CP 50 yyz-mxp
Boy do I like Canadian. Their biz class is great. I ended up in 5A (thanks for the advice) and the seat is great (according to the f-a that is the pilot's seat, and they wall it off with curtains on the S. American and Orient flights). They had 8 different wines on a trolley (unfortunately they mentioned on the menu a separate leaflet with the wine info but it wasn't forthcoming)--4 reds, 3 whites and a Champagne. Cold nuts in a ramekin. Started with cold crabcake appetizer (I really dislike salmon, so this is a good thing), with salad (one prepacked dressing). Dinner was fm trolley, salmon, chicken or beef. Salmon had great flavor but was a bit dry. The 'cherry onion compote' it was served with was delicious, but didn't have enough free moisture to sauce the fish, and was the color of a Marachino cherry (but didn't taste that way). Served with rice, potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli. Cheese from the cart, dessert was cappucino mousse or sorbet. The seat leans so far back it is really nice--I was actually able to turn over and rest on my side. I also really like the Video Walkman--can fast forward through the boring bits. Saw a funny funny movie from Australia--The Castle. Definitely a recommend--excellent plane fare.

Decided to skip b'fast (cold plate). Only irritation was that 1 hr 20 before landing (as they turn up the lights to start 2d service), they start a 10 minute video with sunlight, chickens crowing (on the PA system) so continuing to sleep isn't really possible.

Get off the plane and stand on the stairs for 10 minutes---it's CCOOLLD!!

Go into MXP from the bus and the transfer desk is right there, before immigration. Ask to change from AZ at 0940 to SR at 0800 (this being 0710--we landed abt 25 mins early). After some checking, she rebooks me, sending me through immigration and customs to pick up my bag for recheck. I wander upstairs, get rid of my bag and give them my DL number, then meander back downstairs to the bus docks.

SR MXP-ZRH

Take bus to plane, schlep up the stairs to my assigned 11C seat. A bit confused because the divider is at row 14. The head flt attendant comes on and says 'if you are in coach, please sit in the rear of the aircraft'--hello--I was assigned 11. They then figure out that they need to move the divider, which they do to row 8. In moving the divider, they manage to bump everyone's seat and head--very annoying. We take off and land on time--amazing that on a 35 minute flight coach got a warmed croissant and drink.

Painless deplaning at ZRH.

I had to try 3 different bank machines 2x each to find one to give me SFR. I don't understand--it seems like I need to 'wake up the system' before it will give me money.

Railway to HBf, taxi to Baur au Lac

Wonderful old historic type hotel, not particularly a business hotel (I type this from a corner of their reservation department) but nice nonetheless.

All for now...

JL