Landesmuseum - Worth a visit?

So after we had some delicious behind the Bahnhof dim sum, we wandered around to check out the Landesmuseum. To be honest, I have never really noticed this building before. As Jace said, it just happens to be on the wrong side of the tracks. Literally. :) So we don't make it over that often. However, it is a lovely building and the Landesmuseum, or Swiss National Museum, itself is supposed to be fabulous - has anyone been? Should we check it out?

Just behind the buliding is where you can join up with the Limmat and walk or bike, I imagine, for miles and miles along the river, but be aware- I felt like this area was a bit dodgy, attracting a few of the wrong people if you know what I mean. Perhaps it was just the day we went.

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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.

Dim Sum behind the Zürich Bahnhof

Psst. Hey... hey you.

Yes, I am talking to you. Come on over here. Yesss, over here behind the Bahnhof in Zurich. I won't hurt you. It is ok. I just have something I want to show you. Just take my hand, I promise you will like it.

(Walking along the river, behind the Bahnhof, snickering and ducking behind trees...dragging you the whole way...)

(Ducking behind a sign post...)

You see that building over there... yeah the one next to the Landesmuseum? That is THE place to get DIM SUM in Zürich. I am telling you because I know because I heard about it on the Zürich Spotted by Locals site from my fellow Spotter Roman.

Jace and I went there about two weeks ago now, and all that Jace could say while scoffing down his huge portion of dim sum was, 'Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? Why did you try and keep this from me?' Yeah, it is that good that I am punished for not taking him there before I even knew it existed.

My steamed dumplings. Yum. Their soy sauce is also thick and delish.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was also homemade.

Roman is totally right about his review. The dim sum is excellent, the portions are huge, and the value is second to none.

Jace got a big order of the pan fried dumplings and I got the big order of the steamed. Next time I will get the smaller size as the big was truly BIG.

I love the fact, too, that the dim sum are hand made daily from a family recipe passed down and improved upon over generations and that the husband and wife team continue to serve us excellent authentic Chinese dim sum along the Limmat. If you are looking for a quick and good place to grab some authentic Chinese in the middle of Zürich - try the Dim Sum hut behind the Bahnhof. You will not be disappointed! (Check out my spots on Spotted by Locals here.)

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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.

Everyone is talking about SWISS-TORY...

I am so popular... everyone is talking about how Federer has made SWISS-TORY... :)

• http://msn.foxsports.com/tennis/story/9658318/SWISS-TORY-MAN
• http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2009/06/08/swiss-tory-man-115875-21423674/

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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.

Have you heard of Espresso Corretto?

So Jace does not drink espresso... at all... like ever. Whenever I make tiramisu, I have to do it with hot cocoa instead of espresso. So you can imagine my surprise upon hearing Jace order an Espresso Corretto when we were in Como and several times since. His reply...

'Oh, this is not espresso... this is Espresso Corretto... espresso with grappa. It is different...'

Uh huh... Silly man. So I tried one, too. And you know what? It is different! That's right... IT HAS GRAPPA IN IT! :) It is really quite powerful. But when you want to stay awake after a big meal and have a digestive, this is actually the perfect combination of power and punch.

After this particular meal, we also were given complimentary mandarin grappas... talk about heaven. I still dream of that sweet liquid heaven.

... and then they wheeled us back to the hotel. :)

Next time you are out - try ordering an Espresso Corretto - or if they do not understand the Italian name, just say Espresso mit Grappa. Viel Glück!

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This is an essential and the latest edition is due out in July. Pre-Order your copy today! Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook

My run in with a Swiss Igel - that's a hedgehog folks!

These signs are all over the place since Spring - notifying drivers to 'Please let (the hedgehogs) live.' I had never seen one of these little creatures - that is until last week! I was out tending to the garden, staying out a bit too late perhaps trying to get my weeding up to par with the neighbors, and while walking home just as darkness fell, I rounded the corner and nearly stepped on a football sized hedgehog.

After screaming a few profanities, I proceeded to talk to the little guy, as you do, you know, when you meet a hedgehog face to face - and to calm you both down - and I told him I was sorry for the outcry and that it was ok, I wouldn't hurt him and he could cease from burying his face into the dirt. The poor little nocturnal fella was no doubt collecting some tasty morstle when I, a crazy girl with a weird accent, shocked the spikes right off of him.

Upon realizing that having a conversation with a hedgehog is about as pointless as ... well... as it comes... I hurried home and dragged Jace out to show him this unique creature, but alas he had trampled off into the dark... probably to go get hit by a car.

So please, let these guys live - will ya? At least for my sake! :)
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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.

Need a beer? Why not have it at Jules Verne

View from Jules Verne Panorama Bar

We had some visitors over the long weekend, and on Saturday since the weather was beautiful and the views to the Alps were unhindered, Jace recommended we go for a drink at Jules Verne Panorama bar just off Bahnhofstrasse. At first I was hesitant, it was a sunny, warm day - why not have it outside at a pub... but after I saw the view from up here, I was sold. This is really an amazing spot.

Another view... it is a 'panorama bar' after all!

Here is the bar from the outside. I thought that the drinks would be super expensive here due to the view, but they are really no more expensive than any other nice bar in Zurich... I had a panache for CHF 6. That is really pretty standard - and the view was thrown in for free. I really recommend you go for a drink next time someone special is in town. Great spot, Jace! Now how many gin and tonics did you have to drink here to realize that? ;)


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Living and Working in Switzerland, 12th Edition: A Survival Handbook. This is an essential for anyone thinking about living in Switzerland. Buy it now via Amazon UK or pre-order your Amazon.com copy today! Thank you for supporting Swisstory by shopping on Amazon.