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F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 26 May 2019 1-844-AZINDIA How to Make the Most of Your Stopover in Switzerland By Aripa Paul aripa.paul@gmail.com The world is a globe. The farther you sail, the closer to home you are. – Terry Pratchett If you’re in Switzerland with a couple of days in hand, try and make Zu- rich as your base. Zurich is a sprawling city with an amazing connectivity to the rest of the country. You can stay at Thessoni classic - an ideal bou- tique hotel with delecta- ble food and hospitality. Rooms are well-furnished with comfortable uphol- stery. The hotel is spa- cious with both indoor and outdoor seating ar- rangements. Located slightly at the outskirts, therefore, makes for a perfect stay away from the city hustle. Here are some of the must-do in Switzerland: 1. Driving around the city or the countryside of Switzerland can be one heck of an experience. The road trip through the scenic villages of Swiss countryside will leave you spell bound and gasping for words. I’d suggest taking Swiss rail to explore every nook and cranny. It can be slightly cheaper and more conveniently con- nected. There are sev- eral packages available online or you can pre-book your tour in order to avoid any hassle at the last moment. 2. Wake up early in the morning to catch the sunrise and take a stroll in the neighbourhood. I bet you’ll find hidden gems in and around. You can stumble upon cute cafes and eateries that offer not-so-expensive breakfast spread. 3. If you, like me, enjoy sampling local dishes, then try cheese fondue. Swiss cheese and chocolates are to die for. You can never really settle at one. Consult with locals and they shall help you spot ca- fes and chocolatier that make best chocolates. Switzerland makes one of the best wines in the world. Over 200 varieties of wines are grown in this part of the world. Sample local wine and you can enjoy your drink with a view of the Alps or pick up a bottle or two of pinot noir off the shelves for friends back home. The wine routes are resplendent. Forces of nature are at their best here. 4. Keep a day aside for your visit to the Mount Titlis. Titlis is one of the highest mountains of Uri Alps. It is once in a lifetime experience. If Mount Titlis isn’t on your bucket list, it’s time you add it. You can take a train from Lucerne to Engelberg. The journey from Lucerne will leave you hankering for more. Make sure you’re cov- ered in 2-3 layers. The queue to board the cable car to reach the moun- tain summit can be a tad bit longer than expected. The view from the 20 minute cable car ride of the Alps is insane. They say one can never de- scribe Switzerland be- cause one has to experi- ence Switzerland. 5. For all the adventure seekers out there go for a hike to small villages in Grindelwald or Lauterbrun- nen. Take countless pictures. I promise these places will make you reminisce some of our hit Bollywood numbers that were shot in these locations. 6. You can even go skiing or take skiing lessons. Nothing like dabbling in some fun sports. Remember to carry your basic sports gear along as purchasing them on the spot may burn a hole in your pocket . 7. Take a walk in the evening by the lake Lucerne or you can even opt for boat rides. The pristine blue water of the lake peppered with the view of the mighty Alps at the backdrop is a sight to behold. 8. Spend an afternoon ex- ploring the old city centre. You could take your time admiring its bridges and old churches and cathedrals. 9. There are several vantage points in and around the city. Make sure to take great photographs for some immortal memories. 10. Switzerland is an ideal place to shop for all the shopahol- ics. You can literally shop till you drop. There’s a dedi- cated street named, Bah- nhofstrasse in Zurich for several brands and designer houses. It has the reputa- tion for being the most ex- pensive shopping street in the world. If luxury shop- ping is in the agenda, you can’t miss out on shopping here in Switzerland. Make sure you head out early here on Saturdays because the stores close by evening. 11. You can’t af- ford to miss a day trip to Jungfrau. Located at 3,454 metres above sea level. Jungfraujoch - top of Europe is the high- est railway station in Europe. You can catch a train from Interlaken through Lauterbrunnen to reach there. The high altitude building over- looks the massive snow of Aletsch glacier. Surpris- ingly, there’s a restaurant at that height by the name of Bollywood. The place is known for scrumptious Indian food. I’ve had the best time exploring Switzerland’s natural and iconic landmarks. There are lush valleys, azure lakes, magnificent mountains, quaint towns, spec- tacular panorama and the list is endless. I’ve enjoyed every bit of the stay but it was the cable car ride to Mount Titlis that stole my heart. If you’re chalking out an itinerary of Switzerland, I hope this article has got you all excited to tick Swit- zerland off your bucket list asap.