Laowai

I’ve been here for more than a week now. Still sleeping on a blow up bed, still no furniture save a fold up chair borrowed from a work colleague. It echoes something fierce in this place.

But I think I see a routine forming. The ride on the train is more than 10 miles but it is only 19 minutes. I’ve figured out which grocery stores are open later and offer hope of nourishment after a day of work (but don’t count on anything being open on Sunday). I have internet now and cable, although no TV. I have a phone number but no actual phone yet. I’ve been to the Zurich Opera though, to see Nabucco. It is a small theatre which they have somehow figured out how to get big name singers with big voices for their relatively small space. I’ll probably go see Rigoletto on Sunday night (which is everyone’s idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day). Household stuff should arrive on Friday and then Kathy and Bea on Monday. Then we’ll begin the long task of settling in.

When I first arrived, it was snowy.

 
 

It hasn’t snowed since but been largely overcast. The clouds broke a bit last week in the morning and then again this morning so I could glimpse the big Alps just south of us. My bike and I might try to get a better look this weekend.

  

 

  

I have a “GA”, provided by my company that allows me to ride on any train, tram, bus or gondola in Switzerland. A pretty nice perk. So far, I’ve ridden it to work every day and to Basel on Friday. Basel was a for work with no time for sightseeing but looks like a pretty place worth future investigation. It’s great how the train stations are always in the center of town so riding the train gets you in the heart of the action. Contrast this with an airport that is always on the edge of a suburb. I might try a pleasure trip this weekend somewhere.

I also had a chance to go to Barcelona which sounds glamorous but was actually a fast day trip that was exhausting. The only sightseeing was out a cab window in the drizzle. I did, however, get a glimpse of the Camp Nou, the famous home of F. C. Barcelona.

 

Can’t wait to see K&B on Monday.