Iron Man comes to Zurich. Auf Wiedersehen Switzerland!

When we last visited Zurich, a major festival was on and the old town atmosphere was overtaken by amusement rides, food stalls and tourist attractions. This time, we have come to Zurich on a Sunday, a day where all shops are closed and there is little happening in the centre of the city - wrong!

This weekend is the Iron Man Zurich Switzerland Competition, an annual event over two days with the main event on today. While the city centre was quiet when we strolled down the Bahnofstrasse (the main shopping street of Zurich) we couldn't miss seeing the cordoned off sections of the footpath with Iron Man written over the tape.

We had brunch at Confiserie Sprungli, a cafe of the famous Sprungli Swiss chocolate shops that sell the most unbelievable pastries, cakes and chocolates. They are renoun for their Luxemburgeli, macaron biscuits. Sprungli has been around since 1836, acquiring Lindt and other major chocolate makers such as Ghirardelli along the way. Sprungli is rated as one of the best premium Swiss chocolates.

Paradeplatz on Bahnofstrasse - a major tram stop

Confiserie Sprungli where we had brunch under the umbrellas

Enjoying croissants and coffee with Sprungli chocolates

Swiss coffee with a bit too much Kirsch in it

Fraumunster across the road

Rhino sculpture near the cafe

As we were enjoying our croissants and coffee, we noticed athletes running down the street on the last leg of the Iron Man race. They started with a 3.5km swim on Lake Zurich, then cycled through the city, along the lakeshore, and into the countryside where spectators showed their support by ringing cow bells. They then ran through the old city and along the lake. It was an international event with over 70 countries represented and is the qualifying race for the world championships in Hawaii. We watched the race at various spots in the city and cheered on the Australians as they went pass.

Iron Man cycling event

Iron Man running section through the old part of town

It was good to have the opportunity at the end of our trip to see Zurich in its normal state without all the festival paraphernalia. It really is a beautiful city.

Grossmunster - we climbed the tower at the start of our trip

Along the river with the old town either side

Clock faces of Zurich

 Hotel Airport in Glatbrugg, Zurich, our last stop and nice and close to the airport!

Our last cuppa before leaving Switzerland at Sprungli's airport cafe


Auf Wiedersehen Switzerland!

HR Giger in Gruyeres

Northwest of Geneva and past the upper reaches of the lake is the cheese making village of Gruyeres. Perched on a hill top, the medieval looking town has ramparts, a castle and chateau, and an wide cobblestoned street lined with heritage buildings with a fountain the the centre. Below the hilltop village is the cheese making factory.

Entering the village via the rampart

Main Street of Gruyeres

Giger's chateau beyond the Le Chalet

Castle of Gruyeres

Contrasting with this medieval charm is the HR Giger Museum housed in the chateau that was owned by the artist. The museum has a huge collection of Giger's paintings, drawings and designs including his Alien works. While studying his artworks on the wall, hovering above you is one of his life size Alien creatures that looks ready to strike. His artwork is very surreal, dark, and highly detailed. Even the walls and floors are imprinted with his designs. Outside in the garden of Giger's chateau, he has designed feature walls and seating. While photos could be taken outside, no photography is allowed inside the museum.

Sculptures outside the entry to the museum

The garden and patio of Giger's chateau

Giger designed garden chairs that look like the bones of a spine- a contrast to the old chateau

Spinal bones link together to form a garden wall

Next to the museum is the HR Giger Bar which was designed by the artist. You feel as if you are in one of his artworks - a very alien world. The bar chairs and high back lounge chairs resemble the spine of an alien but are comfortable seats.

HR Giger Bar

Detailed skeletal ribs form the ceiling. Chairs take the form of spines and bones

A speciality on the menu were meringues and double cream produced in Gruyeres

Trying out the high back skeletal chairs

Detail of the ceiling and bar

Outside the bar which is part of the chateau

United Nations in Geneva

Travelling from Fernley Voltaire to Geneva we leave the old French village that architect, writer and philosopher Voltaire had developed in the 18th century, and cross the French/Swiss border to the city - all in a 10 minute bus ride!

The Place du Nation was closest to the border so we investigated the United Nations building first, and the gigantic chair sculpture with one leg broken and torn off. The sculpture by Daniel Berset, is 12m high and is meant to remember the victims of land mines. Surrounding the sculpture is a large open area decorated in a grid form to represent regions of the world and filled in the centre with spouting vertical fountains.

The United Nations building is guarded with iron barricades to prevent vehicles from entering and sentry guards at the gate who weren't to perturbed about tourists taking their photo in front of the United Nations sign. The Aussie flag was 6th or so in the first row.

United Nations building in Geneva

United Nations with the top of the double width metal barricade

Chair sculpture with a broken leg as a memorial to the victims of land mines.

Down on Lake Geneva is the water jet, Jet d'Eau, a very photographed feature of the city. Along the lake front is the Jardin Anglais, a garden area which is currently in the throes of being converted into stages, amusements and stalls for the Geneva Lake Festival in the first 2 weeks of August. In the Jardin Anglais is the Floral Clock or L'horloge Fleurie, a natural monument to the history of watchmaking in Geneva. It has Swiss precision timing that is transmitted by satellite so you can set your watch by it. The flowers and design change at different times of the year, so it is never the same.

Along the lake front

Jet d'Eau with floral displays set up for the Geneva Lake Festival

Water jet from the bridge

Shopping district

Clock in an arcade of shops

Geneva's Floral clock with the longest second hand in the world at 2.5m

It was a cooler day in Geneva after 30+ degree temperatures for the past couple of days and high humidity. The climate of the Switzerland's alpine areas in summer are much more comfortable.