Zurich, A Rich Town of Jewels and Lingerie

After our sticker shock in Geneva I felt prepared and price-tag-numb for our half day excursion to Zurich. On this trip I was okay in terms of the steep prices (we stuck to mostly free activities), but still in awe of the ritzy, glitzy atmosphere everywhere. I wonder what the Swiss think when they visit other major world cities and see the grime and poverty. Cause I didn't see any of that in Switzerland! I was mainly struck by how very many jewelry and high-end lingerie stores abound. Guess those Swiss snow bunnies wanna look good for their apres-skiing!

We decided to at least hob nob with the most well-to-do by peeking in the most gorgeous hotel in town - The Dolder Grand.

We parked, tried to coax Connor to put on her very best behavior, and pranced into the lobby. Oh goodness! We were first struck by all the sledders on the golf course across the street. FUN! And then the common spaces - the library, bar, and foyer lobby. I'm not sure I have ever seen a more elegant hotel. If I were rich and famous this is where I would stay in Zurich, no question.

After strutting our stuff upstairs Connor needed a potty break. Great. We rushed down the double grand staircase to the powder room.And thankfully we made it in the nick of time! That would have been a classy statement to have an accident on the library rugs. We walked into the bathroom and the aroma of fresh lilac flowers was intoxicating.Connor had me in stitches here. She looooved the Dolder Hotel! Just like in one of her favorite books where "Eloise just looooved The Plaza Hotel!"In addition to the fresh flowers I was particularly taken with the lighting fixtures throughout The Dolder Grand.Connor was fascinated with the lights too!We made it through the grand hotel with our very best manners, but on the way back to the parking lot Connor's playful side just had to burst out...While Kirk took care of Connor I window shopped...And drooled...And dreamed...The Dolder Grand was a grand deal. Total cost for us, 2 euros for parking. And we left feeling a little more high class. Smile.

We drove down the hill feeling uppity and into Zurich for lunch. We ate at a very traditional restaurant, Zeughauskeller. The place felt medieval with weapons on the walls. The couple at the table beside us ordered a sword wrapped in steak. You kind have to do a triple take when the waitress presented a steaming SWORD at the table next door.With bellies full we went on a walk about around Zurich. We noticed lots of fancy-dancy cars. The Carolina Blue Ferrari with the parking ticket made us chuckle.Zurich was a good mix of urban and quaint. Not sure you would need a lot of time here; it is a quickie but goodie.And instead of going to an art museum here we admired the art out in the public.This bedroom showroom was magnetic. Don't you just want to crawl into that ivory, silky bed with the soft, frilly chandelier? The Chagall stained glass windows at the Fraumunster church are not to be missed.

Zurich was rich in many ways. Glad we got to rub elbows there.

Here's one more glimpse of that Dolder Grand!

Nancy and Liechtenstein

We recently made a marathon weekend road trip through 6 countries:

France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg.

Our primary destinations were Liechtenstein and Zurich but we touched the other 4 for sure. We drove to Colmar, France where we stayed both nights and then looped through Switzerland on Saturday.

We drove into the French town of Nancy. Renowned for a beautiful town square, we made a quick tour in the cold weather.

There was a lot of Friday night traffic, but we did eventually make it to Place Stanislas in Nancy, described in our guide book as a flawlessly proportioned city center and the world's most beautiful urban monument.

The town square was indeed very pretty - but I gotta say in the below freezing temperatures and with the setting sun it was hard to linger very long.

Connor danced around and around the lampposts. I thought for sure she was going to slip on the leftover snow sludge with all the hopping about, but she stayed balanced and upright shrieking with belly laughter. Who knows what she found so funny, but it made us laugh right along with her.

Saturday we drove out to the tiny country of Liechtenstein. I guess Liechtenstein is technically classified as a "principality" but we were all about checking it off our list. Liechtenstein is only 61 square miles, so blink and you will miss it!

There really wasn't too much for us to DO in Liechtenstein, but there was a lot to SEE. We went to the capital city of Vaduz and took in the fortress and castle up on the hill and the mighty alpine mountains encircling the tiny principality.It was a town full of art.
The random doorway in the street was fun and when peeking through the view was stunning!

I am not sure how Connor stayed so happy in the cold. My fingertips were numb. Maybe the toddler energy and running around made it more endurable. But Connor was happy.

The main tourist trap we fell into was getting our passports stamped at the Post Office.

Connor and Kirk were very proud of their new passport additions.

The drive back into Switzerland from Liechtenstein was not to be missed. I look at these photos now and still cannot believe it was for real.

My Crafty Friends

It must be a prerequisite to be crafty when an Expat in Brussels. I have been blessed with friends who are Martha Stewarts-in-the-Making!

Last week Dallas came over to try out a new craft she hoped to replicate with her Girl Scouts. She is a new leader for one of the local troops. I was a happy arts and crafts guinea pig to test her creative idea.

The upcoming troop meeting theme is Hunger and Poverty in developing nations. So the project needs to pertain to handicrafts in a poor country. Dallas' concept of making paper beads out of rolled magazine strips was genius.

We rolled strips around a toothpick and covered the roll with decoupage glue to hold it together. And let them dry...Then we strung our paper beads off the toothpicks and onto a necklace.

Connor napped while we crafted, but oh when she awoke to the paper bead necklace surprise. She loved it, but was more interested in putting it on her feet and ankles than around her neck?

What tops off a super craft of necklace-making? How about some American-imported Shortbread Girl Scout cookies?!? Yeah Dallas!

Karen also had a few crafts up her sleeves during the cold, winter weather (thank goodness!) One afternoon she prepared this darling snowman sock activity for Brady and Connor.

We stuffed cotton in bleached baby socks and tied them off to make the snowballs. Then we gave our Frosties faces!

They are fun winter buddies in this freezing weather!Thanks Dallas! Thanks Karen! Marthas in the Making!