Saturday we got up and set out to explore the city. In only a few short hours we were fortunate to tour the Grossmunster and Fraumunster chapels and even climb the 187 stairs of the Fraumunster to the viewing point over the city. What an amazing view being able to see out the four directions and look down, not only at the city below, but out to the countryside and lake. After the climb, we were ready for some lunch and trying to find something reasonably priced in this city is quite a task. We made our way to the lake where some take away carts were and found doner kabobs. I wasn't quite ready still for the German cuisine so I settled for a grilled ham and cheese. I must say that was one fine sandwich though!! All of the cheese here in Switzerland is so rich and full of flavor, amazing. After lunch we decided to set out to find some chocolate. It had started to rain on us, but we sought rescue in Peclard and enjoyed a box of truffles, slice of chocolate mousse, and a glass of wine in a room with a Victorian style with comfy high back chairs and little tables.
After our afternoon snack, we walked the cobblestone alleys more heading to the train station to get our tickets for tomorrow and checking out the other side of the lake. We arrived at the station that had about 50 train lines running through and bought our ticket to what we thought was Freiburg, Germany. The problem, which we did not realize until later, is that our tickets were actually purchased for Fribourg, Switzerland (more on that soon). With tickets in hand and thunderstorms rolling in, we decided to head back to the hostel for a bit to wait out the storm. We caught our trolley and got off a stop early. As we walked, we came across a pizza restaurant and decided to stop in for a slice to hold us over until dinner later. Again, the menu was all German, but we did manage to order a bottle of wine and pizza to split among the four of us. Again, perfect way to wait out the storm.
Once we got to the hostel, we decided to look and verify our train tickets were correct and, low and behold, they weren't. I immediately go in to panic mode thinking where are we gonna stay, we don't know anything about this place, how do we fix it. Jordan and his calm, cool, and collective self assures me we will live and it will be an adventure. We have to go through Bern, Switzerland (the capital) and after some negotiations we settle to jump off in Bern since it is a larger city than Fribourg and actually has some sights to see and to just stay one night and head to Paris a day earlier. Some mental brainwashing on my end and I decide I can do this. I mean, we are in Europe and why the hell not?! After all, we didn't really have anything planned in Germany specifically anyways, I know as much about Bern as I do Freiburg, and we will still make it to Paris...a day earlier even!
Now that that was settled, we all head out to dinner. It is raining again and without umbrellas, one of the closest restaurants was chosen. We get seated and see the horrifically high prices so Liz and I decide to share an entree. The boys went with a chicken curry dish, but us girls chose the macaroni and cheese with bacon and vegetables....weird, but surprisingly über good! Of course, what meal would be complete without a bottle of wine so we went with a muscat (not to be confused with moscato) and were set! Dinner was loads of laughs and after, we strolled towards the parking garage stumbling upon a big party complete with beer tents and disco balls at an art museum. Once we found out it was free entry, in we went! Not gonna say it was the liveliest party I've ever been to, but we were in Zurich, at a museum, at a free party, and there was beer so all was good in our world! We stayed for a bit, took in a game of never have I, and then headed to the parking garage for our next adventure of the night. You see, when you are in a parking garage and none of the machines will read your ticket, there's no attendant, you don't speak the language, and the machine won't issue you a new ticket, you really don't have any options. Sooooo the boys did what any boys would do....one held the mechanical arm up as we escaped backwards through the entry. Yep, that happened!! (I don't condone such behavior of course :) ) Talk about laughing so hard you're crying, just try to escape a parking garage under those conditions, unforgettable and a new one to add and check off the bucket list.
That pretty much did it for our Saturday night. Sunday makes for a drive around Zurich, saying goodbye to my new friends, a train ride, and seeing what Bern even has to offer. Until then....
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