We arrived in Zurich Tuesday around 8am. I immediately realized I should have researched the best way to help young children battle jetlag. Like all of us, Belén was exhausted and we had a full day in front of us.
We spent a long time in the airport bathroom changing diapers and clothes and going potty. Belén and Andy seemed eager to keep up the potty training regime during the vacation whereas I was fairly pessimistic about its chances for success. By the time the four of us ladies emerged from the bathroom, the airport was vacated. Our bags were the only ones remaining on the baggage claim belt and only a few straggling airport workers lingered in the area. As we reunited with our big bags and car seats we struggled to make each one fit on two luggage carts and our stroller. Meanwhile, Andy went to exchange dollars into Swiss Franks and Euros and Belén broke out into her infamous dance.
Our walk through the airport to the Hertz rental car desk highlighted the impeccable civic planning and implementation of the region. No shuttle buses or awkward transitions between buildings. Instead we experienced a perfect flow from airport to car rental desk to parking garage.
Belén had been so good on the plane and continued to barely avoid a public meltdown so I held my tongue as much as possible as she wiggled around. The tongue holding halted when I looked down to see Belén lying on the ground rubbing her cheek against the thin grey carpet in the rental car waiting area. I instructed her to get up off of the ground and immediately went looking for a handy wipe sure she had just rubbed the latest Swiss flu germs all over her tongue. She protested in a not-so-quiet manner so I bribed her with a jellybean if she would only sit in the seat.
This would be the first of many jellybean bribes as well as instances where I threw my normal parenting tactics out the window to keep the peace in crowded public places.
After acquainting ourselves with Vito, our 9-passenger Mercedes van for the next ten days, as well as his mistress, Swiss Miss, our GPS lady, we navigated to our hotel. Swiss Miss got her name by missing a few turns on the way to the hotel. When we missed a turn, Swiss Miss went dark and refused to notify us of our error until we figured it out on our own at which point she “recalculated.”
Our hotel was nice. We apparently missed the breakfast time slot and were too early for lunch so we pathetically begged the stern hostess for something to eat. She obliged with some rolls, croissants and a cappuccino. How every establishment in Europe makes better cappuccinos than nearly every establishment in the US is beyond me.
Andy and I debated about whether it would be better to allow Belén to adhere to her normal nap time or not. She looked so incredibly tired we thought it would be better if she could get some sleep. I left the room and went to Anna’s to use her computer and try and stay awake while Andy and the girls passed out for a couple of hours.
I got in touch with my bloggy friend Elisa who was supposed to meet up with us to show us Zurich. Unfortunately, her daughter was home with the flu so she was unable to meet us. Instead she gave us some great recommendations about where to go as well as kid-friendly restaurant ideas.
After a very concentrated effort to wake Belén, we finally left the hotel and took a train to downtown Zurich.
This is the mandatory part of any blog post on Europe where the author laments the lack of trains in the United States and wonders why investing in our rail infrastructure is not a bigger priority. Wouldn’t a few more tax dollars out of our pockets and a few fewer dollars invested in the military be worth an ability to get from point A to B without the need to own a car?
We meandered down Bahnhofstrasse and then came across one of the restaurants recommended by Elisa. It was a great option for both its food selection and children play area. Anna and I went to get food while Andy and the girls stayed behind at the table and play area.
The restaurant was cafeteria-style so Anna and I loaded up with a little bit of this and that figuring they would weigh our food to determine it’s price. When the cash register displayed the number 63, I immediately wondered what the exchange rate was. Surely the Swiss Frank was of less value than the dollar at that price. Back at our table, I asked Andy about the exchange rate and he told me the meager food on our trays was, in fact, over $60. He hadn’t even dished up his food yet. This was our introduction to the inflated prices of everything in Switzerland as well as our clue that we had not worked the system within the restaurant correctly. Apparently they charged by plate and we had all sorts of barely-filled little plates on our trays. I chalked it up as a stupid tax for not being able to speak or read German.
After dinner we walked down to the Zurich Lake and took in the breathtaking scenery. On our way back down the street, I looked through H&M in search of a warmer dress for the wedding later in the week in Germany. I found a sweater to wear over the one I had brought instead.
We finished the evening at a little Italian restaurant before our train ride back to the hotel.
Back in our room, we all immediately passed out.
In the middle of the night, what was surely nearly morning, Belén started to scream. In an attempt to not wake up the entire hotel we encouraged her to stop screaming in any way we could. I checked the clock on my iPhone and it read 11:45pm. Belén began repeatedly telling us how she didn’t want to sleep anymore. Meanwhile, Eloise wanted to eat and my boobs were more than eager to oblige as they were still on her Mountain time zone feeding schedule as well.
Hello jet lag. We were not exactly eager to meet you again.
When we eventually figured out the cause was hopeless, we broke out the iPad babysitter and took turns nodding off until about 3am when I finally took the iPad away from her and said she needed to try and get some sleep. She screamed for awhile saying she was not tired and then passed out on my chest.
You can view all of the photos from Zurich here.
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{ 1 comment }
Oh how I wish I was there with you! I loved my visit to Switzerland. Like you I was amazed by their transportation system and their trains were the best of the ones we’ve ridden on in Europe. So clean, modern and efficient! But I’m with you on the inflated prices. It was definitely an expensive visit! Small price to pay for such beauty I suppose
Glad you’re having a great time there. So cool that you’re keeping up with the potty training. GO you!
Justine´s last blog ..Who says you can’t be spontaneous with kids?
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