for the love of the alps

I still have one more Tuscan post in the works, but I had to have a little intermission for some Zürich photos. After actually calculating the amount of butter in the tart for the post I wrote yesterday, I went for a walk, a long one. Not quite the same as suiting up and spending a week on a whale hunt in Northern, artic-circle-northern, Alaska (check out this photo project it's amazing!), but it will have to do for now. I know I've talked about the Alps and even posted photos of them, but the view of the Alps from Zürich yesterday was truly spectacular, the best I've seen since moving in January. The alps are always there, obviously, but they aren't always visible from the city. On sunny days a thick haze often obscures the view and on winter days the clouds settle into the hills and mountains, giving us only brief glimpses of the peaks if we are lucky. I walk to the lake everyday just to see what the view is like. You simply can't tell by the weather if the view is going to be good or not - torrential rain could mean a fabulous view. Anyway the view yesterday was a wow-I'm-so-lucky-to-live-here type of view. And those little moments, when I realize that I am lucky that I live here help me stay positive when life as an expat begins to wear me down.
I've been having a hard time allowing myself to spend hours on end in the park. It's like waking up late on a weekday and feeling like you haven't accomplished anything by lunch. Being unemployed has it's perks, but it also has it's fair share of blah moments when I feel useless, routine-less, schedule-less, project-less...etc. If I'm outside on a weekday I'm probably walking, but you will see a lot of people just soaking in the sun and the chilly water temps. Zürich's version of the London Eye....ha! This ferris wheel is in Bellevue, but there was one in Burkliplatz a couple weeks ago. I don't think I've ever seen more than three of the carriages occupied at any one time. I've asked Zach for a ferris wheel/bratwurst date, so we've got that on the agenda.
For being incredibly private people, the Swiss love to get naked. I saw my fair share of naked bodies yesterday, young and old, but mostly old. Apparently it's rare for the Swiss to invite you over to their home for dinner, or to make friends beyond their existing social circles, but they are more than happy to strip down in public (lady in the upper right photo.)
As you all know if you've been reading for a while, I love bratwursts. I crave them constantly. Seriously, all the time. It's a freaking miracle I don't eat one everyday (patting myself on the back for having some inkling of self discipline). And wow, the bread that comes with it - gold bürli - is chewy and flakey and crusty all at the same time, and super delicious. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending how much bratwurst you consider safe to consume, Zach does not share my affinity for these creamy-meaty (creamy is a weird word to use to describe meat, but it's all that's coming to mind at the moment) kalbswursts. He likes them, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't want to eat one every night. Even though they are street food at it's finest and are meant to be eaten on the go, I just don't feel right ordering one and sauntering down the sidewalk with a stick of meat, not yet anyway. This means I have to wait patiently and beg for bratwurst dates. Thankfully the Saveur shout out gave me a good excuse for a talley-celebration and Zach agreed to a wurst night. Oh and I have I told you about the mustard yet? The mustard at Vorderer, our favorite wurst spot, is lethal. Too much on your wurst and your brain will burn and you won't be able to speak for at least thirty seconds. It's intense, but oh so good.
Last night we were hungry, and heck it was a celebration, so we ordered a 1/2 chicken to go with our wursts. I mean you might as well when a cooked chicken - breast, thigh-leg - costs less than a single uncooked breast in the super market.
I'm already looking forward to our ferris wheel/bratwurst date. Perhaps I should tell Zach that the ferris wheel is only here through the weekend so we will need to go soon! Or I should find other friends who would like to join me for weekly wursts.