Karaoke & Clouds in Zürich 

After our dramatic expeditions elsewhere, we return to Zürich like homing pigeons carrying messages of our travels to share with the friends & family awaiting us. Two of whom are my aunt Lidija and cousin Petar who hospitably await our arrival.

The obliging duo organise dinner for us all at an Asian fusion restaurant. A fresh and welcome variation to the inordinate amount of cheese, bread and chocolate Jesse & I have been eating in the last couple of weeks. Here, we relax and unwind; blending in with the locals.

I’m keen to continue, so after depositing Jesse back at base with a very important job, (babysitting Narvi the dog), Ana, my cousin & I slink off into the night to find the youthful and rebellious heart of Zürich night life. Cocooned in a warm tram on route, Ana provides some commentary on our destination. “Every time you hear something wild in the news, it happened on this street… but don’t worry. You’ll love it!” she explains with a playful glint in her eye. Being the vanilla scaredy cat that I am, I have my reservations but Ana’s confidence is infectious.

Collecting friends and beers on the way, we arrive at a vibrant Karaoke bar where we’re granted free entry via the back door, thanks to Ana’s long standing patronage with the establishment. The interior is packed and though only one brave soul ever has a microphone, the entire bar sings in cheerful support for each song, clapping loudly whenever a favoured song comes on. I eventually join in, claiming the microphone to perform my own rendition of Lady Ga Ga’s Bad Romance to complete the night on a high! 

Not to be outdone, to finish our Zürich story, in the late afternoon of the following day, Lidija & Petar scoop up the guide torch once more, taking us to Uetliberg. A high vantage point overlooking the city, from which, reasons as to why Zürich is so cold, are most evident. Here, high in the mountains, the sun radiates across the sky. However, as we look down, where there should be a city, is instead an endless thick fluffy cloud blanket draped across the lowlands. A natural barrier. 

An ethereal sight, but also perilous at times for the path to the summit seems paved with ice. After carefully inching down the hill and falling on my butt at least once, we head back into the city for one last glimpse of Zürich before we hit the road again.