Interesting posts about Switzerland. My experience is limited- a night in Lugano in October, 2002- but we found it beautiful and peaceful there and would like to go back.

But, I appreciate the warning about ZRH. We have a layover there in October on the way to Budapest. I'll have my laptop but I keep it in a backpack and never put it down in a public place even though it gets pretty heavy after a long trip. Not the most elegant way to carry a computer, but probably safer. Will also have to warn my dear husband, who has already had the honor of having his pocket picked in St. Petersburg and Rome.

While I can empathize with the plight of being starved on a plane flight, I would not expect a flight within Europe to accept $US, any more than I'd expect my flight home from ORD to MCI to accept Euros. Some warning (maybe a sign at the gate) that meals are available for purchase only would have been helpful, though- at least you could have found an ATM.