Tag: Sprungli

Zurich

Back in Zurich! on my way to the Alps for a week.

As regular readers recall, I enjoyed the opportunity to live in Zürich for the year 2019-20, including during the first four months of the pandemic. It is a beautiful city, with stupendous opportunities for hiking near and far. I was sad to leave in July 2020, thrilled to return for a week’s visit in December 2021, and dreamt of further visits into the future. So I was excited to find myself walking the streets of Zürich again this weekend, meeting up with friends for a trip to Grindelwald for the rest of the week. I took my usual morning walk to the viewpoint on Zürichberg, rode the train to the view on Uetliberg, explored in Einstein’s footsteps at ETH, strolled Bahnhofstrasse and the Altstadt, sipped hot chocolate at Sprüngli, and dined on wurst and rösti at Zeughauskeller.

David is back in Zürich – here at HB train station.

It was hot and muggy both days, so the residents and tourists alike were out in the street cafés, boating on the lake, all trying to beat the heat. We only had a few brief hours in town, so I share a small gallery of photos. Soon to come: alpine hiking in Grindelwald!

View up the Limmat river, from the bridge near HB, Zürich.

Zurich again

Our final day in Zurich.

On our final full day in Zürich, I took my usual morning walk to Zurichberg. The sky was cloudy and the valley foggy, once again, but at least this time the fog was a bit above me and I could see across the lake. Not much to photograph today, but as I lingered at the viewpoint and was passed by every morning jogger and dog-walker, I noted a familiar sight approaching. An old gray lady, and her even older gray dog, approached slowly along a parallel path. I recognized them immediately, having encountered them almost daily on my walks two years earlier… but not yet on this return visit. The woman now needs a walker, and moves slowly while the old gray dog follows even more slowly behind. I admired their persistence in their daily outing, and am glad I had a chance to see them again.

On my way downhill, picking my route randomly through the residential streets while aiming my internal compass toward Honold for my daily dose of heisse schokolade and butter gipfeli, I noted this little gnome standing by a tiny little tree, on a curb near trash and recycling bins.

A gnome and a Christmas tree, left out by someone’s trash bin.

It is not uncommon for people to put items out for free use by passers-by; indeed, we gave away many things when we were preparing to leave in July 2020. This little fellow seemed lonely, so I decided to bring him home.

Later in the day, Andy and I made a pilgrimage to Sprüngli chocolatier, on Bahnhofstrasse, for a stay at their sidewalk tables and for a taste of their grand cru hot chocolate, which comes with a mousse light enough to spoon on top but rich enough to sink you for the afternoon.

Sprüngi hot chocolate, grand cru, with accompanying chocolate mousse.

Despite the chilly weather, the outdoor tables filled quickly; it is a wonderful spot to sit and enjoy a warm drink as the holiday shoppers bustle by.