Day 3: Zurich

 

Our third day (Sept. 27) started with a beautiful breakfast buffet---very impressive---but then we got on the bus for our day's activity:  driving and walking tour followed by a boat ride on Zurich See (lake). Sadly, I took my night time medicine instead of day time:  sedatives!  

I started out walking with Rebecca in my group.  Honestly, I just wanted to take a nap---triple whammy of jet lag and sedatives and 80 years old.  I managed but when the guide took us up winding, cobble stone steep hills---I chose the steps with the building to hold onto.

Pause in the story:  I had great shoes for this (Kiziks) and planned on having a trekking pole to help me.  BUT, I'd left my trekking pole on the plane in Atlanta and my 2nd one was still packed in my big suitcase that I had not want to fool with.  So, I'm holding onto buildings because I lost my trekking pole and was too lazy to unpack the spare.

Story resumes:  I had to sit down---I was out of breath, my heart was beating quickly:  I was sweating.  One of the women in our group offered her trekking pole.  That saved the day.  I was able to at least go back down that huge hill to where the bus was waiting for us but having left a money belt and a trekking pole behind my confidence level at being able to  not lose her trekking pole hightened my anxiety level.

But, the worst of our planned day was over---time for a scenic relaxing boat ride.  It was beautiful---we sailed out to a dock where people got off and then turned around to come back.  Rebecca had heard someone say that people were getting off to walk to the Lindt Chocolate factory and museum.  Although going back to the hotel for a nap is what I wanted, I knew the chocolate factory was on her bucket list.

So, we bought a return ticket---bade farewell to our Viking travellers and headed back across the lake not giving much thought to how we would get back. The path to the chocoate factory is well marked across a path in several parks past a playground.  I was very happy to still have Pat's walking stick since the terrain was rough at times.

A hike up the hill got us to the chocolate museum where there was a cafeteria to pick up some lunch.  After resting, drinking some water (water bottle was also packed), and having lunch I was ready to tour the chocolate factory.  DELICIOUS with at least 5 spots where we could sample chocolate of all kinds.  We saw the history of chocolate how Switzerland became known for their chocolate.  It was really a wonderful museum---a tad more elegant than the 1970s tour in Hershey, PA.  It ended in the gift shop where I bought some chocolate for Pat to thank her for the walking stick.

Now came the tough part---getting back.  We'd asked people all afternoon how we'd get back and had many conflicting ideas.  So, as we were saying a prayer for guidance, a taxi pulled up and aked if we needed a ride.  I've come to accept all sorts of angels answering my prayers even those that charge 90 Swiss Francs to take us back to the hotel.  We both hopped in the taxi without giving it a second thought and arrived back at the hotel with candy, the walking stick and renewed confidence that we could make good decisions!

Day Two: Zurich

When we got to the Renaissance Hotel in Zurich, our room wasn't ready so we headed to a cafe nearby for a roast been sandwich.  Our hotel was in more of a suburban area with not much to see. So, we decided we should try to explore Zurich.  We went to Simon, our tour leader, and asked him how to get to the heart of Zurich.  "It's easy, "he said. "Take Tram 51 to the Hauptbahnhof and you will find "Hop on Hop off" buses."

Full of confidence we headed out ----I knew "hop on hop off" from previous trips to Europe and I know German. After 500 days of Duolingo to brush up my ancient German, I felt confident we could manage. Besides Rebecca had technology on her side with maps and Uber.

We got off at the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), looked around for any sign of "Hop on, hop off".  None. So we decided to go into a local market and ask people there. ... .most people shrugged, but one of the employees thought he could help.  He pointed to the train station and said triumphantly, "Hauptbahnhof!"  Noooo, not Hauptbahnhof but Hop on Hop off!  We left to try someplace else.  There was a Bus Depot nearby---we went over there and saw lots of Zurich tour buses but none that said "Hop on, hop off"

Meanwhile Rebecca discovered she had no cell service so we had no maps and no Uber.  I was getting tired, and sat on a bench while she went off to the bus depot office, where she asked the same question.  No one knew what we were talking about.  But meanwhile I discovered a port in the storm---Starbucks!

We had coffee, tried to use the wifi but finally gave up and returned on Tram 51 to the Technopark Station where our hotel was.  We felt bruised, battered and not very confident having failed at seeing very much of Zurich on our first day (other that what was on Tram 51 line).  My Duolingo was failing me, Rebecca had no cell service.  Oh, well we had another day to conquer Zurich.

PS:  the photo at the top of the page is a "hop on hop off" bus----we probably saw them at the Depot but had no idea that's what they were.  

Day One---heading to Zurich

 

Being more of a story teller, I want to record my thoughts on the trip Rebecca and I took. Although the trip was my idea, I started having anxiety just thinking of travelling to Zurich---my knees, my sciatica, germs. . . .Finally I decided, what's a few dollars vs. my anxiety so I upgraded us to first class for the first time.

I was blown away by first class seating in our own little pods with pillows, comforters, slippers, sleep mask, tooth brush etc. The seats converted to recliners, flat beds and all of the stages in between.  Since I was having digestive/sleep problems, I asked that they serve me dinner ASAP which they did while others were still having drinks.  And, then, we hit turbulence for several hours---I was the only one who had food.  The attendants were able to clear my tray so I could sink in my "pod" for a good night's sleep.

I slept through the shortened night and woke up to Rebecca saying, "Mom, I had a medical incident during the night" And then I noticed she had an oxygen mask.  

After I booked the trip, I checked to see what the altitude was for Zurich:  it was well below 9000 feet which is the point at which she gets sick.  I also asked about flying altitude and was told the pressurized cabins prevent people from getting sick.  A little more than half way through the flight she felt odd, got up to go to the bathroom and fainted upon coming out.  The next thing she knew, she was on the floor where they had made her a bed and asked for a doctor on board (there was one in front of me and one beside her seat).  Her blood pressure was roughly 60/30 and she was sweating.  They gave her electrolytes which she had brought and hooked her up with a tank of oxygen.  We landed after a tank and a half of oxygen.  There were wheel chairs waiting for us both (and our flights from Paris to Kansas City).  

Talking to our son-in-law, a pilot, he said it's not unusual for pilots to fly about 40,000 feet which results in cabin pressure feeling like 8000 feet. She's exploring another possiblity about falling asleep at a lower altitude and waking at a higher one. . . . .

She felt fine for the rest of the trip and was somewhat notorious at our hotel in Zurich where all of the flight attendants and pilots were.  She was introduced as the "medical emergency"----everyone was happy to see her walking around with a smile on her face but a little embarassed at the attention she was getting.