Zurich With a Z

Just getting back to our room in the wee hours here in Zurich. Tomorrow we fly back to New York after an incredible vacation that included attending my first ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament, and first time visiting the south of France, Milan and Switzerland.

Zurich turned out to be more than I ever expected — and feels like a place I could actually live.

In addition to marveling at its sophisticated city life, we also made a day trip to the spectacular Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. 

 












Afterward we had drinks in our hotel’s famed whisky bar before heading out for dinner and then more drinks at Cranberry lounge. I’m sad to be leaving but am eager to see Harvey. xo

Last Splash in Switzerland

We finally got to see Lake Brienz in sunny weather before we moved on to Zurich — our final destination!

Upon arrival at the Widder hotel, I couldn’t help but wonder if we had booked the Beetlejuice suite. 🤷🏻‍♂️

The view was sunny, just the same! 

Back to my irregularly scheduled blogging on Monday. co

Swiss Family Veron-Walsh

Here’s a quick photo summary of the past couple days in the Swiss village of Brienz, where we are staying in the Grandhotel Giessbach, a spectacular property on Lake Brienz dating back to 1875. With its stunning views and haute cuisine, you don’t even need to leave the place to be blown away. 

Still, never being ones to relax too much on holiday, today we walked to the top of Giessbach Falls, a famed waterfall that flows just outside our room, before taking a boat to Interlaken, a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland: 

Built on a narrow stretch of valley, between the emerald-colored waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, it has old timber houses and parkland on either side of the Aare River. Its surrounding mountains, with dense forests, alpine meadows and glaciers, has numerous hiking and skiing trails. 

While there we rode the Harder Kulm funicular, on which (according to a sign posted at the front) we were a hamburger and drink away from sure disaster.

My fear of heights was put to the test 

Warning up back at the hotel before another stellar dinner followed by drinks on the bar, where a pianist kept us on our toes.

Room with a (hell of a) view

Tomorrow we head to Zurich for a couple nights before flying back to New York. It’s been an incredible journey so far, which I owe to my travel-planner hubby, who always knows exactly how to thrill me. 

P.S. Before leaving Zermatt for Brienz, we took a quick dip in the indoor pool. I miss swimming!

Sign Language

Holiday on Ice

We made it to Zermatt, only to find out the forecast for tomorrow is zero visibility — so rushed to 10,000 feet above sea level to try to get a closer look at the Matterhorn, which is partially visible from our hotel room’s balcony. 

In the end the best views we got were from the train riding up. 

Still, the whole experience was rather magical, however you shovel it, and no one became a widower! 

It’s late and we’re exhausted, so all for now.

Puttin’ on the (St.) Moritz

Can’t beat a luxury resort town for a little R&R, especially moments after the ski crowds have fled for the season. 

St. Moritz lies on the southern slopes of the Albula Alps below the Piz Nair (3,056 meters or 10,026 feet) overlooking the flat and wide glaciated valley of the Upper Engadine and eponymous lake, Lake St. Moritz, which we are planning to walk around after lunch today. (My mom’s fondue favorite is on my menu!) It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, as evidenced by the fun posters and paraphernalia throughout the resort. 

Steffani Rabbit, the official mascot of the ‘28 Games after which our hotel was named 

You may know St. Moritz from the opening scenes of Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1934), mentions in the James Bond films “Goldfinger” (1964) and “For Your Eyes Only” (1981) ( (ski scenes from “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “A View to a Kill” were filmed at St. Moritz), as well a mention in the 1969 Peter Sarstedt hit "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?," describing a Euro jet-setter who flies to St. Moritz.

Our room with a view 

Our hotel’s restaurant has been around since 1869, featuring caricatures of the regulars on the wall. (Only a few women made their way into this club.) 

UPDATE:

Success!

UPDATE II:

Breathtaking!