22 Sept Zurich

Just to update you on bed fashions... we are actually sleeping here on a cardboard bed base! There are rectangular cardboard boxes supporting cardboard slats, supporting the mattress. Very incredible and quite comfy! It's nice to think we haven't managed to cause it to collapse!!

We got up to a foggy morning and set off for church. Dad had written down the directions but he didn't tell me that the short walk was practically vertical! We went from Strasses into Wegs and Gates and Fossens! And we are greeted in German everywhere. We've seen lots of orchards like this - Dad said he was tempted to be an 'Eve' and taste an apple.

We made it to the International Baptist Church in good time and were greeted by the Pastor, Bruce Davie. He is a South African and would you believe he is from East London and knew of Dumisani. He also knows Pastor Ron de Gray Birch (Jen and Markie) for whom Dad preached in Berlin (RSA) while we were there in '96. Anyway, we enjoyed being able to worship with this family of the Lord's people and we had a very good message on the Christian's assurance from 1 John 2:3-6 - soundly biblical and evangelistic. We even knew some of the songs!

We left soon after the service, had some lunch and then walked down to the ferry quay, where we boarded a ferry heading north up the lake. Many of the buildings visible from the water are quaint and fascinating (to us)...

The ferry stopped at several quays, before berthing in 'the big smoke,' at Zurich Bürkliplatz. We could see the twin towers of the Grossmünster - the medieval church where the first generation Reformer Ulrich Zwingle preached.

There was a statue of the Reformer outside the Wasserkirche (Water Church):

Many of the city streets were closed, and were thronged with people enjoying the sunny day. Free yellow helium balloons were available, but I wouldn't let Mum have one. 

We went into the Grossmünster church, which was largely unadorned, and in the Romanesque style. There was a notice forbidding photography, since it was a "house of prayer," but that didn't prevent them from selling cards, books, and tickets to climb one of the towers!

Outside we chatted with a local woman (very good English), who kindly took our picture.

(In the background, you can just see the relief of Heinrich Bullinger - a contemporary of Calvin’s.)

We followed a path along the side of the river, with buildings to our left and above us, until we came to the central railway station. Here we boarded a train for Adliswil, disembarked, and trudged up another steep hill to the cable car up to Felsenegg mountain, about 800m above sea level (and about 400m above the lake). There were some great views, including of the Alps 'way to the south.

Joining the other sardines in the cable car, we descended, and eventually arrived back at the apartment, very tired and hungry. It was good to relax over a simple meal, do the blog, and go to bed.