12 December Tuesday Day 2 : Lindt House of Chocolate

Lindt opens from 10am so it will be a leisurely commute to Kilchberg, Home of Chocolate. Shopping objective is to bring some of the choc to H. Lunch will probably be something unhealthy (chocolate?) at Lindt. We will take the scenic route (165) from Lindt to Burkliplatz to do a touch of sightseeing. Dinner plans is Rheinfelder Bierhalle for their 18CHF rosti.

I want to do the scenic route, hugging the river as much as I can. Here's the plan :

What actually happened:

Jetlag gave me a wakeful night. It had rained on and off in the night. Because we stay on the 2nd floor , we could see everyone starting work across the street by 7.30am.

Since it was a own time own target day, we dawdled from start to finish. After a simple cheese sandwich and excellent coffee in the room, we headed out in the rain. Tram 2 at Kappeli took us down to BG Wiedikon, where we hopped on S8 to Kilchburg.

At Kilchburg, we walked along the coast towards Lindt. We were one of the first visitors at 10.30am. Lindt House of Chocolate gave us a 10% discount on account of the Zurich Pass (27 CHF). Storage, audioguide were included in the fee.

Taking as much as the hands can hold

First, we had some botany lesson, followed by lesson on cocoa processing and the trade involved to make chocolate a much sought after drink. Then the excitement came, when we helped ourselves to the molten chocolate and sample flavors of choc slabs. I particularly like the cheesecake balls, all others being too sweet for me.

After the official tour of the museum and gift store (bought choc balls, fig choc 11 CHF) , we hit the Chocolate shop behind the museum where more liquor filled choc were out on sale. It was not as fancy as the gift store but there was much choices. I concluded the Lindt visit with 2 slabs of coconut chocolate for H and a choc drink (12 CHF).

We successfully got a seat at the museum cafe museum where we enjoyed a quiche meal and croque monsieur with black coffee ( 30 CHF) very much. It was 1.30pm.

We walked along the Zurich lake. It was lovely as the rain has stopped. At Kilchburg Haber, the cameras soaked in the lake views and snow capped mountains afar (in the direction of Liechtenstein). The changing scenery was balm to my eyes.

We took a unplanned, longish stroll along the lake front, happy at our good fortune to find the walk and good weather. Then it was off to the habor to wait for the illusive 3731 ferry back to Burkliplatz.

The boat was filled with people but we did enjoy an unblocked view of the 'coast' as the ferry makes its way to Burkliplatz. I felt so calm and unhurried it felt surreal.

After alighting, we walked towards the main thoroughfare for a dose of  shopping therapy. At Coop, I got myself a beanie (20 CHF) and Pat a fountain pen and a Waterman fountain pen ink (Caran d'ache, 66 CHF). It was a surprise buy and Pat was pretty pleased.

We walked to Rheinfieder Bierhalle for snitzel, rosti and a couple of beers. It was 5.15pm but the Bierhalle was filling up. A group of 4 elderly German sat at the same table with us. It was like Food Republic, Swiss style. We exchanged pleasantries and a couple of jokes, totally not being able to understand each other.

It was a heavy dinner and we eventually managed to end our dinner at 6.30pm. 

By now, we were so familiar with the old town and even made our way to the bus stop at Central without consulting google.

It was barely 8pm but we were so exhausted from being out the entire day. It looks like we will hit the sack early again.