Switzerland

[jon-nyc]

Fun!

I’ve spent remarkably little time there considering I used to work for a Swiss bank.

[wtg]

Chocolate!

[Mary Anna]

Atlanta is pretty easy. The escalator to the train is at the middle of every concourse. If you're not on the concourse you want, go to the middle and go down to the train, use the signs to figure out which direction you want to take the train, and get on!

There are moving sidewalks down there that let you bypass the train, but the trains come often. I don't think it's worth it unless the trains are down, and I've seen that maybe once in the decades I've used that airport.

[Steve Miller]

At Atlanta airport now, waiting for our flight to Europe.

One of the nicest, most efficient airports I have ever passed through. Very clean, great signage, everything works.

Onward!

[Mary Anna]

I took the train from Milan to Zurich once, then spent a few days in Zurich. The train goes through the Alps and it's just spectacular. Zurich was beautiful. We spent one day walking through the city and the other day walking a path in the mountains overlooking the city.

We went to a place that specialized in fondue. It was probably pretty touristy, but it was fun and tasty. That's where I discovered that I liked riesling when it wasn't overly sweet.

I don't recall what hotel where we stayed, but I had a meal there that was absurdly memorable for no good reason. It was just a simply prepared white fish filet, maybe flounder, potatoes, a green salad without too many ingredients, and a glass of dry white wine, but every bite of it was perfectly prepared. I can't explain it.

[Daniel]

Yay!

How great.

I've always wanted to go to Switzerland.

My maternal grandfather (so my late mother and myself as well) was directly descended from German speaking Switzerland.

Basel, 1300's, church records. He had genealogy work done. I verified it to see what I thought. Easy to follow. Birth, marriage, and deaths recorded. Copies provided.

My mother's maiden name was Swiss-German.

I'm Swiss-German and identity strongly with this line of my ancestors.

"Basel is primarily German-speaking, making it part of Deutschschweiz (German-speaking Switzerland).While the official written language is Standard Swiss German, the local spoken dialect is Baseldytsch (Basel German), a distinct variety of High Alemannic. Because of its location directly on the border with France and Germany, you will also hear a lot of French and English spoken throughout the city."

It's a beautiful a beautiful place of the world as everyone in the world knows.

I'm looking forward to your travel reports and pictures!

Be safe.

[Daniel]

@RealPlayer said:

Cheese! Far more than just the generic Swiss.

It's my favorite. Blasphemy!

@steve-miller , Couldn't see a picture.

Anticipating knowing place!

[Axtremus]

@steve-miller Bon voyage, enjoy Switzerland!

Speaking of Zurich and airports ... sometime in the near future I expect to have a 14 hour layover at the Zurich airport, from 8 PM to 10 AM the next day. Anyone familiar with the Zurich airport care to share tips for how to best deal with this extended overnight layover at ZRH?

[RealPlayer]

@Daniel Sorry, not really disparaging Swiss cheese. It’s one of my favorites too.

I was in Lugano, Switzerland to make a piano TV show around 2012, and there was a memorable cheese (and bread) shop a short walk from the hotel. What I meant was that there’s a great variety that we don’t see here, very tasty. And yet broadly related to the Swiss cheese we get here, but earthier and with varying intensity and terroir. Delectable!

[Daniel]

@realplayer Oh, no worries.

My palate has never been accused of being sophisticated.

I'm glad your career brought you to Lugano, and that you enjoyed the cheese!