… and has to take an impromptu nap on the armrest.
Tag: travel
Zurich trip in a nutshell
We took our first family vacation that didn’t involve going to see family in over 4 years, and our first Swiss vacation ever, and spent 4 days/3 nights in Zurich. At first, we weren’t sure if we were going to cancel at the last minute. Not because of covid-19, but because Ben came back from scout camp super tired and grumpy and we didn’t want to spend an inordinate amount of money going somewhere else to have the same arguments we could have for free, at home. In the end, we decided to go and at least Katy and I would try and have a good time – which we mostly did.
We drove up from Morges. Initially, we were going to take the train but it worked out pretty much the same price and take the same amount of time to drive/park or take the train – and we’d be able to listen to music and wouldn’t need to keep masks on for the whole time. We made decent time, and only got turned around a bit before getting to the hotel and their well-hidden parking. The hotel was super nice, and super conveniently located, but also super expensive. Well, ok for Switzerland, and we did have two adjoining rooms separated by a door so we could shut the child in his own room. This turned out to be a mixed blessing, because of course he binged on the always-on internet, didn’t go to sleep until stupidly late and was therefore tired and grumpy all the time, woohoo!
On Monday, we did a quick reconnoiter of the general area, walked around the chinese garden, picked up information for a lake cruise and went to dinner at the hotel’s teppanyaki restaurant.
On Tuesday, we went to the zoo, which is one place Katy has been wanting to see ever since we moved to Switzerland, and even more so since one of the tigers ate a keeper. The zoo was really nice, but the visit was kinda sorta marred by the small one, who kept whining about being tired and wanting to go back to the hotel, and then having a complete meltdown when we didn’t buy him all the stuff he wanted us to get him from the gift shop.
After the zoo, we went on an evening dinner cruise on the lake. That was brilliant. Good food, good wine, gorgeous weather, and Ben wasn’t a shithead.
On Wednesday, we went to the Bahnhofstrasse and the old city to have a proper exploration. Again, the child was uber tired, uber cranky and uber wanty, so … we don’t speak of that day anymore. It was also a bit annoying that the main train station is under serious renovation, so we couldn’t really see it.
Saving grace for that day however was meeting Mira in Zug for dinner at a really great little tapas restaurant. Zug is also very cute.
On the last day, we discovered a nice little shopping center where Ben desperately wanted to go to a game shop (that also has branches in Lausanne), but there was minimal drama and then we headed home.
So, in the end, Zurich is very nice, very expensive, I had a great time with Katy and I could have done without the child’s shitty moods. But we kind of expected that.
All pictures here: https://www.flubu.com/blog/pictures/zurich_aug_2020
Bobble has gotten around quite a bit
The first mention of Bobble the owl in my blog goes all the way back to 2005. I don’t honestly remember when Bobble started living full-time in my bag. Probably while I was working at the EBI and traveling a lot for business.
In the years since, he’s been to Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the US. He’s driven boats, ferries, tractors, planes. He’s travel on planes, trains and automobiles. He’s drunk lots of coffee, beer, wine, gin, port and cocktails. He’s eaten everything from gourmet meals to roadside fast-food. He’s enjoyed vices like cigars, gambling and tattoos. He’s attended scientific conferences, training courses and workshops, West-End plays and movies.
Not bad for a little ball of stuffing :)
Long live the owl!
Love the food, hate the schedule
Damian and I have been in Barcelona since Sunday. I love the food, but the eating schedule is kicking my ass. Having lunch at 1pm is late, but dinner at 830pm is a killer. And of course, even then, we’re the first ones there waiting for the restaurant to open. Silly guiri…
There are worse places to work
I can’t go home
At least not tonight.
Flight got canceled, woohoo! To make things even more fun, apparently Barcelona is hosting several large events/conferences this week and hotels are booked solid. The easyjet staff were walking up and down the queue of already happy people informing them that, yes, they could wait to get to the head of the line, but there was no guarantees that easyjet would be able to find them a hotel room by then. If we could find something on our own, we could get it reimbursed later.
I am SO happy that I finally got a corporate credit card just before my trip to Brussels. It’s already proven to be worth its weight in gold for occasions just like this. So now I’m I a very-nice-but-overpriced hotel room for tonight and I’m hopefully flying back tomorrow at noon.
I want to go home
Project mid-term review done. The project is seen in a very positive light within EIT circles. Positive initial feedback, good explanations, clear need, desirable, consortium seen as responsive. We will get the full feedback in a couple of weeks. I spent the afternoon walking around La Rambla and areas.
I’m at the airport now, but my 2050 flight has been delayed twice and is now showing for 2300. I’ve had fun, but I want to go home now.