The Swiss are a lot like the Germans (go figure) - but by that I mean they seem angry and far from friendly but if you approach them first, it turns out they are super happy and very friendly.
Checking out today, they called my room to ask 'what time they might expect me to need a check out'? Funny, I called down at 10am to ask for a 1pm late check out. 1pm? That is fine, jah. Thank you. click.
I hung up - this would normally make me mad, I mean after all I am allowed 4pm late check outs with the status I have with this hotel chain... But not today, today I figure they are just a little out of sorts downstairs and the person I spoke to at 10am didn't let anyone know.
Ok, so they have been feeding me these things called, I kid you not, 'Speckli' - tiny little vanilla/almond flavored Swiss versions of a Madeline Cake/Cookie. They are soft and bread like but a touch sweet - very much like cake indeed. In a convenient travel size.
So its 1pm - and true to my word I am standing at the counter. It seems like just yesterday that I was standing at this very counter asking for dinner directions and the man I was speaking to quickly fired off 'that iz not allowed!' at his co-worker.
Seems she was letting a couple stand slightly behind the counter to use the computer terminal as the free internet computer in the lobby was not working.
She said something to him, he said something back - it was all rapid fire.
Then he turns to me without breaking stride and says 'jah, here is vere you want to go!' in the most friendly of voices.
Oh wait, that was yesterday. So each time I come to the counter there is this formality but also a feeling like I am interrupting. Very German to me. Its this
'I am being efficient, look at my efficiency and now what, now you interrupted me and I must do my job but now I will not be as efficient' ...How may I help you, sir?' bit.
Anyway, checking out I ask where can I buy some of these Sprecklis you have me addicted to. NOT IN ZURICH! was the reply - perhaps not quite so sharply but perhaps it was, very hard to tell. These Germ...Swiss aren't so friendly.
Then they handed me a bag of them - no questions asked, no money exchanged. Friendly indeed. And that is Switzerland in a nutshell, think Germany but with fewer people and more laid back but not too laid back as not to be efficient...
If I ever doubted my heritage was German, that is long gone.
Seems not to friendly but if you take the first steps....want to be efficient at almost all costs (almost) and will give you a bag of Spreckli just cause you said you liked them.
--------A little about dinner and we are out of here --------------
Restaurant Zeughauskeller! Why does everything that is spelled like this come out of my head as an excited shout that starts slow and ends 'up and to the right' with emotion?
Anyway, I ordered: Aelplermagronen (Alpine Macaroni - vegetarian) a specialty from the heart of Switzerland, with onions, potato cubes, served in a cream sauce with a portion of apple chunks with cinnamon (traditional)
It was excellent. I just didn't feel like meat, even though, as the menu says, "Sausages are our favorites". The restaurant is located on the Paradeplatz stop of nearly every light rail line in Zurich. Bread in Switzerland is also remarkable and at this lovely place, it costs 1.50chf per piece (they serve it in a basket and you tell them how much you had, like Italy and the table wine). Nice and crunchy while also chewy - well worth the small price.
A couple other interesting pictures and then off to Dooblin...
