Before my trip slowly leaves my mind I wanted to write down as much as I could about it which will include the good, bad and grotesque (probably just ugly but it’s used to much). So here (below) are some of the points I still can remember after 2 days back to normalcy.
(1) May 21st 6:45 PM we took Delta Airlines to Zurich- Unless you’re Kosher on a regular basis don’t order the Kosher food but drinks and movies are included. I can’t remember anything memorable that I watched because watching movies on a plane is as if you’re watching them from Times Square with all the interruptions. Drinks are included which is great and the flight attendants were very professional.
(2) May 22nd 8:45 AM arrive in Zurich. The airport is a breeze at least what I can remember and Uber worked great as we arrived in our hotel. The Hotel Crowne Plaza in Zurich is a fine hotel with a real gym attached. Most of the help was very professional but you always run into a jerk or two.
(3) We strolled the streets of Zurich finding a great place to eat, Sprungli which had the greatest Muesli I’ve ever eaten (the only one as well) and excellent coffee/pastries. This place also had delicious Chocolates from all over the world including Cuba (previous blog piece). The streets of Zurich are spotless with prices on goods that are out of this world. I also discovered a Chocolate bar that breaks the mold of the Swiss as it was 99% Cocoa while the rest usually stop at 74 %
(4) Later on we went to the old town in Zurich where we went in search of the best Cheese Fondue. Our search would be successful if you hadn’t eaten for a couple of days or were Swiss but for us it was overwhelming. For future travelers one Fondue feeds 4 American’s
(5) We traveled the beautiful streets of Old Zurich as my daughter took pictures from every angle.
(6) Day 2 of our trip and we discovered Chocolate Paradise as we went on a fascinating private tour of the great taste of Chocolates and other sweets in the town that basically invented the Chocolate of today . More on my tour can be found on https://budrebelproductions.com/2017/05/24/chocolate-paradise/
(7) Day 2 finished with one of the worlds greatest vegetarian restaurants which you can find incredible information on https://budrebelproductions.com/2017/05/28/vegetarian-nirvana-restaurant-investment/
(8) Our journey to Israel went smoothly although with less items then we like as we bordered El AL airlines. The Flight Attendants couldn’t have been warmer but the plane was a bit older then one would like especially if they were traveling past the 1980’s.
(9) In Tel Aviv we stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel called the Arbel which had warm and large accommodations for the whole family. Tel Aviv is one place that truly doesn’t know how to sleep at night as the town is booming with young fun even Elvis can be found singing there (not the real one but a Jewish version). I was trying to find the perfect restaurant but it was too busy so we settled for a delicious Indian Restaurant instead.
(10) The next day we took a private tour of Tel Aviv and saw their version of Greenwich Village unique individuals, a beautiful unique mall, the history of the Templers, Whiskey Museum/Bar and other sites my mind has already forgotten. We stayed at another wonderful hotel with great rooms called the Hillel.
(11) Our tour guide gave us a tour of Jerusalem the next day where we bought unique in the Muslim Quarter, Karaite Temple, ate delicious Shawarma, and our favorite stop of this tour the City of David which had some really cool tunnels.
(12) Friday night we had an emotionally trip to the Western Wall/Kotel not only for it’s spiritual value but because we lost each other along the way. It was wonderful seeing all the people wishing each other a great Shabbos as well. We stayed at the Montefiore Hotel and stayed in the same room which had a beautiful balcony until the members of Birthright decided to have a party at 1 AM.
(13) Saturday/Shabbos was a bit slower then my or my families normal pace. I journeyed to the Kotel but because I got up a bit late and a bit lost most of the major religious services were over. We ate at the Hotel which was nothing to write home about but still much better then the Kosher airplane food. Later we left to stay at our final hotel the Hotel Yehuda.
(14) We started the day with a delicious tour of one Jerusalem tastiest place the Mahane Yehuda market where our tour guide gave had us try some of the best spices, ice cream, bread, Humus and saw over 100 different varieties of Halvah. I learned that I actually like Halvah as well.
(15) That night we went to my cousin’s wedding in one of the most beautiful location in all of Jerusalem.
(16) The next day we took a flight from Tel Aviv to Zurich and slept the night way. Yet before we went on the Plane we had the Kosher version of Burger King which basically tasted the same as the non Kosher version before and after you ate it.
(17) We finally returned home from Zurich to NY and found the experience easier then we expected even the customs service was more efficient than in the past.
GENERAL NOTES
Zurich– Food and sites are great especially anything to do with Chocolate or Coffee
Israel- A beautiful country in which most will find a deeper meaning and moment then they would anywhere else in the world.