After crossing the bridge and almost being run over by a tram Rudi points out the opera house and the Kronenhalle where we will have the prize dinner the next night. We carefully hop another tram making sure we do not have to jump out of the way and ride it up the other side of the river from the side that we had just walked down. Get off at the first stop and then begin walking through the "old town" section. Since Zürich has not been destroyed by wars and such there are an incredible amout of old houses in the area dating back to the 12th century. Most of them have a plaque attached to them which describes perhaps the date it was built, perhaps the fact that the owner had his head chopped off or perhaps some other pertinent bit of history attached to the property.
As with most really old towns it is like walking around in a maze and for sure by myself I would be unable to find anyplace again. As we walk along Rudi points out the shops where Gisela does her grocery shopping and then points out the Bourbon Street of Zürich. Of course since it is only about 5pm and quite cool there are not many folks out doing there thing.
Find the internet cafe where I posted the placeholder for this report and then we find another major pastry/chocolate shop, Teuscher. Eventually we will end up buying six boxes of chocolates to bring home for family and friends (any more and we would have to check our luggage.) But my companions this day do not want to wait in line to purchase some samples and we contiue on our tour.
We pass a car called a "Smart" and Rudi informs us that it was designed by the same designers who brought us the "Swatch." interlude Now I had commented about the inventiveness of the Swiss and on the way home on Monday I was reading the wsj European edition and they had an article about patents and it turns out that Switzerland has more patents per capita than any other country in the world - way to go end of interlude
Well we finally get to Rudi's car and although not a Smart it is surely as decorated as one. The weather has not cleared so there is not much point of going to the top of the hill that Rudi lives on and trying to get a view of the Alps. So halfway up we stop to visit Rudi & Gisela's home. Although it has gotten quite dark outside the home appears to be somewhat like our home with trees surrounding it and a garden in the back. Rudi has framed menus from around the world from famous restaurants that he has eaten at and family pictures on the walls. We learn how over 3 decades ago Rudi was a swiss law-breaker and it eventually turned out ok. And later we will learn how his father sank his mother's boat the first time they met
Since the top of the mountain and the fondue is out we decide that it will be Italian for dinner and we head off for another part of time. We end up at this place called da Angela for tortellinis with garlic, the house specialty.
Rudi who claims to have eaten at this restaurant over 500 times gives us the story about this special dish. 1) It is only prepared when order 2) It is only prepared by the owner 3) The owner is 80 or so years old 4) The president of Italy when in town goes to da Angela's for dinner 5) Tourist do not find this place and we probably are the only tourists who will eat here this month. Will that for sure is a lot of expectations and for someone who has eaten at an Italian restaurant 500 times for sure Rudi's waistline does not show it.
Expectations met - satisfaction achieved. If you are in Zürich try to find this place and for sure order this dish.
Jerrie and I finish up with a pastry that is called something in Italian but translates to English Soup. Sort of reminds me of a "drunk" triffle.
More to come -----