Let’s Go To Europe!

Let’s go to Europe!

But first, I need to take care of the cat!

Let’s go to Europe!

I got to the airport easily and with plenty of time. Checking into my flight, I learned that the combined weight of my carryon and personal item was too great. Together they were 40 lbs rather than the combined weight of 20 lbs I was allowed. REALLY?! What can you carry in a piece of carryon luggage to get it to weigh ten lbs? Popcorn?

They said they would check it for free. It wasn’t until the bag was safely out of sight on the conveyer that they added, “don’t worry, it’s checked all the way to your final destination!”

Uh oh! My final destination is Spain. But I have an overnight layover in Zurich. And ALL my clothes are in that carryon. Including my sweaters. Looks like I’ve got a chilly evening in Zurich to look forward to!

Jetlag is a Bitch

I was experimenting with some alternative methods to address it on this trip. The first step involved trying not to sleep on the flight over. I was able to limit myself to just an hour and a half on the 11 hour flight. Of course, by the time I got to the airport I was delirious and spent a generous amount of time just wandering in circles. Mate gave me clear instructions –

“Go to Haupbanghofen! (And buy yourself a coat!!!)”

Let’s go to Europe!

Meine Deutsche ist scheisse. I hopped a train to Staglemhafenglebenhofplatze and crossed my fingers.

It worked! I got within walking distance of Ye Olde Green Marmot.

Checked in and got a look at my accommodations –

Yep, that’ll work! No sense hanging out in my “room.” Now what? Might as well hit the showers and then check out the neighborhood!

I found an old manor house whose exterior had been converted to a public garden –

In another square there were interesting grotesques that seemed to be a motif –

Zurich is not Spain. I found one clothing store with mens clothes nearby. Pretty much everything started at 115 CHF. After some digging around the clearance rack I found some sleeves that were 50% off and only set me back 40 CHF.

Well, now what? I could grab a bite to eat and crawl into my cocoon…Or…?

Let’s go to Europe!

Make Friends!!!

[If I weren’t so adept at establishing instantaneous bonds with strangers, or cultivating deep and lasting relationships with close friends, my chosen career as an expounder of extremely unpopular opinions would probably be a much lonelier occupation. Maybe Diogenes was actually a super fun guy to hang out with…]

Making friends and wandering about a strange city until the wee small hours is WAY more fun and memorable than going to bed at a wise hour! But it also makes for a very short night’s sleep if you have another plane to catch.

Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare…

Do I look tired? I promise not nearly as tired as I feel. But totally worth it!

Time to hop a plane to Spain!