Last year Zurich was the last stop of our honeymoon, one we badly needed after visiting 6 new cities in only 9 days. When you think of it, it sounds really awesome to be able to see so many new places in such little time, but by the time we got to Zurich I was quite tired of hopping from one city to another, especially since I had to carry my luggage to a new city every 2 days. So I was really looking forward to spending (approximately) 8 days in one place with our family who knew exactly how to present Zurich, Switzerland and their attractions to us.
Now, if you ever have the chance to visit Zurich, grab it! I can assure you that you won't regret it! Zurich has it all: beautiful architecture, a gorgeous lake on one side, a lot of green places and mountains close by. Oh, and they also have their own Cetățuie as well: it's called Mt Uetliberg and if you climb all the way there you will have a terrific overview of the city.
Zurich reminds me a lot of Cluj. Maybe that's why I always feel at home when I go there. So let me tell you what we did in the 8 days we were there :)
We had a very warm welcome that immediately made us feel at home :)
Day 1 was dedicated to Swiss National Day (1st of August) so we celebrated with a delicious dinner on the terrace, catching up and watching the fireworks :)
On day 2 we visited a beautiful farmers' market and we walked around lake Zurich for a bit. Now you'll have to believe me when I say that lake Zurich shore is heaven for me. When I arrive there and I look in the distance I immediately calm down and reach peace of mind. I just find myself smiling wide and breathe easy knowing that life is wonderful. It's one of those places you HAVE to see! :)
Then we took a boat across lake Zurich until Rapperswil to meet Oli's cousin and her family. The boat ride took 1h and 45min and it was perfect for watching the city from afar, enjoying the breeze of the lake, taking pictures or... snoozing;)
Rapperswil is also called "the town of roses". It earns its name due to the more than 16,000 roses that flower in the rose gardens of the Capuchin monastery and on the "Schanz". The latter is a rose garden for the blind with particularly fragrant roses, the names of which are written in brail on guide panels.
The little town has very beautiful architecture and small, quaint alleys that invite you to take a stroll. Overlooking the town, the Rapperswil castle is perched high on a hill. This top spot offers breathtaking views of the lakeside surroundings. I definitely fell in love with Rapperswil!
On day 3 we took the train to Appenzell, another little town famous for its delicious cheese and beer. I liked it very much especially because it was colourful and lively and it had great home made ice cream!
The landscapes in Switzerland are absolutely breathtaking! Here and there they even resemble Tuscany and they're such a vivid green that you have the feeling someone played with the saturation levels :)
On day 4 Oli and I visited Rietberg museum in Zurich. They had a very beautiful and impressive exhibition called Gardens of the world! That's where I began setting my roots to my gardening passion. I found the museum very informative, practic, interactive and modern, nothing like I've ever seen before! I really loved learning about the Egyptian, Italian, French and English gardens and I still remember how impressed I was about the special effects on the Korean panels :) A big plus was also the amazing luxurious park surrounding the museum. So yeah, Rietberg museum is definitely a MUST once you're in Zurich!
Later on that day we took the train to Kandersteg to meet Oli's aunt and uncle. I relived happy memories from a year and a half before when Oli proposed under a beautiful waterfall in the same little village. We all took a walk to a restaurant/hotel without electricity called Waldhaus to have a fondue dinner (how Swiss!:) ). I still remember how amazed I was by the landscapes going up to the restaurant. Kandersteg is without any doubt a wild piece of heaven!
The first 4 days in Switzerland have made me fall head over heels in love with the country, its landscapes, its customs and its people!
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