Saturday, 11 September 2010
September 11th - Exploring Zurich
Well I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Zurich. I had an impression in my head that it would be similar to Milan. I thought there would be the odd bit to see, but that it would mainly be a business center.
I was very wrong, it was stunning and so beautiful. There was lots of interesting things to see and the river and lake were also stunning.
The river Limmat ruins through the center of Zurich ending at a beautiful glacier lake called 'Zurichsee' There are many low bridges that periodically span the river. I started next to the train station at a place called 'Schweizerisches Landesmuseum'. This amazing building houses a vast array of Switzerland’s history. From the outside, it looks just like a huge castle/mansion and not a museum. I then walked down 'Bahnhofstrasse' which is Zurich's principal shopping area. I then walked along the river taking photo's of the majestic St Peter's Kirche, Zunfthaus zur Meisen, Fraumunster, Wasserkirche, Grossmunster and Rathaus, which is the town hall and is built on piles driven into the river bed. At this point I was getting hungry so I went for a nice glass of white wine and a bit of lunch in a local restaurant along the river. Once I was suitably full I ambled down to the glacier lake 'Zurichsee and sat on the grass soaking up the sun and the atmosphere. I then went to Zurichhorn park, which contained a Chinese garden. It was a beautiful place and it was a lovely day.
I then headed back to my hotel to get showered and changed and to catch a bite to eat.
Overall, Zurich was a place of stunning beauty and was well worth the visit, I may even consider coming back here and exploring some more.
I was very wrong, it was stunning and so beautiful. There was lots of interesting things to see and the river and lake were also stunning.
The river Limmat ruins through the center of Zurich ending at a beautiful glacier lake called 'Zurichsee' There are many low bridges that periodically span the river. I started next to the train station at a place called 'Schweizerisches Landesmuseum'. This amazing building houses a vast array of Switzerland’s history. From the outside, it looks just like a huge castle/mansion and not a museum. I then walked down 'Bahnhofstrasse' which is Zurich's principal shopping area. I then walked along the river taking photo's of the majestic St Peter's Kirche, Zunfthaus zur Meisen, Fraumunster, Wasserkirche, Grossmunster and Rathaus, which is the town hall and is built on piles driven into the river bed. At this point I was getting hungry so I went for a nice glass of white wine and a bit of lunch in a local restaurant along the river. Once I was suitably full I ambled down to the glacier lake 'Zurichsee and sat on the grass soaking up the sun and the atmosphere. I then went to Zurichhorn park, which contained a Chinese garden. It was a beautiful place and it was a lovely day.
I then headed back to my hotel to get showered and changed and to catch a bite to eat.
Overall, Zurich was a place of stunning beauty and was well worth the visit, I may even consider coming back here and exploring some more.
September 10th - Rolling out of Zurich
I woke up early, feeling slightly hungover, but more tired than anything. I packed my stuff had breakfast and made my way to the train station. Today was a very long and hot day of train journeys. I left Santa Margherita Ligure and headed back to Milan, I had to change at Genova and I arrived in Milan at about 2pm. One thing that did make me smile during this train journey was the food and drink service. Like in the UK the trains had trolleys that come around offering snacks and drinks. However, for this service the trolley was equipped with an old fashioned bicycle bell, which the guy would sound every few seconds as he moved slowly down the train aisle.
Once I got to Milan I had some lunch and then got the train to Zurich. As I was sitting on the train I was thinking about everywhere I had been and everything I had done so far. I smiled when I thought of the wedding. It was all a bit surreal, one minute I was backpacking across Europe wearing a T-shirt and shorts, and the next minute I am wearing a suit at the wedding of the year. Lol
I arrived in Zurich at 7pm feeling very tired. I think the wedding and the previous days of travelling had started to catch up with me as I felt a cold coming on. I got a taxi to the hotel, got changed and went out for a meal and a couple of drinks, sampling a couple of bars.
I then went back to my room for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow I would explore Zurich.
Once I got to Milan I had some lunch and then got the train to Zurich. As I was sitting on the train I was thinking about everywhere I had been and everything I had done so far. I smiled when I thought of the wedding. It was all a bit surreal, one minute I was backpacking across Europe wearing a T-shirt and shorts, and the next minute I am wearing a suit at the wedding of the year. Lol
I arrived in Zurich at 7pm feeling very tired. I think the wedding and the previous days of travelling had started to catch up with me as I felt a cold coming on. I got a taxi to the hotel, got changed and went out for a meal and a couple of drinks, sampling a couple of bars.
I then went back to my room for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow I would explore Zurich.
September 9th - Santa Margherita and the Wedding
Well today was the big day, the wedding!!!!
As the wedding did not start until 4pm, the morning was a quite relaxed affair. I had a lush croissant for breakfast, filled with apricot jam and a caffe latte. Then I just had a walk around the bay. I met up with a couple of people and just chilled out relaxing and soaking up the scenery.
