This may have been the PERFECT birthday!!

Day 2

CATCHING FEELINGS FOR SWITZERLAND - 

Image credit - 

Creator:Christof Sonderegger

Credit:Switzerland Tourism

As it was my birthday, I got to choose the activities we partook in so we headed to the mountains!! We managed to work the ticket machine to purchase our Albis day pass and board the double decker train with seconds to spare. Uetliberg, Zurich's very own mountain in the Swiss Plateau (which is part of the Albis chain) is a short 20 minute ride from Hauptbahnhof station. It rises to 870 metres with a summit that 'towers above the roofs' of the canton. 

We set out to begin the Planet trail but initially struggled to find the starting sun marker as it wasn't visible from the train platform like the Internet had led us to believe. Every metre you traipse of this 6 kilometre walk is representative of 1 MILLION kilometres in outer space and you learn about the solar system as you ascend 200 metres and descend 250 metres. It's a fairly simple hike through meadow and forest areas but that's when you're not subjected to the bitter elements as we were. 

'IT'S HARD NOT TO BE EXCITED WHEN SNOW STARTS TO FALL' - 

Mum wrapped up warmly and reminded me of a lady version of Shredder from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Her glasses were fogging up from the glacial temps so she later switched to sunnies. I don't think she enjoyed the track at all but Amy and I assisted and cajoled her when needed. She was panicking that we'd require rescuing in a helicopter but I reassured that I've watched enough Bear Grylls for us to survive :D I'll admit it was worrisome when we lost sight of the pointers and feared we'd strayed from the path but just for a short time. Exposed ridges at the highest peak almost blew us away quite literally and physically so that was a tad perilous!!

Not long into our ramble and the sleet fell upon us and we were chilled to the bones for there was no shelter from the extremities. This turned rapidly to continuous snow sprinkles which was like nature's birthday present to ME :) Snow prettifies the planet and although it wasn't visible in our photos or video clips it was still a special gift to further jollify my 33rd birthday. 

'IT'S ENOUGH FOR THIS WIDE EYED WANDERER, THAT WE GOT THIS FAR' - 

Panoramic views were obscured and misty from the ledges out to the lake which was 'neath the blanket of fog and the swirling snow storm. The splendour of the fall foliage delights of the season meant that the landscape was ablaze with hues of amber, crimson and burnt orange. I caught a leaf with gloved hands as it fell, then kissed it, wished and threw it out into the universe. 

It's not a birthday 'til you picnic, so we plonked ourselves down on a sole bench. After re-energising on sandwiches and Pringles, we marched with all due haste and renewed vigour to Pluto. At the Uranus rock marker, Mum proceeded to rant comically about how far we had left and expressed her desires to turn back, not understanding that it would be further to do that. She was left with no choice but to chin up and plod along. Crisp air inflated our lungs and it was reinvigorating; it brings out the 'wild warrioress' within me. 

MUM DOES NOT ENJOY OUR WALKS - 

Cows were in the meadow tinkling their bells but not eating buttercups!! Just when we thought we couldn't trudge on due to the appalling conditions and it feeling like our hearts had turned to ice; we reached the Felsenegg Cable Car and rejoiced. This aerial tramway has an average gradient of 34.1% and an altitude of 804 metres. Nobody was manning the top end and as the door was wide open, we stepped foot inside the 'I love you' capsule but it remained open for several terrifying minutes. 

At speeds of 13.4mph, we weren't exactly hurtling downwards but Mum was freaking out and praying for our souls so we wouldn't drop to our deaths, whilst she was clinging on for dear life. High five to her for surviving two treacherous 'ordeals' in one morning! It was actually a relatively gentle, smooth joyride considering we were suspended 2657.8ft from a thin, weak-looking wire. Mum liked it all secretly :D 

YA KNOW MY OBSESSION WITH ALL THINGS CHOCOLATE - 

After a short train journey from Adliswil back to Zurich, the chocolate crawl commenced. We followed my bliss and snuck off to stuff our faces with all manner of choc, starting at 1) Laderach for a dark chocolate coconut slab - everybody knows that the only thing that can make already divine chocolate even tastier is coconut! 2) Hot chocolate enchantment from Café Schober, an original 19th century candy store in the Old Town's sweet corner. Christmas exploded all over the interiors which kickstarted my holiday spirit. These highly sought after heavenly brews were our hot chocolate winner of our entire vacay!!!! If I drank it often, I'd think errrrrrryday was Christmas. 

