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FOCUS - DECEMBER 2015 63 I had the pleasure of spending three days in the Zurich area a few weeks ago and although it was not my rst visit it certainly brought back the memories stored in the recesses of my mind. Zurich is a very cosmopolitan city lled with commerce and fashion outlets displaying the latest trends which make Europe famous. The main street the Bahnhofstrasse is the Rodeo Drive of Zurich. Fortunately my hotel which was lo- cated in the old city was a block from this spectacular street so I had many opportunities to check out the latest in un-affordable attire and accesso- ries. There is a certain satisfaction in window shopping when names like Gucci Cartier Rolex etc. stare you in the face. Of course Switzerland is known for its watches and there is no shortage of shops selling them. Dozens if not hun- dreds of small watchmaking companies sell their superior products everywhere. If you are not into the cosmopolitan element a trip through the countryside to Lucerne is only an hour away. It is easy to get to by train at a relatively inexpensive ticket. Once there most of the interesting parts of the city are explorable on foot. When I arrived I found myself in the middle of a cheese festival. Dairy farmers had made their way to the city to sell their cheeses and the taste of fresh Emmental or a chunk of Gruyere accompanied by a piece of fresh baked bread is about as perfect as it gets. You can take a leisurely stroll along the Reuss River and cross at any one of the numerous bridges. The most pic- turesque is of course the Chapel Bridge with its 600 year old towers. In the sum- mer the walls of this old covered bridge are lined with bright pink flowers adding to the spectacular views. A short walk from the bridge is the lion monument not to be missed. It was sculpted in 1820 and is dedicated to the Swiss Guards who were mas- sacred during the French revolution in 1792. Mark Twain praised the sculp- ture of a mortally-wounded lion as The most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world. Words cannot do the artwork justice and photographs can never capture the emotional ties the monument has to the people of Switzerland. There is a large outdoor museum which can become a nice walking tour for several hours. The area is well laid out with public toilets which are free of charge a rarity in Europe. I actually had a funny experience when I went to use the facilities. The three doors to the cubicles were locked so I assumed one had to pay for usage. I looked to see where the money was to be deposited but found nothing. An elderly man wearing a hat and carrying an umbrella came out of one of the cubicles and I asked him How does this work. He slowly studied my face titled his head slightly and in a very arrogant voice said. How does this work he paused. You open the door go in- side and do what you have to do. He walked away and only then did I realize the toilets were free of charge. They just happened to all be occupied when I rst checked the doors. Once again the cloak of embarrassment covered my face. A nice walk is along the old city wall and a visit to several of the tow- ers which fortied the city in days gone by. The old square of Lucerne is a shoppers paradise. Souvenir shops The mortally wounded lion sculpture dedicated to the Swiss Guards. ...................... Please turn to page 64