Skip to main content

BUDAPEST TO ZURICH

We left Budapest on Helvetica Airways.


The sun was setting at 3:45PM.

Junk meal with red wine and Johnny Walker Black Label Whiskey.
Flew into Switzerland.
Zurich Airport.
Marriott Zurich.
M Club.

Walked 3597 steps today.
Breakfast was universally European and adequate.

Zurich isl a  hub for both planes and trains.

  • Founded by the Romans, settlers were here from around the time of Jesus, although early settlements go back 6400 years.
  • Highest recorded temperature was around 100F in July of 1947, although the average low for July is 57F.
  • Zurich has long ranked high in world quality of life and similar ratings. 
    • Mercer's quality of living assessment has Zurich at #1 in Quality of Living.
Zurich rose to the top of the list due to its outstanding public services, low crime rates, lively cultural scene and commitment to sustainability.  However, Zurich is also ranked among the most expensive cities in the world.  Zurich #3 to Hong Kong #1 and Singapore #2.
  • The 2024 Economist world livability index has this country at #3, with Vienna #1 and Copenhagen #2. 
  • The highest U.S. city was Honolulu at #23.  
  • Our next trip will be in the spring of 2025, to the Osaka (ranked #10) Expo, followed by a cruise from Yokohama to Vancouver (#7).
About Zurich.
  • Buying bottled water is a waste of money.  Switzerland cities have the cleanest drinking water.  Zurich has 1200 drinking fountains.
  • A bowl of breakfast here is Muesli, which has apples, oats, nuts, lemon and condensed milk.
  • I one of the happiest cities in the world, at #2 to Aarhus, Denmark.  Berlin is #3,  Minneapolis the highest U.S. city at #18.
  • Has a museum dedicated to nothing.
“In this age of information, where daily we are flooded with images and noise, moments of quietude, emptiness, and self-chosen silence become more and more important. Many artists respond to this mass-media sensory overload with a range of strategies that reduce, empty, decelerate, or take on an attitude of complete refusal that is more than just a mere artistic gesture. Better NOTHING than such a thing!”

  • Has the largest church clock in Europe.  In the heart of town is St. Peter's Church.  The diameter is 28.3 feet.
  • Zurich's cuisine includes Swiss specialties like Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (sliced veal in creamy mushroom sauce), Swiss chocolate, and an array of Swiss cheeses. Also, fondue and raclette are famous traditional Swiss dishes you can enjoy in Zurich.

  • Two famous people are Albert Einstein, who spent his early career here, and James Joyce, who is buried in the city's Fluntern Cemetery.
Tomorrow our walk through the Christmas market os Zurich.

-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DAY 1 on the DIAMOND PRINCESS

But first, Sheraton Yokohama Bay highlights of our Sheraton Club eats/drinks and breakfasts. Breakfast stations. Then taxi off to the Diamond Princess.  Fall colors. Approaching from the rear of the Diamond Princess. Departure of Diamond Princess from Yokohama, Departure snack of lamb, beef, penne pasta, Johnny Walker Gold and champagne. Leaving Yokohama. We then went to Kai Sushi for dinner, Sushi and sake dinner, Then, off to Fun Dance Class. That followed by karaoke. The night continued into some old time disco.  Finally, after midnight, back to our stateroom.  Walked 4127 steps today. -

DAY 4 IN SEOUL: Most popular Korean Songs from the 1950's to the Present

Korean music was almost totally missing, growing up in Hawaii.  The exception was  Arirang .   Today, BTS and BLACKPINK resonate around the world.  In addition to the 600 year-old  Arirang,  what is the all-time #1?  My favorites are: Baby Shark , released by Pinkfong in 2016. For one, it is the most-viewed You Tube video ever, hitting 7 billion views and surpassing  Despacito  in 2022.   Is now up to 16.47 billion views, with  Despacito  at 9 billion. Top 10 music videos, based on data from   Kworb   and   Wikipedia :  Note that most are nursery songs. "Baby Shark Dance"   – Pinkfong Kids' Songs & Stories (16.47 billion) "Despacito"   – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (8.91 billion) "Wheels on the Bus"   – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (8.29 billion) "Bath Song"   – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (7.31 billion) "Johny Johny Yes Papa"   – LooLoo Kids (7.13 billion) "See You Again"   –...

HOW TO WATCH NETFLIX SHOWS

But first, maybe  President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza Peace Plan is showing some progress .   No one expects the Hamas to accept all of them, but they did agree to release all captives and the act of handing over administration to Palestinian technocrats. So far, in the Gaza Strip, 66,288 have been killed and 169,165 wounded.   On 7October2023, almost two years ago, 1139 were killed in the initial Hamas-led attack. About my topic of the day, I've long been lamenting the overflow of watchable films and series available on Netflix and Prime.  Why expand into the plethora of other streaming options when I can't keep up with what I have, which costs me around $30/month.  And, of course, why venture out to a movie theater to end up watching a film that will cost me around that amount of money, when you add the popcorn, drink, gasoline cost, time it takes to get there and back, and the risk of a car accident or worse.  Oh, also getting infected with ...