December 1st ~ 11th 2007: Christmas in Switzerland

This entry has done by T Cameraman. It’s a report of Switzerland in Dec.
*Please click photo for larger image

We all visited to Switzerland where my daughter lived after marriage.
Zurich is a biggest city in Switzerland located in northern part of it. Although the population is around 370,000, it is world widely known city than Bern for finance, economy, commerce and culture.
The downtown of Zurich is divided by the river “Limmat” runs from Zurich Lake.

Photo left : old town and Limmat river, center : old town,
right : old town and other side of the town and a church.

It is convenient to take train from Zurich Airport to the city. It’s almost 10min and you’ll be Zurich Main Station. That is 4 story building from ground to basement 3rd floor. Ground floor has platform, exchange booth, post office and kiosk. B1F has waiting room, baggage lockers and pay toilet. B2F has bank, shops, supermarket and restaurants. On Sundays, the supermarket was the only place opened so it would be crowded. B3F has a platform to suburb city.
They have eye-catching character in the station. It is a symbol of this station created by Niki de Saint Phalle, a Swiss sculptor.
 Photo left : symbol character and tents of stalls.

On ground floor plaza, more than 50 stalls were out for holiday selling season.

Photo left : cheese shop, right : ornament shop

There is a Christmas tree with crystal Swarovski standing out in the far end of the plaza.

Photo left : Tree at Zurich station, right : ornament at the bottom

The street runs south side of the station is “Banhof Street” which is a center of finance, business, fashion and gourmet and has famous banks and popular brand store was full of people. Especially department stores with all kinds of Christmas items had many families visited. They open on Sundays only this season.
Once you step in to a path from the main street, stone pavements get intricate and there we can find more small shops of toys, foods and ornaments


Photo left : department floor, center : famous gift shop( is likened to Wako in Ginza), right : show case of butcher.

　Photo left : show case
　 We went to see those streets illuminated in evening.
　 Temperature was -1 and was really freezing but splendid illumination
　 of street, small shops like toy shop, flower shop and confectioner
　 made me for get about it.


Photo left : Banhof street start from Zurich station, center & right : Illumination of town

Also the major Swiss bank Credit Suisse Bank had dozens of trees lighted up in their plaza in front and their each windows had lighted up as well. That was impressive.
The Cathedral had a stained glass of Chagall lighted up from outside.
Also we should mention about Grossmünster church. This is one of the landmarks of Zurich with 2 imposing tower. Their stained glass designed by Giacometti and the statue of Charles the Great are alos very known. But these towers lighted up were impressive to me. In the day time, you can climb this tower and see all Zurich city from the top.
I had happened to have chance to see all these light went off for 5 minutes after 8:00 as a part of proposition from NPO raising environmental concern.


Photo left : Credit Suisse lighted up, center: Cathedral, right : Grossmünster church

We normally see beautiful horse chestnut in Europe but this time they all lost their leaves but chestnuts but I liked the contrast with the church and the blue sky.
　Photo left : Beautiful contrast of horse chestnuts and the church.

Zurich was having a bit warmer winter this year and the weather was mostly cloudy or raining like the one in Japan Sea side.

* See sequel to this diary: "Andermatt, Switzerland"