3) Confiserie Teuscher, the chocolatier is headquartered here and was the priciest of the bunch. But given that 'many connosieurs consider Teuscher to be the best in the world' so it should be :D I rejected their signature confection of champagne truffles and picked a teeny orange segment half dunked in milk choc. A pretentiously petite sweet but it tasted even scrummier than it looked and I miss these confiseries tremendously. We, Montigues are nothing, if not indulgent gourmants. Can we get that engraved on a medal or some sort of official certificate?! 

CHOCCIE GUZZLING WILD WOMEN - 

Back at the apartment, Mum was still celebrating being alive after her Uetliberg traumas!! We caught up with the previous episode of I'm a Celebrity.. Get me out of here as it's one of the highlights annually of my November birthdate. Then it was onto Walliser-Keller restaurant where we were instanteously smacked in the nostrils with an overpowering odour du fromage which was so strong and pungent, I was close to retching on the spot. I don't believe I've ever HATED cheese more. I DON'T LIKE THAT SMELL. I DON'T LIKE THAT PONG. I DONNNNNNNNNNNN'TTTTTTTT!!

Even though the staff were barking behind us in Swiss German for not ordering their traditional raclette, their carrot soup was soup GENIUS, nutritious and heating. It was the celebratory, irresistable chocolate fondue which was the real reason for our dining there and boy, oh boy did it live up to and exceed all my fondue fantasies!!! It came with fruit and marshmallows on forks and had both Amy and I fangirling, dribbling and ooooohing in gooey, molten ecstasy. It was only the very BEST fondue I've ever slurped up in my whoooooooooollllleeeeeeeeeeee life and I seriously want to bathe in it. 

WE LIKE WHAT WE LIKE  - 

We scarpered to Swiss Landesmuseum where the courtyard was converted into a  snow kingdom of the brightest, rainbow lights and illusions for Illuminarium. There was a transparent igloo bar and stalls of delish tucker including glowing candy floss and cocktails. Illuminarium was a dazzling fantasia of lights appealing to all five senses. The light show of mystical graphics revolved around obscure, mystical creatures transporting observers to  an extra terrestrial realm with out of this world effects projected onto the surroundings. The stars of the show were like Mariachi minion aliens from outer space who were perky and accident prone. There was a language barrier but we thiiiiiiink they were on a galactic mission to maybe save Christmas and sing us a few carols as they did so.

After all the goodies, you'd think I'd be stuffed but no, NO I was peckish again and got super fries which were infused with herbs. What made them so super? Well that was the herbs as the chef gave that away as their trade secret and they were just the ticket. Theeeeeeen, we gobbled up a serving of churros of dreams from a legit Spaniard with just a simple dusting of sugar. Always a hit with Montigue women! Mum and Amy kept me in stitches all day long with their hilarity; I love US. They are diamonds in an ocean of coal. When we returned to our lodgings, Mum and I discovered that our anatomies had been punished as we both had blistery, red chilblains on our inner thighs. OUCHY! :( I rarely manage to come away from expeditions unscathed!!! Next birthday, I'd really like to receive a cookie cake and already have a husband, if you please :D xxx

Our trips are all fancy cakes and chuckles :)

Day 1 of our sweet escape in Switzerland 

LET THE GREATEST R AND R OF ALL TIME BEGIN! - 

The last day of my 32nd year was spent in freeeeeeezing Zurich with Mum and Amy and where better to spend it, than somewhere the choccies are extraordinary, eh? Now this vicinity of Switzerland may not be every 30 somethings dream but we're actually quite taken with it; aside from Jack Frost nipping at our nose (a freaky thing --- as I typed this very sentence, that exact song lyric from The Christmas Song, was sung out by Nat King Cole on Heart FM!!!!!) and every single body part, round the clock. 

Most of our first full day was reserved for explorations of the Old Town and its prettious Medieval buildings. A great deal of the day was also spent laughing too hard AT and with Mum.. so hard in fact, the giggles may result in abs to some degree!! Our trio of peculiar but intrepid wanderlusters came upon Renneweg without too much difficulty .. only, this wide Medieval street wasn't flaglined as it usually is and wasn't particularly wide after all. We snapped away in spite of its flaglesslessness to show we WERE there, all the same. 

