Want to be a local spotter? Me too!

Spotted by locals is looking for Spotters to start a new section for Zürich... I am going for it... are you interested? If so, post a comment with your email address (I will not post your email address on the blog as as I moderate it first...) and I will send you more details: http://www.spottedbylocals.com/corporate/

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Meet Juanita & Go to the craft fair!

Psssssst. Did you know that Ms. Juanitatortilla will be selling her AWESOME crafts at the Hand and Hand craft fair this Sunday from 11-16:00. It is at the Stadthofsall in Uster. Details here!

Related post: My blind date to Lucerne's Cheese Festival with Juanita :)


Größere Kartenansicht
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Snow N'Rail Pass - savings on the slopes!

They go together like peanut butter and jelly... like a horse and a carriage.... it's... The Snow and Rail pass. Ok, excuse the cheesy intro, but this is important so please try pay attention and read on. Let's try again... Do you want to save money when you go skiing if you take the train to the slopes?! I thought so. Read on.

If you are planning on hitting the slopes this winter and you intend to get to your destination by train, you can save a bundle by purchasing your train ticket and lift ticket together as the Snow N'Rail Pass.

I have purchased this pass twice already, and by purchasing my lift ticket with my rail pass, I save about 30% off the total price. I know, it's super cool. These passes are available at all train stations - just ask for them - and they are available for over 39 ski resorts in Switzerland, including where I take my snowboarding lessons, Flumserberg.

The tickets you receive are shown in the photo above. The ticket on the right is my round-trip train ticket - including travel up the gondolas to the lifts. With this baby you even get 15% off rentals at Intersport.

The ticket on the left is what I exchange at the Flumserberg Kasse/Cashier or Lift Ticket Office for my lift ticket. Easy peasy, money in the bank.

I only get a 1 day pass, but there are 6 day passes available and also options for youth and children. And it goes without saying that you can use the half-fare card which also gives you... well, half-off (your train travel, not the lift ticket unfortunately).

Details from the SBB Site for the Flumserberg Snow N'Rail Pass:

• Discounted return rail and postbus travel (30%) to Unterterzen or Flums (Ask for this when purchasing your ticket)
• Discounted 1 or 2-day ski pass for the whole region incl. the 8-person Unterterzen–Flumserberg cable car or the Flums–Flumserberg postbus (Vouchers may be exchanged at Unterterzen, Tannenheim or Tannenboden valley stations)

So get out there already - only 3 more months of ski season left. See you on the slopes.
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Want more tips and tricks? Read Living and Working in Switzerland, 11th Edition: A Survival Handbook

Palatschinken Pfandl - Wien Restaurant Review

Last week while in Wien, I went in search of some really amazing food. I did a search on Google and as if by fate alone I was directed almost immediately to a restaurant that will from here on out be known simply as heaven on earth - Palatschinken Pfandl.

Having a heritage that originates in the Tirolean Alps, we have a soft spot in our family for Palatschinken- a Central European pancake, says Wiki, but it is more like a crepe. And after seeing the menu online, I was sold...

The restaurant does both savory and sweet Palatschinken, and while I had dreams of the little ones filled with sugar and spice and everything nice, I was easily swayed by the waitress' lunch recommendation - and by God, I might have to marry that woman.*

I had Menu 6 - "The Original Wiener Pfandlrostbraten."
Roast beef with a cognac pepper sauce, fried roast potatoes topped with fried onions and sour pickles. My breath stunk for hours - as testified by Jace upon my return home that night - "What did you eat?!?! Wheewwoooooooooo." But boy was that baby worth it.

Before...

It was one of those meals that you keep telling yourself to stop because you want dessert but you cannot help yourself. It is just that good.

After... salad intact, the rest in me belly...

I sacrificed the salad for the sake of the sweet palatschinken coming my way for dessert. And it was worth it... oh boy was it worth it.

As part of the menu, you get to choose two different Palatschinken - oh goody! I chose one with cherries and marzipan and another with bananas and chocolate sauce. Repeat after me... "Yummmmmm." You better believe I licked the plate clean. There is NO SHAME.

I highly recommend Palatschinken Pfandl. I cannot wait to go back to Wien and stop in to try one of the other delicious lunch specials. And, will I be saving room for dessert again? Um...what are you talking about?! I've started saving already. Bring it on, baby!

* This is only a figure of speech... don't worry!


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Things you probably did not know about Switzerland...

1. The Swiss mint a 1,000 CHF note...
I know, because the other day in line at the grocery store, an obviously rich woman tried to pay for 12,45 CHF worth of groceries with a 1,000 CHF bill - and guess what, they WERE able to make change. Unbelievable. Such wealth, not even on Bahnhofstrasse.

