Zurich and Bern

Zurich as a town seems like a nice but unremarkable neighborhood say in a row house district of London, say Nottingham or something, and then out of nowhere these fantasy elements show up. A wild little red turret with bronze, an unexpected observatory in the middle of town. A strange golden date on the clock towers. Birdhouses like miniatures of the houses they perch atop of on roofs. 

The lake is clear, like Sydney harbor, and swans and ducks collect on it, people are swimming out in the bay. It's a wild thing to think about people swimming in their city river. Like you wouldn't do that in the Themes or Brisbane. 

We spent like six hours over two days just walking down one side of the lake then the other.

Bern

Einstein thought that nationalism was the greatest danger, motivator to war,whereas Freud thought it was the urge towards violence and the death instinct. What do you think? 

There are bears in the bear pit so my work here is done. Also our hotel is up the biggest hill in the world which has an amazing view over the city. Thw river, glacial blue, still runs fast below. 

We've been eating almost all our meals as cheese and bread in the hotel room, which has been a fun experience so far. It has sort of afforded us luxurious coffees out at riverside cafes and craft beers at cellar bars, and croissants and chocolates. Like by not spending 50-100 bucks a meal we can guilt free enjoy indulgences at whim. 

My relationship to eating has been different too, we have skipped a meal nearly every day just from being busy. Our 4 pm dinners aren't helping my 7 pm bedtime at the moment but I feel really sated with a lot less even though I'm eating a lot less often. 

We visited the Bern bears on the way in and out of town every day. Sometimes they were really active and sometimes invisible, and one day we saw all three together!