Switzerland – Scribbles and Snapshots

September 12, 2025

We woke up the next morning and packed up our luggage for one of the last times on this trip. I know what you might be thinking, and yes… it was a grueling schedule. There were a number of different moments throughout the trip where I would look at Andy and just say, “I don’t know where (insert clothing article) is!” And not to mention that I completely forgot to pack my rain jacket, which was a rookie mistake… but I digress.

We wanted to get a quick breakfast because we had a few sightseeing spots we wanted to see before heading to the Zürich airport. There was a Starbucks next to our hotel and we collect the “Wish You Were Here” series coffee mugs from our different international destinations, so we figured – why not kill two birds with one stone?

Well that quickly became the most expensive Starbucks visit I think I’ve ever had, $76 later. Yes, you read that right. That was for two drinks and two breakfast sandwiches and a mug. When people say that Switzerland is an expensive country, they aren’t kidding. Despite how expensive it is, Andy and I really want to visit again to do a more extensive trip.

Once we finished breakfast we made our way out into the rain to do a quick power walk around Zürich. I had realized that Grossmünster was known for its stained glass windows, so we made our way back to see if we could do a power walk through the church to see them. But as soon as we got there, we saw a bunch of police officers standing outside.

Gulp, that didn’t look good. Turns out it was closed for some special ceremony and closed to the public. So we continued on our original plan and finished our walking tour. Stopping by a few other sights before picking up luggage and car.

The Zürich airport was really quite lovely, and at this point on the trip we had seen a ton of different airports. I think I’ll rank this one highest for ease of security, amenities, and overall shopping. However, everything was super expensive – so that deducts a few points.

We landed in London without any issues and hopped on the tube to make our way to Marylebone, where we were set to meet Kim and Craig. We had met Kim and Craig when we were in Antarctica and immediately hit it off. We connected with them on the trip and had felt like we’ve known them for years, so when we were planning our Europe trip we had asked them if they would meet us in London for dinner.

Which ended up turning into sharing an Airbnb and having the whole evening catching up on life post-Antarctica. Our Airbnb was directly above a pub, so naturally instead of spending hours researching the perfect place for dinner we just went downstairs and had dinner there. Unfortunately, no discount.

We had so much fun reminiscing about Antarctica, but also talking about how life has been since then.

Up Next:
–Brunch with an old coworker
-Fly back to San Diego

Accommodation:
2 Bedroom Apartment in Marylebone Hight St.

September 11, 2025

The next morning we packed up our bags and hopped in the car for our next destination – Liechtenstein! If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a small nation nestled between Switzerland and Austria, which was a perfect pit stop on our roadtrip!

We didn’t have long to stop there before moving on to Zürich. We stopped for a quick walk through town and lunch in Vaduz, the capital, where castle views rise above quaint streets lined with cafes and little shops. Though our visit was short, it felt like stepping into a Hallmark movie: clean, peaceful, and surrounded by stunning Alpine scenery. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, grab a bite, and check another country off your list!

We hopped back into the car and finished the drive to Zürich. We wanted to drop our luggage at the hotel before heading to the Lindt factory for the tour, yes, that Lindt factory!

We were staying at the Central Plaza Hotel – and I can’t recommend it enough. We were within walking distance to so many restaurants and the sightseeing destinations, plus the service was exceptional. Our room wasn’t ready, but they helped stow our luggage and get us sent on our way in time for our tour.

A coworker of Andy’s had recently returned from Switzerland and had recommended this tour, so we were glad we had gotten tickets. They tend to sell out – for obvious reasons!

From the moment you walk in, it smells like heaven. You also walk in to see the largest free-standing chocolate fountain at 30 feet tall! The tour starts with a fun and interactive look at how chocolate is made and how it became so popular in Switzerland.

Of course, the best part is the tasting. As you explore the exhibits, you can sample different kinds of chocolate – and do a blind tasting to try to guess what kind it is. It is a true test of willpower to stop at just one bite.

At the end, you get to take a bunch of different samples home with you. And just like any amusement park, they pop you out in a gift shop at the end where you can shop for treats to take home. You can shop for classic gold foil truffles to special flavors you will not find anywhere else. The Lindt factory tour is part museum, part candy dream, and all sweetness. We had a blast exploring the factory!

We made our way back to the hotel and this time our room was ready for us! Andy had to run payroll, so I spent some time mapping out how we would capitalize on our time in Zürich since we just had the one night and a few hours the next morning.

Our friend at the front desk had recommended a restaurant that locals (in addition to tourists) frequented, and once Andy was at a good stopping point we made our way there. There was a small line, but because the tables were so large and we were willing to share a table we got seated really quickly.

It sort of made the experience a bit more fun sharing with strangers, unfortunately our table mates didn’t speak much English. Nearby tables were getting to know each other – and sharing fun stories. (You could see the philosophy worked out well in most cases!)

On our walk back to the hotel we stopped by to admire Grossmünster, St. Peter Church, Fraumuenster, and some of the other picturesque sights that the city had to offer. We really loved it there! It felt really clean and safe, and definitely had some of the friendliest people we had encountered on the trip!