After a rather uneventful flight we arrived safe and sound in Zürich to some pretty bad weather. But we were warned that rain was plentiful in these areas; where there are big lakes and mountains, it seems that rain is bound to follow. I had expected Zürich to be a thriving cosmopolitan center but the atmosphere turned out to be much more sedate than I expected. Perhaps the weather had a lot to do with the city mood (and perhaps mine too) but with the slower pace, it was easy to get into a vacation frame of mind.
On our first night in Europe, we walked down the river towards the Zürchner See. It was relaxing but wet! The swans in the Zürchner See though loved it. My friend Mia and I though were less enthused. The night was not good for taking pictures although I did get one picture of an amazing dark blue sky. It reminds me of some nocturne paintings my friend Jamie and I painted on the Hudson. 
You can perhaps see from the picture how hard it was raining and perhaps the source of my camera's downfall. The camera only lasted until the third night at Stein am Rhein and then it permanently died - but not before I was able to take some interesting pictures of Zürich, Konstanz, and Stein am Rhein. The mountains in the distance are really rainclouds.
The food though was cozy food - just the right stuff on a rainy day. A colleague of mine who has family in Switzerland had recommended a beer hall called Zeughaus Keller and with its wooden beams, plastered walls, deer heads and assorted antique guns, it certainly looked the part. Long picnic tables coursed the room which was filled with the loud din of plates and glasses and voices. I imagine the hall could easily hold several hundred. Guests sat down at tables with complete strangers which was an unusual situation for Americans but one which I remember was more typical in Germany. Mia and I sat down next to this couple (or perhaps they weren't a couple and came in separately - who knows) who were funny and charming. The wurst and sauerkraut were filling and delicious and reminded me of the wurst I used to get at Schnellimbisse (Eng. wurst stands) back in Köln; however this time around, the Schnellimbisse were not to be found. A loss certainly since we didn't always want to sit down for a meal. The service was friendly but efficient. Those waiters had a routine going on and guests were marshalled in and out with the precision of military drill. It was fun but with the high noise level, it wasn't a place to hang around for a long time.
That night we ate at a smaller more local place whose name I cannot remember. I had this wonderful raclette meal with potatoes and melted cheese that just hit the spot (and we needed that since we had just come in from the pouring rain from walking to the Zürcher See) And of course the Weißbier - lots of Weißbier!
Before we left I wanted to pick up some paints. I had put mine in my suitcase and surprise, surprise, they didn't get confiscated but after Jamie recommended a 3 color Rembrandt palette I was very eager to try it. So we headed to Zumstein which is a conucopia of artist materials and supplies. The Swiss are really good at nifty little devices - it is after all the home of the Swiss Army knife. I got a mini sketchbook and a small device to hold pencils to your sketchbook. It looked like a big steel clip with 3 Slinky rings attached through which you could pass pencils, pens, erasers, etc. The store even sold rubber protectors for pencil points which are hard to find in American art stores. Mia picked up a sketchbook and some supplies too and before we left, I found a folding lightweight chair that I could take on painting trips.
So thus armed we were ready to head towards Konstanz and our biking adventure.
