Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Traditionally, the day marks the beginning of Christmas shopping season in America. This indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit for the year.
Thanksgiving Day in Zurich is like any other day. However, this year the city is enjoying an unprecedented warm weather. As the sun sets, Bahnhofstrasse is lit with thousands of LEDs, also known as "Lucy" - a system of Christmas illuminations shimmering the night sky along the fame shopping street in the city. For the third time this year, shops in the city center remain open until ten at night luring shoppers and tourists in a shopping mood for the coming festive seasons with a vast assortment of goods, and culinary temptations.
Vendors selling homemade jams and breads, are busy tempting passersby with samples around Globus, a major departmental store with high end products in line with Bergdorf Goodman New York. One has to be here to appreciate this magnificent extravaganza. And, I am glad I did.
The last trip I ever experienced the Holiday Spirits was in London two years ago. I had the time of my life maneuvering my way in the crowd on Oxford Street during Boxing Day. The double-decker red buses underneath the hanging lights of giant wrappers were so picture perfect. I told myself, if I ever had the chance to travel again, it would have to be around the Holiday Seasons.
Back in Zurich's main train station, the concourse is transformed into a huge indoor market square. The '"Christkindlimarkt" has more than 100 individual vendors selling anything ranges from bags, candles to teas and Swiss cheese. Bathing the stalls in a joyful glow is a 15-meter Christmas tree magnificently adorned with thousands of glittering Swarovski crystals. Coming to Zurich is not just about seeing and experiencing the Holiday Spirits, it also gives me the chance to see some good old friends of mine.
I stayed at Kelvin's apartment, my childhood friend from Malaysia living in Zurich now. We went to Bad Sackingen, an old town in southern Germany which borders Stein in Switzerland with Steven and his significant other. My friends go there once a month for grocery shopping. Things are a lot cheaper. I was told to get my chocolate there, and I did. I came back to Zurich with a 9 kilogram bag full of different kinds of chocolate!
That night, Kelvin and I went to Club T&M. The club is Zurich's first gay disco with live shows, and it was celebrating its 25 years anniversary. Sad to say there will not be another anniversary next year as it is closing early part of 2013. "I used to perform there as a guest." Kelvin said. It kind of reminded me the good and bad times we had when we were oh so young.
I met with Bjorn and Toy at Grand Cafe Odeon over the weekend. Cafe Odeon is more than 100 years old, and it is reputed as a meeting point for intellectuals for decades. Its art-nouveau interior, and crystalized chandelier are attractions to many patrons who go there. We proceeded to Restaurant Zeughauskeller to have deer meat and rosti, a Swiss dish consisted of potatoes.
This place was used to be a storage for armory, and grain before it was turn into a restaurant in 1927. Many of the origin beams and walls are still preserved today. Bjorn and Toy insisted that I should stayed with them in Basel that night. I was really tempted but unfortunately, time was not on my side. I have to take a rain check, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that my invitation is still valid the next time I visit Zurich again.
My last day in Zurich was meeting up with Bruno in Old Town. He took me to Peclard Zurich for tea. Peclard is a boutique coffeehouse which is decorated with pastries, coffees and teas on its ground floor. As we head to the first floor, it revealed a room filled with velvety red from its chairs to the walls. It was a feeling of coziness sipping tea with an old friend while the weather was cold and depressing out there. I asked Bruno if it would be a crime to take the beautiful light blue menu with a red ribbon on its side. "Open your bag." he insisted. I did, and the next thing we were laughing like kids being offered candies from the owner.
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