Street Parade

One day in August,,, Zürich becomes the most crazy city in Europe...

STREET PADARE, a huge Techno Party having thousands of visitors from whole Europe, driving everybody crazy and converting the city as one big disco club.

When I reach center of the city, I doubted my eyes. It was not Zürich which is normally very calm and classic. The loud music played entire of the city where ever I go and the way people dress were completely beyond my expectation!!

Gossic fashion in Europe! In Japan, these style are called "Goss Lori" or "Gossic style" who wear all black, princess like, sadistic, or sometimes erotic.




When I was focusing my camera, one man suddenly appear in the screen with funky pause! Everyone become funny and friendly!



Even polices making fun! Unbelievable!!



Men or women, many people are almost naked. Doesn't matter how their shape is:) Everybody are freely enjoying their costume and be crazy! That's a very fun part of living in Europe. In Japan, people will talk about you behind your back when they are doing something too extreme. Many people also painted themselves in silver, blue, red,, not only their head but all over the body!!



Later on, I found same group of people with nice aXXes. Then, I found his aXX writte "I love ALEX". That was super cool! I wish I could take photo and send to my friend Alex.

So I bought myself a devil horn. Can't be that extreme yet but maybe I'll try my best next year.



Then came strange hippy man suddenly captured me! Everything is allowed in this date! Funny, so just make a photo!



Then I found cool friend of mine. Two men from England also fully enjoying the party with sexy style! Can't stop beer, huh? Hi Hi!




Party continue until late. The main street where those techno cars go by was completely full like that of disco in the best time in the night. Car goes slowly one by one. Whenever a car pass by, people on the street became so excited. Me, I wish I had a chance to roam around the city on the car.. Now too old to do so;-)





Zürich has indeed many faces. Sometimes shows it's traditional, classical and conservative face but on the other hand, the city could be soooo crazy and fascinate many people from abroad. What is a real Zürich? I think all of them. And that make the city very attractive.

Up to Grossmünster!

I've been in Zürich since this January, already half a year. Slowly being like a local girl (?) but there are still many things I don't know about Zürich. Grossmünster is one of the unknown places for me, even though it's a symbol of Zürich. It's tall tower is visible from many places in Zürich but I've never even got in here.

It was windy but clear day. I convinced my husband to walk old town with me. (it's not his favorite place!) We walked by Grossmünster and all of sudden, it came up to my mind to climb up all the way top of this church! I normally don't willing to climb up tower, but today, my inspiration was telling me to do so:)

So we went it. First time in Grossmünster. There was beautiful grass window and also for some reason, there was a people of orchestra playing music.



In order to climb up the tower, we had to pay. Then we bravely went into very narrow, high steps, stone made stairs, going round and round.



After 50 steps or so, changed to wooden steps. Small steps but at least more comfortable. In between, there was small display of photo and history about Zürich and Grossmunster.



Then we arrived! Of course it was easier than climbing up to Sagrada Familia but it was long enough way to gain beautiful overview of Zürich.





Looking down the city of Zürich is new experience also for my husband who is living in Zürich for XX years. I think it's nice to see the city from different angle from time to time. Whenever I climbed up to the symbol tower of city, I always recognized myself that I'm living in such a beautiful city. (I went up to the tower of Roppongi Hills often in Tokyo) Of course there's no skyscrapers in Zürich but this city is indeed beautiful. I could view lake, mountain, churches and pretty houses in city and up to hills.

On the way down, I met many small children, one couple and two big tourists going up. I believe the view of Zürich was impressing many people for a long time and it will keep attracting many people visiting.

I'm proud of myself living here.

First BBQ in Zurich!

Zurich is summer. Even though it's again a little bit cooler from yesterday, I already feel like I spend whole summer for this year. What I have not done is BBQ!!! So, my coolest friend in here Zurich asked me to join. This cool friend was organizing BBQ party without knowing how to arrange a grill:) At last, one of her kind colleague bought the grill in last minutes. Otherwise it has become raw meat party.. Swiss style BBQ is interesting! Everybody grill the food which you brought by yourself. "it's mine. That's yours". In Japan, someone is in charge of meat, someone is veggies and maybe someone is drinks and we all share it. It was such a beautiful location beside the lake. Party has start with sunset. For me, barbecue is hotdog, humbergur and chips. But here, everybody bring nice meats, beef, rib even rabbit!! Vegetables are also well prepared. BBQ is great way to meet up and chill with many friends. People sit down on the ground and enjoy food and chats until late. Some people bring fruits, cookies to share in a group. I was impressed by beautiful night lights along the lake and fresh breeze. At the end, I even played Frisbee in the dark! It was ligtened Frisbee in red colour like an UFO!!

Böögg

Today was local holiday in Zürich. All the offices and shops in Zürich closed at noon and city was just like weekend or full with more energy than normal weekend. So many foods and drinks bar are standing along the street and smell sausages and cheese in everywhere! It's the festival actually to say "good bye" to long winter in Zürich (not this year thought) by burning big snow man built in center of the city. In early afternoon, the festival started by big horn of parade. Local men dressed like a knight strolled the street followed by pretty girls dressed as Heidi. Then comes group of people carrying cow bells (must be heavy!) "ding ding ding" and then group of people with drums "dong dong dong". Then comes camels, dancers,, there was even a group of bakeries throwing fresh breads to people. (I couldn't get one!) City's view looks normal but when you see carefully, all the churches has flag on the top and that's the sign of festival! Parade roam around the city and continue until the field where the snowman waits. Here, there are tons of people which never seen in Zürich before. I wonder where are these people all come from in such a small city. People are eager to see finale of the festival. I thought it is a whole big snowman itself, but actually it's a huge mountain of straw and pretty snowman is standing on the top. With the sign of big horn, fire is lighted on the mountain. People in here said, faster the snowman burns, better the summer will be. I was quite didn't understand how the snowman will be burned. Straw of the mountain was burnt quite fast and I thought that was the end. But actually, snowman on the top must be burnt completely until nothing! 5 or 6 minutes with a sounds of banger, fire has lighted to snowman. White snowman turned completely burned and become black. My smile has disappeared. It's not yet finished. Fire went further until destroying the snowman everything. People shout and scream with joy "go! go!". Finally, with a huge sound of firecracker, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" followed by the voice "Yes! Yes! Yes!" the snowman was gone and nothing has left. I was told "that was head". The snowman was not a two balls of snow. It has head, eyes nose and mouse with separate arms and legs. Is it only me who think about ancient ages when people are burn and die at the stake? Is because I'm the kind of person who can't crash easter chocolate bunny? I think it's just a difference of culture. Probably more Japanese people agree or at least understand what I mean. Same festival cannot be taken place in Japan, being said too shocking for children or whatever. Anyway, I straight went home but if I join the people who make barbecue with the fire afterward, I would totally forgot this small culture shock and fully enjoy early summer night.