I’m writing this post on the train from Zurich to Milano Centrale station, where we will stay overnight before taking the Frecciarossa (red bullet) train through to Venice. Life is good!
We spent two nights in Zurich at the same hotel - same room! - as our last brief stay in 2015. It’s nothing swish, but it’s super close to the train station and a great spot for heading out on foot to explore Zurich.
On our last stay we explored Langstrasse and Zurich-West - former industrial and red light districts that have become home to local designers and artists, but are still an edgy mix. This trip we spent Monday wandering through the old town, from the luxury shops on Bahnhofstrasse to the backpacker pubs and tattoo shops of Niederdorfstrasse. The old town is a pedestrian zone, with cobbled, hilly streets and narrow stone steps taking you on unexpected paths. The old town is divided by the Limmat river, busy with small boats, and there’s a great view from Lindenhof square.
We stopped for coffee at a tiny bar on a courtyard - Milch Bar. Metal tables and chairs grouped around a central fountain, mismatched crockery, and one very cute waiter in tight red, knee-length jeans, white shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a bow tie. Two coffees and 12 chf ($A16!) later…a small price to pay for the pleasure!
Today we had morning coffee in the beautiful forecourt of the Landesmuseum, Zurich’s national museum. During our last visit much of the facade was under renovation works, so it was a treat to enjoy it this morning. We didn’t have sufficient time to visit the museum this trip, so will keep it in mind for next time.
Instead, we had a long-standing commitment for a dig through the crates at Katalog Records, a secondhand heaven for music collectors, and Monsieur’s plan was to be there at door opening at 11am, leaving plenty of digging time before our train to Milan just after 3pm. The joy of vinyl buying in Europe is the ability to pick up German or French pressings of those 12” treasures from the 80s with different covers or different tracks, or only released in Europe and rarely found in Australia…and treasures there were! David Bowie, Prince, some Italian disco, and an elusive Doors cd box set…to mention a few. One happy man!
For lunch, back to the delights of the café at the Landesmuseum, where I enjoyed a chat in French with the waiter as his English was not very strong and my German non-existent…j’aime ca! Museums often have interesting cafés and, of course, very civilised toilets…appreciated by those who have had to check out of their hotel! Picked up our bags from the hotel storage and then to the station for the trip to Milan.
Auf wiedersehen, Zurich...
2 comments:
How uncanny to have the same room - must be destiny! Looks like an interesting mix of architecture. So love the Door, I think Brent will have to invite me over when you get back, to play it for me.
Hi Sally & Brentm
What beautiful buildings, and a treat to be able to enjoy the museum after it's renovations.
Love, Lils
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