T̶w̶o̶ One p̶e̶r̶p̶e̶t̶u̶a̶l̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶a̶t̶s̶ immigrant settling into home country number five.
Just in case you find yourself in Zurich in the month of August, I figured I’d share some upcoming events we’re looking forward to… Street Parade – Time to break out the peacock-feather pasties, boys and girls! This coming Saturday, downtown Zurich will turn into one great big techno dance party, with floats, costumes, and … Read more
Back in Zurich, more guests to entertain. This time we opted for a trip up the Zürichberg, the mountain which borders Zurich on the east (take tram 6 from the main station). Although less celebrated than the Uetliberg to the west, the Zürichberg can be entertaining, too. The zoo is up there, as are several … Read more
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxB6MTS5YBk] Or maybe you have. But we did get to see it on opening night, which here in Switzerland is a whole day earlier than in the US. International movie releases sure have come a long way since my Germany days, when films were released in the theaters long after they had gone to video … Read more
This commercial has started playing before movies in theaters around Zurich: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lNS0SFXdLI] A little background, for those who are not up-to-date on the Zurich Public Transport (VBZ) vs. Mariachis saga: Back in early 2006, Zurich officially banned mariachis from trams with this sign. After numerous protests from individuals and the Mexican consulate, the signs were … Read more
Can you believe it has been almost a month since I left Zurich last? My travel schedule slows down considerably in the summer, since I’m not a big fan of the heat (or moving around in the heat). It works out just fine this way, since the summer tends to be when other people want … Read more
OK, I admit it. I’m old and lame. I didn’t do any all-night partying, despite the fact that the trams were running all night long and the Fäscht officially ended at 5 AM each morning. I skipped the choreographed fireworks and the air-guitar contest (this is probably my biggest regret). But I’m just not a … Read more
It’s time for the Züri Fäscht, a gigantic festival which takes over downtown Zurich once every four years. Bratwurst stands, concert stages, carnival rides, and caipirinha stands have sprouted up all over the place in anticipation of an estimated 2 million visitors this weekend. For a city with a population of less than 400,000, that’s … Read more
I don’t want to alarm anyone, but there seems to be a trend towards non-traditional vegetable afoot around Zurich’s farmers’ markets. Purple asparagus, yellow zucchini, purple green beans (which I guess would just be called purple beans?)… these Swiss farmers are out of control. I love going to the farmers markets in Zurich and finding … Read more
You just have to make it yourself. I went to El Maiz (a Mexican shop in Zurich) and stocked up on some basic Mexican ingredients: black beans, corn tortillas, jalapeños, queso blanco, and red and green salsa. Last night I made spinach and mushroom enchiladas, black bean salsa, and fresh guacamole. Scott whipped up some … Read more
Going to the movies in Switzerland is different from the US. Your ticket (which costs around 17 francs) is for an assigned seat, which I like because it means you don’t have to arrive early to get a good spot (assuming you planned ahead and got your tickets online). Before the movie you will be … Read more