Zurich

From the moment you enter Zurich, it is clear that this city does everything at a higher level!  The airport is impeccably clean and the baggage claim tells you exactly how many minutes until your bags arrive (and, by the way, the belt is so quiet that you can barely hear it moving).  Trains to the city come every few minutes and the vending machines to purchase tickets even accept euros. (Can you imagine?  It would be like the El in Chicago allowing payment with Canadian dollars). 

I was training someone in Zurich and he thought I was crazy for suggesting public transportation.  What he didn’t realize is that it saves our company a bit of money and is actually quicker than taking a taxi.  In case you’re wondering, trains in Switzerland are also impossibly quiet, as are the people who ride them.  It’s a wonderful thing. 

Zurich, itself, is such a beautiful place and the city center is so compact that you can walk almost anywhere.  My last time in Zurich was a couple years ago and it was so much fun because I got to see friends from both of my MBA programs.  We enjoyed some downtown bars and restaurants, hiked through the countryside, and even had a fun low-key night with good food and wine. 

2011 trip to Zurich with two friends from CEIBS

2011 trip with friends from ESADE

Enjoying the countryside (2011)

This trip was a lot quicker and busier with work, but I managed to get one night to see two of my good friends from ESADE.  We met for dinner and I got to see their new baby, who is so cute.  She allowed me to hold her for what felt like an hour and didn’t even cry once the entire night.  If I ever have a baby, I want it to be mute and cute just like this one!    

Is she cute or what??

I usually don’t care about food but the restaurants at my hotel are really something special.  I almost felt guilty eating gourmet meals every night of the week.  Also, I had to get a picture in the private dining room, which is filled with two floors of wine.  When can I move in?

Coolest private dining room ever!

After eating way more than I should for every meal of the trip, I decided to go for a sunset walk on my last night.  As I walked through the cobblestone streets, I was in awe of my surroundings.  Zurich may not be the most exciting city in the world, but it is absolutely one of the most refined. 

View of the Grossmünster from the river

Overlooking the city from Lindenhof Square

I returned to the hotel feeling very fortunate for my job.  Zurich is almost like a Disney version of the perfect European city and I got to experience at no cost.  If I ever have the chance to move back to Europe, I would go to Switzerland without hesitation.  I just need to double my salary because this place is expensive! 

Last night in Zurich 2013