WE MIGHT LOVE IT HERE MORE THAN THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES DO - 

We hopped along to Augustinegasse a historical, narrow lane named after the former Augustinian monastery; it is known for its pastel coloured bay windows and over-elaborate frescoes. Followed by Thermengasse - remains of Roman baths uncovered underfoot were accidentally discovered in 1983 when a toy store was having renovations. In the early A.D's the Romans enlarged these cool pools, steam and callariums when Zurich was known as Turicum and occupied by less than 100 people. 

The largest clock face in all of Europe at St Peter's Church is quite something to behold! It has a diameter of 8.7 METRES and the heaviest of the 5 bells in the tower weighs a whopping 6000 kgs!!! The church was originally built in the 9th Century, making it Zurich's oldest and only Baroque church. We took a pew inside after a service had ended for a quick moment; the interior was calming and striking. I know it's not right to covet, but I especially coveted the glass globules dangling from the ceiling. 

HAIL TO THE DELISH CONFECTIONS! - 

Local folklore has it that lone young men who attend Confiserie Sprungli, a luxury confectioners founded in 1836, 'may signal their availability to well to do women by turning over their coffee spoons in their cups.' This myth was rubbished by Sprungli's director and I can't say I noticed as I gave my heart to cake!! The wait to be seated at the upstairs café was exasperating as they sat parties of two before us and many guests had reservations. 

Although, I neglected the famous Luxemburgli macarons (of which 1430lbs are manufactured each day) in favour of a slice of truffle cake with not-at-all-excessive, edible, gold leaf I don't regret it whatsoever. This dark and rich must try coupled with a bittersweet ho cho' mug of joy has the capacity to make every patron happy. Anything sugary you order, you'll be dancing with unicorns! 

MUM DOESN'T LOVE US LOL-ING AT HER CLIMBING - 

Grossmunster church was wearisome for Mama Monty up the 187 steps of Karlsturm and the narrow, partially spiral staircase made her wheezy and claustrophobic. QUOTE OF THE DAY: Why did I pay for this torture??? I'd say the sublime views bequeathed unto us made up for her self-inflicted pain. Gazing out and round about, was the moment I fell in love with Zuri. Methinks, the hazy mist isn't one bit less splendid than a sunnier day as it adds to its mystique. 

The insides of the cathedral are rather plain and simplistic in design with minimal features - photos of which are not permitted. We ooohed at the 12 panes of stained glass studded with semi precious stones which were finished by Sigmar Polke in 2009. Our doings must seem like a sitcom as my steps silliness with Mum was captured by Amy on candid cam; we ran into each other and then legged it back to the top.

NOT TODAY, SWANS!!!!!!! - 

After which, we picnicked on a bench overlooking the River Limmat and guffawed at Mum's cockapoo hair fringe sticking up over her heart, neon pink earmuffs. We couldn't lose her in a crowd as she stood out a mile away wearing those and kept getting loopier day by day. The beaut scenic path alongside the river was unusually appealing. Were it warmer and if it didn't contain my nemeses - swans, I'd have bathed in the crystal clear lake. There are tooooooo many beastly, hellish fiends on the waters edge and it's the stuff of my nightmares :( 

Our warblings of a theatrical nature from Phantom of the Opera and Frozen, outside the Opera House were kind of wasted on NO audience but we gave ourselves goose bumps :D. We also boomeranged ourselves leaf throwing with mirth for we can't be a tad less *us!!* 

WE'RE LIKING AUTUMN IN ZURICH - 

As the sun started to head to bed, we took a short round trip on a boat around the banana shaped Lake Zurich. Our leisurely sail towards the horizon was ever so pleasant; although the 75 mins aren't exactly a laugh a minute - it's charming nonetheless. Warm orange punch on deck was good enough to insulate my belly but the flavouring wasn't citrusy or Christmassy enough for my liking. 

We didn't have a stab at candle making in Burkliplatz' Music Pavilion as Amy can't stomach the smell of beeswax and as such, she minded her own beeswax outside whilst Mum and I had a peek.  It was particularly pleasing to snap away photos of the Blue Hour 15 - 30 minutes after sundown, as the softer light created a mesmeric effect down by the River Limmat. From what we could gather earlier on through the fog, Zurich is an idyllic, picturesque old town and we were excited to see what more it had to offer.