Sunday was..busy. After playing a rain delayed doubles final (the wine went to Greta who rides her pink flower covered bike to the courts each day and works the desk). We had quick singles & doubles award presentations (beautiful albeit heavy glass trophies with a photo from Lugano, 100 chf and a bottle of wine from the region for doubles). A quick shower and I caught the bus to the train station, and made the next train to Zurich Hauptbahnhof, only because it was running 5 min late. The train ride alternated between tunnels and beautiful lakeside scenery. Then I caught a train, and connected to a tram, which stopped less than 5 min walk to my hotel.

I stayed near the airport, at a hotel which made the guests do all the work of check in, from entering data (including that of the fictional 2nd person in my room…it could not be changed to 1 from 2 people). I dropped my bags, and took the tram to Old Town Zürich. I had purchased a train and 24 hour city ticket which turned out to be a bargain.

Zurich was busy on a late Sunday afternoon, lots of tourists in the old town. I walked to the tall church, Grossmunster, a Protestant church, and climbed up one tower (4euros), and got an obstructed view of the lake and city. After that I walked through the church, which was austere by gothic standards but had really pretty and unusual stained glass windows created by Sigmar Polke.

I walked next down Bahnhofstrasse which is lined by very high end stores (all closed on a Sunday) , into the train station in search of some food and drink. On the main level are all the trains, 1/2 level down were scores of luggage storage lockers and at -1 I found the shopping…a very very busy Migros, bakery, chocolate shop, and more.

I got some drinks and snacks and headed back to the Lake, retracing my steps through the old town. The area was hopping on a warm afternoon, music blaring, people unfortunately feeding the white swans, boats galore on the lake, families out for strolls, it was a nice and safe atmosphere. The lake is huge but the mountains either smaller or more likely further away than in Lugano and Como.

I walked by the beautiful Opera House and then returned to my hotel by tram.

And that’s a wrap on this European trip. Stay tuned for more in the fall.