2. Public displays of affection are few and far between in Switzerland...
I know, because the other day on the train I felt flush and ashamed watching a couple of teenagers sharing a harmless kiss - when I thought about why I was reacting so unusually, I realized it was because I have only seen people kissing in public just once in 10 months...

3. The Swiss do NOT know what chocolate fondue is.
Hard to believe this, but I know it is true because when I asked for a kit, like the cheese fondue kits, at the supermarket a few weeks ago, the lady took me to the chocolate pudding. She could not understand what on earth I wanted to do with the world's best chocolate ("Ich moechte Fondue machen, schokolade Fondue, nicht Kaese, Schokolade!"... no understanding, whatsoever...). I politely smiled and said thanks and put the pudding back. Within minutes the woman had hunted me down again in the store, apologizing, realizing only too late what I was intending to do, pleading with me that the pudding was not the right thing and that they did not carry any kits. Lesson learned. Make it yourself.

(Note: BTW-This is a tricky one, as I do recall seeing fondue pots for chocolate, with strawberries and chocolate bars graphically printed on the pot... but it is not a typically Swiss thing...after checking with some colleagues, they also know what it is, but have never tried it... pity.)

4. The Swiss have a rivalry with the Austrians...
I know that the Swiss and the Germans have a "thing," but now I know that the Swiss and the Austrians have a "thing" too. Paramount to the relationship between, for example, the US and Canada, and Australia and New Zealand - it is endlessly fascinting to me that rivalries exist between friendly, neighboring countries.

Interesting stuff, eh? :)
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Neuschwanstein - A Must See in Bayern!

Val, my mother in law, wanted to see Neuschwanstein while she was visiting us and naturally we wanted to go with her! Just after New Years, we took the train up to Fuessen, Germany, the closest city to Neuschwanstein and about 5 - 6 hours from Zurich by train. We realized only too late that it would have been much easier to rent a car and drive, but then again with the inclemental weather we were glad that we suffered through the transfers & waits with the train.

Neuschwanstein was built in 1868 by Ludwig II of Bavaria and is one of the most famous castles ever built- so famous in fact that the Disney castle is based upon its design. And during our trip, we all agreed that it certainly was something special - if only it weren't so DAMN COLD during our stay, we might have been 100% content - instead we just had to live with 99.9%.

We stayed at the foot of the castle, at the Hotel Mueller. It was lovely and very German somehow - the restaurant was also amazing (we recommend the steak). We arrived on a Friday, just in time to take in the foggy scenery, including a quick visit to Castle Hohenschwangau, then on Saturday morning we went in search of our main destination - Castle Neuschwanstein.

(HOT TIP! The only reason we got into the castle on Friday was because I BOOKED THE TICKETS IN ADVANCE. Because I made reservations online, I got to skip to the front of the line and pick up and pay for our tickets within minutes instead of bearing the long line - OUT IN THE COLD!!! So be smart, book in advance!!! It only costs an extra 1.80 Euros per person and it is the best money you ever spent. Trust me. Another story that verifies that here...)

Because the roads up to the castle were covered with snow and ice, our only options were to walk or to go with the horse drawn carriage, and because the average temperature was FREEZING COLD we opted for the horses. I am glad we did as it was a nice rustic touch and the South German Cold Blooded work horses did the job beautifully - even with a flat tire! We were the first to enter the castle that morning (no reservations this time, but first in line!!!), so we stopped for a hot chocolate to await our castle entry time... and to warm up from the bitter cold!

When it was 15 minutes before our tour time, we walked up the remainder of the path to the castle, taking in the amazing snow covered view and surroundings, as well as the breath-taking views of the castle.

I have no idea what the temperature was, but I do know that I could barely feel my feet by the time we were due to enter the castle... again, another poor shoe choice!!! How do I manage to constantly do that? Here we are waiting outside the castle for our entry time - FREEZING! There is a nice little bridge in the background and if the weather had been better I would have pushed to take a photo from that side. Looks like it would have been the best view.

Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the castle, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the decor - it was much more colorful and somehow modern in comparison to other castles we have visited in Germany and Austria. I really love the fact that the castle was dedicated to Wagner and his operas as well - there were so many beautiful murals and paintings of Wagner's operas and thousands of swans - the namesake of the castle, since Neuschwanstein literally means "New swan stone."

And the best part of the entire castle was not even insides - but the view out... what I wouldn't pay to have this view everyday.... WOW.

I highly recommend a trip to the castle. I felt that it would be overly touristy - and it was - there were hundreds of people in line for tickets even though it was FREEZING - but in hindsight it was for good reason - the castle and surrounding area are charming. A must see. ;)