Switzerland
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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.
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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.
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Cheese! Far more than just the generic Swiss.
Cheese! Far more than just the generic Swiss.
It's my favorite. Blasphemy!
@steve-miller , Couldn't see a picture.
Anticipating knowing place!
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@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?
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Cheese! Far more than just the generic Swiss.
It's my favorite. Blasphemy!
@steve-miller , Couldn't see a picture.
Anticipating knowing place!
@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!
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@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!
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Staying 4 nights in Zurich. Newer Hyatt - modern to the point of austerity. Suits me fine. Includes breakfast. Everything we need and nothing we don’t.
Breakfast included. They invented Meusli here and I hope I find it on the chow line.
So far things in Switzerland impress me. Similar to Germany - clean, well engineered,
and efficient. Maybe even more so.
Everything works! -
TIL that Zürich is the most expensive city in the world - and I believe it! The price of everything is - YIKES!
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Our first authentic Swiss meal. “Raclette” which is both the name of the cheese and how they prepare it (poured over bread and/or potatoes, sausage and/or bacon on the side) There is nothing here not to like.
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Our first authentic Swiss meal. “Raclette” which is both the name of the cheese and how they prepare it (poured over bread and/or potatoes, sausage and/or bacon on the side) There is nothing here not to like.
Our first authentic Swiss meal. “Raclette” which is both the name of the cheese and how they prepare it (poured over bread and/or potatoes, sausage and/or bacon on the side) There is nothing here not to like.
Oh man, that raclette looks fabulous. I'm so envious!!
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Took a cable car to the top of a mountain overlooking Lake Zurich.
Spectacular!
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I’ve heard the road to hell changes planes in Atlanta. We’re changing planes in Atlanta.
Coincidence?
I’ve heard the road to hell changes planes in Atlanta. We’re changing planes in Atlanta.
Coincidence?
That was true in the 90's and early 2000's. Not so much now. It's well laid out and easy to get around from concourse to concourse. O'Hare is my most hated now, with Charlotte and Miami coming in close seconds.
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Our first authentic Swiss meal. “Raclette” which is both the name of the cheese and how they prepare it (poured over bread and/or potatoes, sausage and/or bacon on the side) There is nothing here not to like.
Our first authentic Swiss meal. “Raclette” which is both the name of the cheese and how they prepare it (poured over bread and/or potatoes, sausage and/or bacon on the side) There is nothing here not to like.
You may want to look into this after this trip.
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OTOH, maybe you should just eat your cheese...and ice cream....
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5884664/zeke-emanuel-optimize-health-long-life
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The #1 snack in Switzerland. Seems random so I had to taste for myself. Definitely not hard to find.
Don't eat chips often but I might I might make an exception for these! The flavor is very subtle compared to flavored American chips - maybe regular BBQ flavor at 1/4 volume with a bit of lime and vinegar. Very tasty.
Limited distribution outside of Germany and Switzerland, which will sound exotic to the home folks. Light, cheap, and familiar enough in flavor that the toddlers will eat them.
Souvenirs!
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Tour bus driver suggested a restaurant where we could sample the iconic foods of Switzerland. Says he’s never been there but it’s always busy and the diners look like locals. Next door to where our tour bus dropped us off so why not?
Nailed it! This places breaks no new ground and was exactly what we wanted.
Veal strips and onion gravy. Think beef stroganoff light with a pinch of (nutmeg?). Served with rosti - hash browns with extra butter. Another less than photogenic meal but very satisfying.
Fondue, of course. Emmenthaler with white wine, bread, taters and pears. (Pears?). Excellent! I’m beginning to wonder why everyone doesn’t weigh 600 pounds but the general population appears to be quite fit. It might be all of the hills and stairs.
We were advised not to eat from the dipping fork (rude and unsanitary) but it seems everyone does it anyway.
Cream of veg soup. No cream I could discern, more of a puree. Has zucchini in it which would overpower most soups but works in this one. I’ll be making this one at home. Photographs comparatively well.
This one has a long name but the toddlers would recognize it instantly as Mac and cheese. Sharp white cheese rather than cheddar.
That pretty much covered the list except for “Berner platter” which no one else wants to try but me. Kind of a charcuterie with dried green beans (?), sauerkraut and sausages.
I’ll watch for it.
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#3 most popular soda in Switzerland after Coke and Coke Zero. Not nearly as sweet as either of those and made with whey, of all things. Very unusual, think “iced tea w/lemon, carbonated with a little sugarl
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