Then about 2pm, I went back to my room and got changed ready for the wedding. The wedding was being held in a lovely place called Villa Durazzo, which was located high above the bay. People started to arrive at the Villa just after 3pm. The wedding was set-up outside the Villa with a lovely well and beautiful surroundings, it was also very picturesque. However, this is when the weather decided to change drastically. After a lovely sunny morning the clouds came over and a huge thunder storm could be heard in the distance, and it was coming our way!!!!
There was no rain yet, but the wedding was moved inside the Villa. However, the inside of the Villa was equally as stunning as the outside. Eventually, the bride arrived and the ceremony got underway. The bride (Lilith) looked stunning in her dress. The ceremony was carried out by the local mayor and was spoken in Italian and translated. One of Lilith's good friends sang 'Somewhere over the rainbow', which was very good, it was a bit surreal considering the thunder storm outside, which people laughed about at the end. Then the rings were exchanged and vows read. In Italy the proceedings were slightly different, in that the mayor reads out 'rules' that must be obeyed during the marriage, each of these rules is given a number. Rule 144, I think (don't worry he only read a few out) was regarding domestic jobs and house cleaning. At this point everybody just laughed.
Once the ceremony was concluded, everybody went outside and the photo's were taken. At this point there was no rain, the thunder storm was getting closer though. We just about had enough time to take the photo's and then we proceeded into another lovely building for drinks and the anti-pasta course. Lilith had warned everybody the night before not to eat any lunch as there was about ten courses!!
Now at this point the rain finally arrived, and boy did it rain. It was a torrential downpour, with the loudest thunder I had ever heard. However, everybody was inside sipping champagne, and getting merry. Eventually everybody proceeded into the main room for the meal and the speeches of course. Andy (Groom), father of bride and the best man. All the speeches were very good and funny, and the best man had some good stories to tell.
Then we moved onto the meal which was very nice. Then, as the rain had stopped, we went outside to cut the cake, in the lovely gardens overlooking the bay, which at this point was covered in darkness. We had 'love heart' shaped sparklers and more food and champagne, it was lovely.
Then to round off the evening it was time to go back inside for a bit of dancing and more drink and more food, everybody was stuffed. Eventually, everybody said there goodbye's and went back to their various hotels. It was a great wedding and a fantastic occasion and a lovely setting.
Thanks Andy and Lilith for inviting me, it was a wonderful day. I hope you both have a fantastic life together.
As the wedding did not start until 4pm, the morning was a quite relaxed affair. I had a lush croissant for breakfast, filled with apricot jam and a caffe latte. Then I just had a walk around the bay. I met up with a couple of people and just chilled out relaxing and soaking up the scenery.
Then about 2pm, I went back to my room and got changed ready for the wedding. The wedding was being held in a lovely place called Villa Durazzo, which was located high above the bay. People started to arrive at the Villa just after 3pm. The wedding was set-up outside the Villa with a lovely well and beautiful surroundings, it was also very picturesque. However, this is when the weather decided to change drastically. After a lovely sunny morning the clouds came over and a huge thunder storm could be heard in the distance, and it was coming our way!!!!
There was no rain yet, but the wedding was moved inside the Villa. However, the inside of the Villa was equally as stunning as the outside. Eventually, the bride arrived and the ceremony got underway. The bride (Lilith) looked stunning in her dress. The ceremony was carried out by the local mayor and was spoken in Italian and translated. One of Lilith's good friends sang 'Somewhere over the rainbow', which was very good, it was a bit surreal considering the thunder storm outside, which people laughed about at the end. Then the rings were exchanged and vows read. In Italy the proceedings were slightly different, in that the mayor reads out 'rules' that must be obeyed during the marriage, each of these rules is given a number. Rule 144, I think (don't worry he only read a few out) was regarding domestic jobs and house cleaning. At this point everybody just laughed.
Once the ceremony was concluded, everybody went outside and the photo's were taken. At this point there was no rain, the thunder storm was getting closer though. We just about had enough time to take the photo's and then we proceeded into another lovely building for drinks and the anti-pasta course. Lilith had warned everybody the night before not to eat any lunch as there was about ten courses!!
Now at this point the rain finally arrived, and boy did it rain. It was a torrential downpour, with the loudest thunder I had ever heard. However, everybody was inside sipping champagne, and getting merry. Eventually everybody proceeded into the main room for the meal and the speeches of course. Andy (Groom), father of bride and the best man. All the speeches were very good and funny, and the best man had some good stories to tell.
Then we moved onto the meal which was very nice. Then, as the rain had stopped, we went outside to cut the cake, in the lovely gardens overlooking the bay, which at this point was covered in darkness. We had 'love heart' shaped sparklers and more food and champagne, it was lovely.
Then to round off the evening it was time to go back inside for a bit of dancing and more drink and more food, everybody was stuffed. Eventually, everybody said there goodbye's and went back to their various hotels. It was a great wedding and a fantastic occasion and a lovely setting.
Thanks Andy and Lilith for inviting me, it was a wonderful day. I hope you both have a fantastic life together.
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