet day in Switzerland... ;-)

Another week before me like a great shoe with its lights on...

I think this could be my first proper week in Zurich - a bit settled now and have some idea about the kind of jobs I might be able to apply for... even though it may mean working for the man!!! :-(

The weekends here have been sunny so far, but the weekdays constantly wet... still I make sure I get out for an hour or two everyday and try to see a bit more of the city.

Well today the spell was broken, and the sun came out long enough for me to wander up to Fluntern, in the 'upper East side' (James Joyce is buried nearby) and it's a lovely spot to look back across the lake to the West side...

There is a literary/artistic/academic feel to the area, with the giant Kunsthaus nearby, and the university. Even the streets are highbrow ;-)

The gallery is closed on Mondays, but I fully intend to have my first look round later this week. There was some great sculpture outside to wet the appetite...


Plotting first trip out of Zurich this weekend, may just get the train down to Luzern and have a mooch about there for the day...

Back to 'work' now!

Sxx

Priya's debut blog!

In case anyone was worried about me... I am alive and well, and not crushed under cardboard boxes thanks Jo! ;-)

Strange week - things function pretty differently here, so it's taking some time to get used to the 'Swiss Way'.

Have learned never to leave my travelcard in my other handbag... as the Swiss travelcops take no prisoners even if you look like you're going to break down in tears to avoid a fine! Oops. But is was worth it as we were on our way to see a flat in a very desirable village-y location on the edge of the city.

We have everything crossed that we get it as it seems perfect for us - fast trains into the city & great views of Zurich See (the lake!) as you can see here and a short walk from the water, which is apparently fantastic in the summer. Who knows I may even start running!!!

Also spent a couple of hours in the old town - checking out possible Hen party locations - there are lots to choose from...

More from the brain of Priya soon!

Priya (with help from geeky fiance) xx

Found the snow!

A fifteen minute walk from the apartment took me to... the edge of the snow! One street started completely clear of the white stuff but by the time I reached the top of the street it was a winter wonderland!!

As I left the city on a footpath (which had I continued on it would have taken me up a very steep path to a small mountain overlooking the

city... but that's for another day!) I found a very quiet spot which had a really homely looking restaurant, and a little further along a remote and snowy graveyard. The snow was pretty thick up there, and I only went up about 100m!

There were not many people out except dog walkers and very active looking octagenerians with their skiing sticks... they make me feel very unfit and lazy ;-)

Now that I realise how close to the edge of the city I am, I must make the most of it - and get Priya to join me at the weekend!! Tomorrow we are going to look at a possible apartment for renting in Thalwil, near the lake (fingers crossed it's a good one!)

On a cheerier note, hearing that there was a special exhibition of Van Gogh's nightime scenes, including the astonishing Starry Night, reminded me that he once wrote:

“The sight of the stars always makes me dream. Why should the spots of light in the firmament be less accessible to us than the black spots on the map of France? Just as we take the train to to go to Tarascon, we take death to go to a star.”

Just hope you're not stuck next to him on that train. S

The legend of Fraser Digby

One of these was a minute late the other day - there was a great amount of consternation and murmuring about falling standards... ;-)

On a completely unrelated note, I am completely addicted to the Candyman* on BBC London and on his Tuesday night 606 - thank god for BBC Radio - at least i can still get it via iplayer... without this and the World Service (especially Charlie Gillett) there would be nothing worth listening to! anyway if you haven't yet heard the brilliant renditions of 'Fraser Digby's Washbag' which close each 606 then I recommend you get yourself there now... you don't have to be a footy fan to appreciate it!!

Meanwhile it keeps on raining in Zurich - no snow as forecast yet but fingers crossed... still you only have to go 100m up to find the white stuff - hopefully we will get up there in the car this weekend - had enough with being stuck indoors this week!!

*Danny Baker

With Jade Goody coming 3rd in some pointless UK poll to find out THE MOST RESPECTED PERSON IN THE WORLD, Switzerland seems far away and for all the right reasons right now...!! Especially when the lake is at its glassy best. In the summer they say the temperature of the water can reach 20 degrees C and it is always clean enough to drink...

Water, water everywhere...

In a city where you can't get a 'proper' cup of tea... this kind of thing could rile a fellow!

Dull day today but still time to wander in the old town and take a few pics. I think this city will be beautiful in the springtime - but for now we have 3 days of snow to look forward to! Promise to add wintry pics soon!

Fellenbergstrasse!

Oh and here's some pic of our (temporary) new home... x

First day to ourselves!

Although we had a beautiful day here on Saturday, we were trapped in a car being shown around Zurich by a slightly deranged relocation consultant... by the time we were able to get out with the camera... welll the weather had closed in a little. But you get the general idea. This pic was taken from the lakeshore at Thalwil.

S and P xx

Progress...

Another few days closer... have tenants sorted out which is brilliant... a few more things ticked off re. wedding. Blimey, in danger of getting organised here!!!

Zurich - 48 days till we leave!!

Things are moving along nicely with the move (in 7 weeks we will be in situ!)

My employers are being relatively cooperative too, which is a bonus - perhaps I won't be penniless (francless?) in Zurich which I feel would not be the best state to be in... (think there are more Lambourghinis there per square mile than anywhere on earth!!)

Looks like I might end up being a bit of an IT nerd, and no longer a research nerd... but at least not a destitute nerd!

Also only 164 days till the wedding! Venue: http://www.cardiffcityhall.com/

Simon

The move is fast approaching...

Welcome to Swiss Chilli - dedicated to our move from blighty to the middle of a Zurich winter on February 25th!!

Watch this space for updates as the big day gets closer...