River Cruise Day #1: Zurich, zombie walking and figuring it out

I'm here, I'm here! I was picked up by a cruise line representative and checked into my hotel. Didn't want to waste a day so I took a quick nap then went out to explore. I called it zombie walking in the title because I'm trying to get used to the time change and a zombie is what I feel like. I'm moving, but would definitely like a nap.  :)  Zurich is fascinating.....it's modern buildings on one street, then you turn a corner and it's old world Europe. And the water! My pictures won't do it justice, but the lake is absolutely beautiful. It was sunny and 70-ish degrees today, but you could see mountains covered in snowcaps just a few miles out. Beautiful. 

Today was Bahnhofstrasse (the shopping street), Haus Hitl (world's oldest vegetarian restaurant) and walking. You know you're in a fancier area that you're used to when all the stores come with a "door opener". And by that I mean a security guard in a fancy black suit that stares you down when you pass by. :) I didn't go inside any of the stores (again, zombie walking, plus I didn't want to spend money at the beginning of the trip), but it was fun to look in all the windows. 

Because y'all know I love people-watching, I have to make some comments. The fashions people chose were amazing. You could tell the tourists (t-shirt, camera) but there since it's a financial city there were also some very well dressed corporate types. Men in suits, women in jackets, skirts and heels that would give any orthopedist heart palpitations. A number of people showed out in some very runway ready fashion. Several time I had to stop myself from asking: Where did you get that?  

Tomorrow I get picked up and taken to the cruise ship and we start sailing. More later! 

Charlotte has our airport rocking chair, Philadelphia has theirs. There were lots of art pieces involving crochet, this was one of them. 

Flying into Zurich. I always love this view. 

The street in front of my hotel. To be such a fancy city (a tour guide mentioned Zurich and Sinapore regularly have the top spot on "most expensive cities" list) it had a small town feel. 

A bar I saw while walking - the name made me laugh. 

Haus Hitl. This was my veggie burger and fries. They also had a buffet as long as the restaurant. Saving that for next time..... 

From banking streets to old town Europe.....

The view from the pier at the end of Bahnofstrasse. If I had more time I would have gone out on a boat cruise....would've loved to get better pictures of the scenery!