I only booked this trip cos I ADORE chocolate

Day 6

RELISHING THE PLAYFUL MOMENTS - 

If you're after a holiday lying on a beachy, tropical paradise, full of sunning and chillin in hammocks then Zurich mightn't be the place for you to visit in late November. We loved it anyway! People like a panoramic scene and Lindenhof is the place tourists and residents alike come to survey. It's a cutesy tree-covered square at the site where Romans first settled in the canton. Here you are afforded picturesque city views of the 'Little Big Town' from its highest vantage point. 

Mum and Amy are a bit insane like me, so I crack up so hard when I'm with them! There was a LOT of beyond funny, selfie stick silliness that particular morning as we posed up a storm on the wall. On the swings, sis and Ma swung in sync, laughing loudly like naughty schoolgirls before jumping off.

I'M FULLY INFATUATED WITH THE CONFISERIES - 

Honold Confiserie has been in operation since 1905 and the establishment is esteemed for originating the cherry kirsch baton. My cake radar is infallible as it led me to the immaculate Coeur framboise which was a very Rianne-ish petit gateaux. As the name suggests, it was heart-shaped with a teeny, gold leaf in the corner. The taste was moussey and tangy, light as a feather with a chocolate sponge bottom and subtle undertones of LOVE. 

We ventured over to Parade Platz, while this site was formerly a pig market back in the 17th Century, it is now said to be 'one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Switzerland.' Zurich has long since been programmed to finance and is acclaimed for its banking and affluence. It had an enormous Fir Christmas tree decked with metallic, jewel tone baubles which would make a fitting Christmas card. Snowglobe window displays with moving images also caught Mum's eye and she commanded that I record her blowing Christmassy kisses in front of it. 

THE COLD COULDN'T KILL OUR SUNNY DISPOSITIONS - 

The lakeside botanical gardens are sublime for a ramble or a picnic when the weather isn't so icy - we faced the frostbite all the same. Holy cow, the autumnal leafage was SPLENDOROUS and a pumpkin orange! 

Budding ornithologists won't find Voliere Bird Sanctuary life altering but it has free entry (though the indoor part of the facility is only open seasonally) enabling passersby to glance at exotic birds like parakeets and toucans. It is also a care centre to treat injured birdies. Thereafter, I braved a gaggle of swans whilst Amy evidenced this photographically. But then, they edged ever closer and I near had a coronary!!!! 

I'M 'ALLERGIC' TO ABYSMAL BEVERAGES - 

We got our hot chocolate on at Café Delish but their hot choco can NOT be defined as delish in any shape or form. Instead it was bland and a grainy, gritty instant mix which was a massive let down. We also did a pleasant spot o' shopping in the Old Town backstreets where we found some outstanding gift stores to spend up our francs. 

At Werdmuhlplatz, we scoped out some more pretty thingymajiggies at Zurich's holly jolliest Christmas market. Amy and Mum split a bun-less bratwurst; I pinched a bite too and we were all taken aback by the spicy kick it had to it. We seated ourselves very early at The Singing Christmas Tree Market - which I believe is known for being the world's first authentic HUMAN Christmas Tree and earned ourselves numb bums as a result. 

AN ABUNDANCE OF MERRIMENT - 

The multilingual school choir became the red tree decorations on the Christmas tree-shaped podium but my camera failed to capture the luminescence. The kids embodied everything that the spirit of Christmas ought to be! Bless them, they had a few false starts as they couldn't hear the piano through the speakers and some mics weren't connected properly. As the headliner of the eve, they lacked professionalism but made up for it in exuberance and hilarity with some stunning solos. 

An overly theatrical guy really giving it some welly with diva-ish sashays and finger flicks gave us a good giggle. Their holiday cheer rubbed off on us and we sang along heartily to the likes of: Snow is Falling, Mary did you know?, Carol of the Bells, Only you and Happy Xmas (War is Over) My phone froze before their set finished as it was exposed to the cold temp for too long :( :( These vocalists have magic inside of them providing an instant gladsome high.

FINAL EVE AND WE'RE STILL SWEET ON SWITZERLAND - 

Afterwards we returned to Christkindlmarkt to seek out some sinful snackage. We hit the nibbles jackpot with a bretzel mit butter which was smashingly Bavarian and not plain as I'd feared, and mini chocolate and coconut donuts which were special indeed even though they were non-cinnamon. I'm convinced I have an antennae that homes in on goodies!! 

The 49ft Swavorski crystal tree trimmed with 7000 crystal ornaments bedazzling was switched on and sparklier this time. Nothing is too extravagant for the second most expensive city globally!! And so, the elite chica squad were to leave the frosty fun on the morrow and head home to the gloomy, grey eyesore of the county in which we live. We had such a fun, old time in an undeniably awesome place and I've never felt closer to my Mum and sister  xxx