I remember there was once an Urdu poet, whose name I don’t remember now, who had said about Kashmir some Urdu words implying that if there’s heaven on earth its here, its here. Kashmir has hardly remained the heaven that it once was, but the title of my review is inspired by the words of that poet.
My friends on MS who read my Russia review would recollect the meeting where our team leader had decided St Petersburg as the venue of the January meeting. When that was decided we were sitting and having one of our usual meetings in Zurich. I have been to Zurich on a few occasions, for a couple of days each time mainly to attend meetings. And I must say I have yet to come across a place so stunningly beautiful as Switzerland. Truly if there is paradise on earth its here.
The Visa Process
*Switzerland has still not joined the European Union. Therefore a Shengen visa is not valid for Switzerland. However even though you need to get a separate Swiss visa the process is a breeze. A simple invitation letter even for a 2-3 day meeting would get you at least a month’s visa. On my very second time, they gave me a visa valid for 3 months, and the third time valid for a year. It was also valid for multiple entries and a total stay of 90 days. That is how liberal they are. So it might be heaven, but the getting in process is as simple as can be.
The Flight
Swiss Air may be the best choice for traveling to Switzerland due to their direct connections to Zurich. It’s about an 8 1/2 hour flight from Mumbai to Zurich. Traveling by economy class by any airline on these long flights is never very pleasant, mainly on account of the late night timings. I recently found out why the timings on all long distance flights originating from India are starting after midnight. That’s because the developed countries don’t want people staying near the airports to be disturbed late at nights. Therefore they don’t allow any incoming flight before daybreak. The food and the service on the flight are quite satisfactory. They even cater to my demands of tea every so often (the tea addict that I am) even when busy with other things. Apart from the usual food choices of veg and non-veg, special Hindu meals, as they call it (jain food) are also available if booked in advance. They have an excellent in flight entertainment system providing wide choices of games, music, and movies both Hindi and English. In addition to that they provide you with a live view of the outside from the nose of the plane, with a camera placed somewhere in the cockpit. Also the distance covered and the time and distance remaining to the destination are continuously updated.
Zurich Experience
*Zurich is not an experience that can be described in words, rather only felt with all your senses, but I will still attempt it. Switzerland is a landlocked country famous for its mountains and Zurich is beyond doubt one of most beautiful cities of the world. Your Zurich experience begins at the airport itself. It is one of most modern, well-planned and beautiful airports. The immigrations and customs process is extremely smooth. For going to the city one may catch the bus or the train. Trains start from the airport itself, infact one only needs to go a level below to the train station. The trains may well be out of a dream. Fast, clean, and beautiful. The map of the route is displayed on every cabin. They also keep making announcements about the station that is approaching. So even if you are a first timer using the train system you will need to ask no one anything. Some more information about the public transport system here. Zurich has trains, buses, as well as trams running around the city. If you intend to travel to more than one place in a day, it’s best to buy a full day ticket. Such a ticket, costing about 7.5 francs is valid across all modes of transport and for unlimited travel in a day. Also remember that all tickets here (including those on the buses) have to be bought prior to boarding them, unlike in most other countries of Europe. The weather in Zurich never becomes too extreme ranging from – 4 to a max of 28o centigrade in the summers. But do carry woolens in the winters though, as nothing seems extreme to me after my Russia experience.
The city is beautifully built around the lake Zurich. The shopping complexes around there are absolutely out of this world. All kinds of goodies are available here, but Switzerland is mainly famous for its watches and chocolates. Do sample the chocolates even if you find the precision Swiss watches too expensive to buy. The hotels in Zurich are reasonable and provide value for money. From about 80 Euros to 250 euros one can find really good hotels. Water coming in all the bathrooms is drinkable and glasses are usually provided there for the purpose. We Indians may find this a little disgusting in the beginning, but will get used to in time. In fact it is said that even the water of the lake Zurich is drinkable quality straight (which I found really hard to believe, but this is paradise remember!). The hotel that I stayed in usually “ Swiss Hotel” is a real nice place. They have a spa on the 32nd floor, which includes not only Jacuzzis but also an indoor heated swimming pool. Plus the view from the big glass windows is superb. I am attaching a few photos taken from my room on the 28th floor. Even the more reasonable hotels here are functional and clean. However the taxis in Zurich are very expensive and are best avoided. While traveling to and from the airport with heavy luggage, Pl check the shuttle service provided by most hotels.
The sight seeing options while in Zurich are many. The tourism authority has made beautifully designed tours of the city and the nearby areas. The basic one which covers the city and its important spots in a bus is a must take. They provide you with a taped commentary while going through the city, which can be heard using speakers wherein you can choose your language from about 8 European languages including English. The languages mainly spoken in Switzerland are German and French, though most people do understand English. Another must see place is the mount Titlis. A trip up the mountains in the train provides with breathtaking views. The options for holidaymakers in Zurich are endless, including skiing on the slopes of the snow clad mountains, enjoying the views from the ropeway or just taking a ride in the train system through the mountains.
The nightlife is Zurich is rich and plentiful. There is even a branch of the famous Moulin Rouge of France here, though I never got the chance to visit it. But several other nightclubs abound the city, put up different kinds of shows. Most do not have any entry fee but drinks there are then obligatory and somewhat expensive.
Conclusion
*I have only one thing to say about Switzerland – It’s a must see for everybody at least once in their lifetimes. Only don’t let it grow on you too much lest you find it difficult to live in India after that !