Sixth day at Swiss

13/9 /08

Today we were to move to Zurich from Luzerne. Our trip in swiss started from southern most tip of Switzerland at Zermot and was progressively moving northwards. At Zurich we were moving away from Alps.

The morning we found the rain clouds were thick looming in the sky. We decided to take the 11.10 train to Zurich which is about 45 minutes ride from Luzerne. So we had a leisurely breakfast after bath, prayer etc. and got ourselves ready for the Zurich trip telling good bye to Luzerne NH hotel.
For station we took a bus. By today our Euro rail pass was over and we were on our own to buy tickets. For bus travel the tickets are picked up by oneself by putting money in the slot machine. Our ticket to station costed 2.80 Franc(Rs 110) each. There just opposite to the bus stop we found an Indian restaurant called Kanchi proving the Indian presence in these places. Landing in station we first enquired as to where the hotel Montana at Zurich is . We were informed the hotel is just close to the station . Then we bought the railway tickets which again costed 23 francs ( Rs 920) each. Thus with out a Euro pass the travel costs will be exactly double. Yatra.com in fact had promised us to give a eight day Euro pass apart form the excursion for which they had given passes. However till last minute they failed to deliver it. On questioning they have promised to refund the amount. Let us see what happens.
At Luzerne we boarded the train at 11.35 and reached Zurich by 12.20 a.m

Zurich is the economic capital of Switzerland like Bombay in India. We could make it out even as approaching Zurich. The city atmosphere is very clear. Near Zurich multi storey buildings , factories line up the path. The trains are real sleek and comfortable. The one we boarded was double decker with food twin seats.
Hotel Montanna was close to the station. We could walk it over. Our room was in the 5th floor , the top one. This also a 3 star one belonging to Best western chain.

As soon as we entered the hotel, we made enquires about any city tours. We were told a trip starts from the near by bus terminal at 2.00 p.m We thought we should avail of it. As Zurich being a big city and with paucity of time we felt this is the only way to see the city quickly. After loading the things inside the hotel and having our lunch of thepla and fruits. We rushed out but to our dismay it was drizzling continuesly. We then borrowed an umbrella from the reception ( thanks to the reception clerks friendliness) and marched to the bus station near by. However on reaching there we found the 2 O clock buses fully booked for the city tour inspite of the bad weather, perhaps being weekend tourist have arrived. But they told us as a special case they are plying buses again at 4 O clock . Hence we quickly booked our tickets for the same and returned to the hotel to rest a little ( hotel is just close by)

Our city tour started promptly at 4.15 p.m We were close to the drivers seat ( each seat was armed with a ear phone through which commentary about Zurich we could listen in any language of our choice. Naturally we opted for English.)

( The people here mostly speak one swiss German & it is really difficult to find English speaking people except among tourist and receptionist etc.). The trip was real enriching as they gave us some good idea of how Zurich town developed and about people along with showing the sights of new town, old town, the river, bridges and lakes adjacent.

Here some salient features-
In Zurich town before 200 yrs only 20,000 people were living now the count is 3.3 lakhs people.
The modern Zurich was build between 1825- 1925
40% of the population here are Catholics, 40% are protestrians and rest other religions.
The lake of Zurich situated in the middle of the town is 40km long and 4km wide.
Apart from the lake the river Sial and river Limat flows through Zurich & Sial is the second longest river in Switzerland.
Railways are important feature in Zurich. It started in 1847 and presently there are 17teen stations in Zurich.
Zurich is the Economic hub of Switzerland. It has two world renowned financial services- Banking and Insurance.
We were shown the most important banking buildings where all the worlds money is locked up
Perhaps using all this money the modern Switzerland has developed with its excellent infrastructure.
The Zurich university is quite in thing in the city, nearly 10% of the population are involved in study and research.
The education system here is laid back. Children are admitted to school only by age of seven.
However the place has produced 25 Noble laurels. Albert Einstein is from this region. Some thing in the place & system promotes great thinking to bring out noble laureates.
70% of the population here stay in rented houses as the housing is owned by big business houses.
The city is choka block filled with medival structures converted to modern buildings
The city has 100 churches, 8 synagogue ( Jews prayer house) and one mosque, so much for the fervor of the people. In fact we find a bible kept in every hotel room we stay perhaps to awaken some religious feeling.
The city boosts large no of museum. However we may not get to see any one of them.
At Zurich we were in mid Switzerland. People at home speak at home a language called Swiss German which does not have a script. Hence they pick up the script of German, Italian, French depending on the place proximal in Switzerland.
The per capita income of Switzerland is max in the world about 37,00o $ while that of India is 375 $.

We returned back after the city tour by 6.30 p.m The day was still young. We had a cup of tea in the room itself by bringing a kettle of hot water from the restaurant below. The rest of the works for tea we had it with us.
The room space and services were a come down progressively as were moving from smaller places to city set up though all hotel belongs to Best western chain. The room gets stuffy in a short while . It is not air cooled or ventilated. Hence like in India we opened the windows and doors for a while to allow cross ventilation and fresh breeze.

Here in Zurich city the most surprising thing I found was there are rows and rows of buildings, large areas of them but as you travel for kms one can’t find a single human presence. No windows open with somebody peeping out, no clothes drying out. It looks like a place in fairy tale where a child finds houses well made up without anybody around.

As I mentioned since the day was young, here the sunsets only by 8O clock we went again for a jaunt outside hoping to do some shopping. However here all shops on sat close by 5O clock . Other days by 6.00 op.m. People root leisure and enjoyment. The only joints open were eating joints.
We decided to try out at Macdonalds as Veg. food will be available there. It was filled with youngsters. We had a Veg. burger with the ubiquitous potato finger chips and a large glass of coke which costed 10F. This was to make a record to have at least one eat outside apart from the breakers which we were having daily in the mornings.
We reached the hotel and retired for the night. We had a Rhine fall excursion next day morning.