Zur - ich - ola... is that such a lame title? I'm too sleepy to care.

I sat down to do some work while I had a second and promptly got back up. 

The darn television was distracting me. Nick, before leaving to work out, had the channel tuned to The Golf Channel. That's no shocker. Showing was a tournament, The John Deer Classic, and our friend Troy was leading. (Note: As a golfer's wife I say 'was' and not 'is' out of habit, and fear of the jinx, and recognition of the nature of the sport, where leads bounce about... but with hope his lead will continue through Sunday evening.) Even though I loved seeing Troy do so well, I had to change it for a while because the speculation of what's in the golfer's mind and all the hypothetically speaking and predictions that mean squat irritate me when I've got my own thoughts to deal with. (Seriously though!! It's week after week. Can we all agree that Tiger Woods is back in the game?! How many times does he have to win to qualify for the same privilege of being a contender as another player? If I were in the field I would never consider Tiger out of the hunt. But, then, I'm not sure these guys are thinking about other players' games while they manage their own. That's the very psychology that loses. Winners focus on their own momentum.) Anyway... the channel I turned to was no peachy pick either. I sat down in my chair and in one sentence I heard 4 "like"s and one "literally" that was oh-so not literal. In one limited space of a sentence! The "uhms" are not counted. This was also coming from a grown man. I almost got dizzy.

Now I am listening to Zen music. I'm getting back to my basics. Zen or singer/songwriter music, Nag Champa burning, dogs scattered randomly on soft spots, books, maps, dark art, little collections of precious items, birds within view on a tree limb. It feels cozy again.

I am directed to write more of the travels and so- I will oblige. It is no chore at all!

I'll take it Como and back up.
It made a lasting first impression, Zurich. I was smitten, immediately. 

I've told about my perspective as we flew in, landed and entered the hotel, leading me to that wonderfully cobalt blue lacquer door. Sliding the key and twisting felt romantic. No card swipe, just a civilized, exercised twist of the wrist. A gentle push- the door graciously gave way, feeling as old and solid as I hoped everything I encountered would feel during this European adventure. I had the internal confusion of a tired body and a curious spirit. Everyone knows which wins. I tucked my bags away and grabbed the dress that was rolled up and stowed in a convenient spot for this predictable occassion. I changed and while doing so enjoyed the room's wooden floor, the details on the walls, the view out of our window, a window that stayed open and welcomed fresh, tingly air inside to charm our senses, and I enjoyed the modern bathroom detailed to a woman's desires. I remember looking in the mirror and smiling. I realized even then how strange this appeared from a third party's point of view. But, it was all surreal and I felt as I did on my wedding day, in my body and above my body. Watching and feeling the events through my eyes and also through the eyes of my wiser, eternal self- the one that allows me to be proud of me, the one that loves me as purely as a mother loves a child- I was in and around the space and time I lived. This must be why I connected with Zurich so intensely. Vibrationally, my energy and its energy were in sync. It was a seamless entrance to a foreign land, but familiar place. I smiled at myself in the mirror because I was happy about everything. I had no criticism and I was engaged completely in the now. Euphoria. 

When I came out of the ladies' room (because it was- it was built for a lady), I saw Nick, feet planted on the floor, dressed, seemingly ready to hit the streets, except he was bent at the knee and completely laid flat on the bed. I had to do some tickling, some nose pinching and air restricting, but not too much. He was on board with my desire to discover this city. Let me see!!! I felt like childhood waited outside only better- this is the content of childhood's dreams of adulthood.

It only took a glance left from the hotel's entrance onto the sidewalk to make site seeing worth it. The lake and the landscape looked pristine. I knew what I would find here. Purity and beauty. The natural, unfaltered, unfiltered way. We strolled about three blocks, I took a photograph with a flower my height, we debated whether or not the business gentleman crossing the street was smoking a self-rolled cigarette or a joint, and we too crossed the street to the opposite direction, joining in on the Swiss civilization. Nick suggested we find a spot with street side seating and enjoy a cappucino and chocolate treat. Did I mention he is a dreamy man? He has brought me to Switzerland and suggests that not only should we admire the swan filled lake and majestic Alps, but he wants to prompt our fondue dinner with a cappuccino and chocolate prelude. Oh my delicious life!! So, we do this. We see the red and white striped awnings and watch the business day scuffle, the bikers, the ice cream licking skinnies happily go about their routine. We briefly shared our bench with a resident that tried to take a photo of us using my iphone but had zero idea what I was asking her to do- we smiled a lot at one another though. As we bit into the truffle we both froze and stared at one another, mumbling with mouthfuls of chocolate about how glorious this tiny dollup of perfection tasted. I think Nick's eyes rolled back in his head, if I can recall, mine were entranced and cobra-struck. Our cappuccinos were just right and this was the very first of them and so, the leap across the Atlantic is a fair measure between this coffee and the one before it. We studied the people and movement on the streets for only a little while, we had such a short time to spend here, there was no time to waste, even on dessert. 

Walking those cobblestones was significant in my life. I had committed to diving deep into the territory of experience. Guarding my emotions was left off the agenda. Every window seat I saw, I attached a book and reader to in my imagination. For every store owner who situated their sidewalk stands, I created a history of neighborhood relationships. I saw halos around the swans gliding on crystal water. I saw beams of white and golden light streaking upward across the sky from the mountain tops. The grass was vividly green and textured, but soft and plush, inviting us for a nap on a park lawn. The statues seemed hopeful, beautiful. The homes seemed movie set worthy. The people radiated with happiness and pleasure, undirected by ordering entities. The children wore tights and skirts with converse shoes and braided pig tails, which enhanced their innocence as they snacked on self-chosen fruit from bins on the street market, backpack slouched on the ground. How lucky these kids are, I kept thinking. I'd like, if I have a child, to be able to give them this- pure food, pure air, pure water and abounding mutual respect of culture and nature. When I looked at flowers, smelled the aromas drifting out of restaurants, or watched kids play ball at the foot of huge cathedral steps I felt more alive from it. Within the first twenty minutes of our weaving walk through alley ways, I heard the tower bells toll and immediately sprung tears, vision of my feet on the big gray stones was fuzzy, and I had to steady my breath. I felt alive. I didn't want to leave. It was as if I was seeing in color and dimension what was previously seen as two toned and flat. 

