Zürich!

My airplane had trouble with the de-icing valve, but we all got up and moved to a new one and eventually made it to Switzerland. I sat next to a lanky, Texan college professor who had moved to Zürich seven years prior, so he bestowed his knowledge upon me for the first half of the flight. We practiced a few phrases unique to the Swiss, and he said my pronunciation was pretty good. He also gave me a Swiss sleeping pill from the stash his girlfriend had given him (sorry, Mom, I promise I am being careful), so we both got to sleep by about four a.m. Swiss time. I had an uneventful (and very punctual) train ride into the city proper, and I snagged the last bunk at the most popular hostel in the old town. I already went for a walk along the river and up to Lake Zürich, and I passed by the immense Grossmünster cathedral. As soon as I wrap up this post, I will head up those towers for a better view of the city. The next block over is full of trendy clothing and shoe stores, restaurants, and "take-aways" for a quick bite to eat. I might go for a longer walk or a hike after my cathedral exploration. I want to sleep soundly tonight, especially given that my last two "nights" were three-hour naps and I am not sure what time zone my brain is still in.