Day 2

Day 2 began at noon for us, as we were all glad to catch a second round of sleep after waking up in the wee hours. The time change is still an adjustment (today I am writing at 2:30 in the morning). We began by having some fruit in the room and coffee from Starbucks... okay,

Correction: they were americanos because even Starbucks has to be European in Europe. 

We started the adventures by checking out the train station. It seems they were having a little Oktoberfest inside which looked cute and fun. Later in the day we found that it was heavily attended and looked fun - although very hot and humid in that tent! After the train, we worked our way to the lake. On the way we stopped at little shops and cafes, including Max Chocolatier: a highly-rated chocolate shop that uses high quality cocoa (and gave us a free sample which is very rare here); and a very sweet boutique with 50s-esque silk and organza dresses, from which we bought Grandma Phyllis a beautiful silk scarf decorated with feathers. The woman said that their silk comes from China, their printing is done for Paris, and their customers come all the way from China just to purchase one of their scarves  - which can only be found in Switzerland at their stand-alone store. I also found an adorable backpack that is made of recycled materials from a place in Cologne, Germany. It’s adorable and, although not a hiking backpack, should do just fine on the mountain. I had it on my list to see the Fraumünster Church for the sight of their stained glass windows. When we got to the church, we made our way in through the back exit and stole a look at the windows before being asked to leave and re-enter through the proper door. Luckily, I stole a look at the stained glass before we made our way out and didn’t need to go back in (it was a rather small pane).

We had lunch at an Italian place near the lake and enjoyed delicious salads and beers (wine for mama).

Following this we ended up back at the room for a refreshment, in the form of a quasi-shower and fresh squirt of perfume, as well as a little stop at the chocolate shop next door to the hotel to get our mini-mousse truffle vibes on. Afterwards, we made it to the Gerold Chuchi umbrellas: a sight highly rated on these so/called travel blogs but a bit underwhelming in person. It must be noted that to get to these umbrellas, I led us through what mom was concerned might be “the hood,” although upon later reflection we realized was just a residential area. (Haha). As we arrived at the umbrellas, it started to lightly rain. We got to them just in time for a well-timed respite. On our way back, the umbrellas mom packed were necessary. 

Increasingly heavy rain drove us into a very German little pub where we enjoyed beers and a cold cut selection and met a very nice man named Roger: a 79-year-old former mountaineering man who had just been hiking in the countryside... it turns out he is from Tarzania, California. He taught me some German words and we enjoyed some delightful conversation at our community table. 

After our late snack (around 6:30 p.m.) we headed back for the room in the considerable rainstorm. Roger said that Switzerland really needs the rain right now, so that made it easier to bear! Once back, we washed up and got ready for a fabulous French-style dinner in the restaurant at our hotel (where soup is 20 francs) and enjoyed Veal with strawberry risotto, beef tenderloin with noodles and mushroom sauce, and sea bass with arugula, ravioli, and mozzarella ice cream?! Yes, I loved it... obviously. For dessert, we enjoyed a chocolate and strawberry torte, a banana and mango mini cake, and crepe Suzette. The night was completed with a piece of Lindt chocolate from the nightly snack trolley. I was going to save it for a souvenir, but thought, “ehh, it could melt.” Tomorrow, we head to Grindelwald!