I could go on about my feelings of this place. The details are in my head, the connection in my heart. I will never forget this encounter with Zurich.

We found a restaurant in a great scene and sat outside. I order red wine. Nick ordered beer. We ordered a dish each and shared fondue. I watched a woman peer out her window to see what was happening below for a while. It was like a modern day scene out of Chocolat. The dog who claimed this plaza as home meandered about and lazily relaxed, while keeping a watchful eye of all around him. He made rounds to say hello to each store owner, peeking in the door to receive a pet on the head, coming over to our restaurant's doorman to gather acknowledgement. This man told us this is his home. He adopted the square. As we dined, a taxi pulled up to deliver a human or two. Nice taxi. 

Once, during the meal, I looked to my right, something had caught my attention. It was two red balloons, staggered and slowly creeping by me just as I had seen them in a dream I had on the flight over. Two bright red balloons set against a grey stone backdrop. Here they were. My bright red validation. Fully capable of floating higher, higher, higher - soaring, only remaining on earth because of being tethered to a human body. "Nick, Nick, the balloons from my dream I told you about..." I pointed to them with my head tilt. He nodded. He is accustomed to making sense of what makes sense in my head.

With full tummies and full realization that we were both profoundly in awe of 'our new city' we continued our exploration in leisure, crossing bridges and studying architecture and a vehicle here and there. We climbed stairways and found a park above the city. A gigantic game of people-sized chess was being played by neighbors. A bird was showing off his fountain drinking acrobatics. Music from a lake side concert and bells from the city's towers kept the park visitors quiet and serene. When we peeled away from the park, we headed back toward our hotel on the other side of the water, and walked past after hours cocktail gatherings by men and women dressed in professional wear, laughing and talking over the live indoor music. The bike riders and walkers looked like a melting pot of people, pretty in their distinctiveness. Although we weren't ready, we retired to our hotel room. I had one more thing to do before bed. Nick handed me the key to the rooftop, a ladies only space on top of the spa. I climbed the stairs to the skylight and James Bonded the button to open it. I get nada thrills about ladies only and mens only shinanigans. I really don't care about them at all. I don't care if people dig it, but I don't get a kick out of it. I would have rather had Nick with me on the rooftop. It obviously had nothing to do with men not being able to see women in spa attire- every other rooftop and window had view of this rooftop. I think it was just what most people hope to achieve with exclusivity - desire and demand. Do you know how much I thought about that topic while on the roof? A seconds worth. I was watching a moon situate itself in the night sky above the Swiss Alps that towered over the pristine Lake Zurich. I took about 15 photos of myslef, trying to get an accurate version on what I saw with proof of me being there in the shot. I got proof of me- that's for sure. I did not get the accuracy of the evening. Impossible. Impossible for a professional on a mission. That's the perk of travel. To be there is different than a photo. Some people enjoy that view nightly. I saw them. They were on personal balconies, typing on laptops at desks by a window. It was hard not to peak at people's lives. I was interested. Guilty of the window peak. Nothing naughty in any glimpse.

Day 2 in Zurich was remarkable as well. I yodeled just for the hell of it out of our hotel window. I sang a wee bit from the Sound of Music, even though it was set in Austria, I felt obliged to the Alps. And I ran to the edge of the lake and yelled "Ric - co - la" with all my might. I looked back at Nick and the local lady watching me and decided that I could nix immitating a big horn honk. Those are key memories, no shame. When I call to Nick in the house, I often yell "Ni - cho - las" so it was a must-do. I mean, WHO could resist that temptation?

Speaking of Nicholas and resisiting temptation... Nick is asleep in bed and I'm up still, sitting here, writing. Meanwhile, my eyelids are drooping. 

Signing off. Cassini out. Sweet dreams.

Door to Wonderland

Just before I pounced on him to get my way!

Hitting the streets. Met a fantastic flower.

One of each, please.

First cappuccino of the trip. 

This was the most intensely glorious bite of our lives.

We were SO happy here. Just being in Zurich.

Watching the people walk by the water.

So romantic.

My love.

Me

Very friendly swans

    

I think Zurich is named after this guy portrayed in the statue.  

One of the pretty towers.

lake side waltz for Nicholas, ooh la la

getting us both in the shot :)

Vibrant flowers for sale

Markets

Lots of pictures of streets, alleys, and doors.

Mutual love

Their version of vandizing property.

Taxi

Fondue

Coolio

I want to jump in the water.

Water fountain for drinking

Wanting to perch here permanently

You and me, babe.

Birdie Slurping Exhibit

Giant chess game

Should I take the stairs?

Cuckoo clock

Whaaaa? Is that what I think it is?

Yes, it IS!!

Showing my affection for the confection

chocolate gremlin

Was this on purpose?

Every single view was spectacular to me.

Heading to the rooftop

It was impossible to capture the definition of the landscape, but I couold see the Alps over the Lake, Fountains, Bell Towers, Cathedrals, Beautiful Buildings and dinners on balconies. It was really great to be up there breathing the fresh air and appreciating the city.