Todo: Write a post on the German weekend

A presentation helps in firstly structuring our own ideas. Structure: temporal, semantic or relational bolsters thought process. A senior at IIT, Gautam, was once telling me how a well written report, another form of presentation, can act as a ready guide to many beginners wanting to join a group, and thereby sort of providing for the progeny. Secondly, a good presentation enthuses the audience and the interaction then is mutually beneficial.

I have had the opportunity to attend some very good lectures at EPFL, while here, and have been thoroughly impressed by the skills and the work of the presentors. It has indeed, had a positive influence on me, to the extent of encouraging me to do a Phd after my degree.

Wish me luck.

The Zürich main station (Hauptbahnhof) is a head station, which means that the trains return back from the station the way they originally came. By far the biggest train station I have seen in Europe (nothing to beat good old Dadar yet ^^). It is common at most stations, to have a chain of shops around. The chain is rather long in the case of Z. One could virtually buy anything under the sun, under the station. But that is not all that you can buy in Z.

Step out of the station and you have the famed Bahnhofstrasse street. Lined up with shops where price is but a formality. A window shopper’s paradise though. Z, no doubt, instinctively looked more up town than either Geneva or Lausanne. The other striking thing was the roads of Z, which were striped with tram lines. Trams are the heartlines of the city and thus run right at the very middle of roads. In Lausanne the Metro runs adjacent to the sidewalk leaving the roads for the cars. The distinctive style of the tram stations is noteworthy too.

Grossmünster, was the first place we went to. It was nice to be guided around a city (and not wink for street names in the map or look at the shadows for the direction) for a change. This church is often on picture postcards of the city, and indeed is symbolic of reformed Z, with a significant history. Then we went to the Fraumünster, which is another cathedral most famous for the glass paintings by Marc Chagal. Ania stressed on the importance of these paintings. But with my meagre knowledge of art, moreso European, I drew a sorry blank looking at those green and red glasses, the kind I seemed to see at every Cathedral with a green spire.

Z is a city which I found to be obsessed with its clock towers. No matter which direction you are facing, if you look hard enough you shall spot a clock tower. There are a few more famous than others which line up the lake front, the Zurich lake front. The lake front is again very pleasant, making for a great summer evening. There is a mini jet d’eau too. Continuing on that comparison of sorts, I found Z to be a bit more untidy than the French cities of Switzerland (maybe coming from an Indian its going to sound *gross*).

Then we moved to the other side of the city close to the famous Zoo, which is situated in a hilly forest region. We decided that we would walk around the Zoo and catch a glimpse of the breathtaking valley, rather than appreciating the beasts and falcons of the Zoo. Ania told me about the various mountains around. Her favouite is the Rigi mountain, which I hope I should be able to visit someday.

Then we went to the botanical garden, which actually is an extension to the University of Zurich. Infact all through the tram and bus rides we had, I was shown the university which is virtually all over the city. The green houses at the botanical garden were good. I was also surprised to see groundnuts and flowering cactus plants at the place. It is one of the places Ania likes to relax a bit, and I think the place has that soothing feel to it.

We had lunch at the Cafetria in the garden. The time we reached there, the cooking had been closed for the day. But the cook was gracious enough to warm a vegetarian dish for us, because he knew Ania from her visits there. I thought that was a very warm gesture indeed. Also I got to learn how to eat a salad. The last time I had seen a huge bowl of what Indians would call ghash-phuss (leaves), I dint know how people could let it through their throats. But Ania taught me to use the Italian and French sauces in the right proportion to make the lunch really worth it. And the best part, Ania offered me the lunch. Her arguement: I am just 20! I forgot to mention that we had an espresso earlier at one of THE most famous bars in Z.

With food down my gut, we decided to take a leisurely stroll around the lake. We then visited, what Ania repeatedly called the poor side to Z. It is where she lives. I dint have trouble spotting Indian restraunts in the area. She picked up her backpack from her home and off we were to the station. After seeing her off (yeah she had to go to another town), I had to find ways to kill around 90 mins before I could board a free train. The free train thing is because I have an After 7 pass, and that means all trains after 1900 hrs is free (again because I am 20). So I just strolled down to the lake again, then visited the tourism office to pick up a few brochures, then window shopped at the station, until I was ready to go back to Lausanne. A very memorable experience indeed.

Lesson to be learnt : I won’t be 20 again!

The baaaaad album is here.

The great mementos over time in the form of museums, art colleges, statues and parks are all over to give any lay man an elaborate picture of the grand history of this intellectual center. The park next to the university was especially good, well adorned by busts and statues of great men who have done great things in their lifetime. It sometimes is worthwhile to gaze at a statue and imagine the vigour that the lifeform would have embodied. Again the train trip had enlightened me by mentioning some of the great people and what they have done.

The cathedral, flower clock and the arsenal store were other major highlights. Here is a picture and the link to the album.

Notice something strange: the sizes of the coins. The coins from left to right increase in their sizes. As you would notice the half franc (= 50 cents) coin looks, and is, smaller than the 10 cents and 20 cents coins. Just the way the Swiss like their money to be sized, I guess.

Happy Meal (Ver 1.0)
Menu
Carrot Rice with a strong Papprika flavour,
Orange yoghurt (pineapple one is good too),
Apple juice,
Two kinds of aachaars, and
A bar of chocolate.

Time spent in kitchen (inclusive of time to eat and dish cleaning) : 40 mins.
Satisfaction level : 3/5.
Stomach filled : 100 pc
Cost : 2.25 Frs (~ 80 INR).

Here is a pic (the aachaars and chocolate are missing though)

Though the morning was a bit dull with grey skies and a cold breeze blowing, things cleared up as the sun ascended higher. The first place we visited was the Jet d’Eau: a true symbol of the vibrance of the city sprung out majestically. Late in the afternoon, from a particular angle one gets to see a tiny rainbow arching from the water. One of the few amazing sites I have experienced. After the touring jet. we visited the Old Town in a guided train – a three bogey train modeled on the old trains. We did not get to click pics. But we were taken to large number of places : well selected and with a continuing theme. The wonderful tour may prompt me to go to Geneva – The Old Town again and leisurely enjoy the scenes. The tour cost 10 Frs (330 INR) but was really worth it. Many people tend to overlook such tours and maybe end up missing a lot.

Then we went to the UN office. There is a ceramics museum just adjacent to it. Nothing fascinating expect for the grandeur of the museum itself. Entry into the UN needed us to take a pass. Even there we took a guided tour (having been earlier enlightened). We were shown around the grand Palais des Nations as it is called. We went into the conference rooms where many important people sit to deliberate on many important topics. It was a royal experience. indeed.

We then spent a lot of time around the lake. The crowd in Geneva was a refreshing site, having spent 1o days in Lausanne. It is also worth mentioning that we might have seen more than 50 Indians through out the day. We exchanged pleasant smiles with most of them. When one hears about the widespread NRI presence, one does not fully understand its true significance. And thanks to the typical brown hue of Indian skin, that two gentlemen could without prior knowledge walk up to us and ask us for the nearest Indian restaurant (though we had no idea).

Yeah so a memorable experience indeed. Signing off with a postcard and link to the album.

: