A series of Christmas celebrations in Switzerland

Today it’s time to see some old friends, or should I say family! Now standing on Zürich train platform, I see two of my cousins’ happy faces through the crowd! Ana, whom I haven’t seen for 8 years and Petar whom I haven’t seen since we were all children. Sharing hugs and excited chatter, they help us christen our Zürich arrival with mulled wine from a Christmas market stall. 

Together, we all board another train on route to Ana’s apartment. “But wait, I haven’t finished my wine!” I fret thinking of prohibitive Australian laws. My cousins laugh, clearly unbothered by this concern. I even spot some law enforcement who evidently have better things to worry about as well… so I shrug and continue to dopily sip until our stop. 

Ana, intent on immersing us in a truly Zürich experience, purchases us Maroni chestnuts from a station vendor. I like them, they make me feel a greater affinity with squirrels. Jesse on the other hand is happy to never eat them again, an opinion he and Petar share apparently. 

Finally we make it to the apartment where Ana has benevolently created space for us to stay, which is just as well because otherwise we could not afford to stay in Switzerland. For perspective and your convenience we worked out, a Swiss Mcdonalds worker would earn the equivalent of 44 Australian dollars an hour… Ipso facto, a single night in Switzerland in even a derelict hostel would blow our budget. 

Ana motions us inside, “I hope this is ok! And also, I hope you’re ok with dogs?! She asks as the cutest little mutt trots into view. Narvi, the dog, the embodiment of “puppy dog eyes”! As if we’d ever say no to a dog roommate! Speaking of roommates, one more person pops their head out the door to hear what all the commotion is about, bringing the total of living beings crammed into a tiny hallway up to 6. You’d think it’d be claustrophobic but somehow it’s not! It’s a vibrant, welcoming and cozy little nook that inspires energetic conversation well into the night! 

The following morning, after a solid sleep in, we follow Ana into the woods on the outskirts of Zürich. Narvi, our furry guide is off the leash and ready to burn some energy. We, on the other hand… are less afforded with such liveliness! A predicament, clearly well understood by the universe. For, as we walk, we happen upon some men convivially gathered around a pig on a spit. We’re later told that this is a rare sight, even by Zürich standards… Nonetheless, my fearless cousin, Ana, greets them in one of the bajillion languages she speaks and earns us some instant friends. 

The men offer us some high quality shots of rakia. It’s 11am in the morning… but Ana & I are not missing out on this hilarious opportunity! After downing my shot and feeling like a badass, I am too shy to ask to take a comemorative photo, lest it ruin my badass reputation. However, at least the memory of the sweet taste and pure fire that rakia generated in my core will stay with me forever! 

That evening, we’re invited to an old friend’s fairytale-like apartment overlooking Zürich historic town for a Christmas Eve dinner party featuring Swiss style hot pot. An interactive dining method that involves boiling skewered meats and vegetables. In between cooking each portion, we enjoy fancy cheese, quality wine and hand cut chips cooked to serve by our host Lucas. All things combined, It was like I was living in a Charles Dickens book, acting as the happy people that Scrooge peeks at through the window. 

Swooping off now for the final destination, the grand finale… Christmas Day! Today, I’m delighted to see more of my family, all assembled at my aunt Lidija’s apartment. While Ana is soon roped into helping with Christmas logistics, I am instead greeted with more rakia, other yummy snacks and the kind of hugs that transcend the language barrier. My other cousin Marco baritones a great big “Hello!”, opening the communicatory drawbridge, beginning the wonderful flow of conversation and kicking off a Christmas for the ages. 

Presents fly from one hand to the next, chocolates, fluffy headbands, pillows and more. One gift really stands out though! Petar, having seen previous blogs of mine knows all about Jesse’s permanent sidekick, Yoshi the plushie. And after having sluethed top secret information, i.e., Jesse’s favourite colour, Petar sources Yoshi an appropriate friend, “Yoshi 2.0 light blue”!

Moving on to dinner where we enjoy a very traditional Swiss dish called Raclette, which is melted cheese scrapped off little hot plates with a variety of other little goodies. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but Lidija & Marco attentively watch over our self serve endeavours, making sure we fully enjoy our Raclette experience.

To end the night, we play a game of charades, giggling as boisterous arguments unfold in a cocktail mix of languages. Most of the time I can’t understand the words that are being said, but it seems dancing around on one foot trying to reenact something ridiculous is just universally funny. 

Thank you, my Swiss family for a Beautiful Christmas.