Crazy Zürich

To tell the truth, I was thinking of Switzerland as such a conservative country both positive and negative way. People like to wear black, foreigners are not always welcome and obviously insisting not to join EU. But this weekend, my prejudice are 90% wiped out! Switzerland, especially Zürich is not conservative at all. The city showed me it's full power and how open they are!! It was Zürich Festival take place only once in a year like Olympic:)

I was walking down the ordinary way but suddenly heard music from nowhere. I just realized that there is a stereo hang everywhere in the city. And in front of me war people people people,,, No cars, no trams, just many people!

In stead of trams, there is a toy tram machine:)

Many shops are stand in line along the street. I smelled grill wherever I go.

What's great about Zürich Festival is performance. It was of course surprising how endless these food stands and shops are continue but same time, I encounter amazing performance every where.

The above photo is a professional divers who jumped in to the lake from 30m high. As I walk down the street along the lake, enjoying international food stands, I encounter another interesting game. It's cayak polo! Just like basketball but with cayak. It was against Holland and Spain. Holland are so agressive and and precise in strategy! Sometime the cayak flipped upside down!

Not Only in the water but also performance will be found in the sky.


A beautiful show of planes held by professional Checks group. Team leader was a woman. Performance in the sky was also held by super cool helicopter which done crazy back spring. On the ground give it more.

This is a beach football. Tough men are running around on the sand. So exciting to see it in front of you. All of the sudden, I found something exactly like circus.

Crazy balance on the bar... Everything is possible in Zurich during the festival.

Another good point in Zurich! Not only adults but kids can also fully enjoy the festival. Beautiful calm park turned in as a kid's paradise!

This one is motor bike performer. Thrilling performance was held with group of four tough men.

This guy is hardly holding his bike while in the air!!

Even the financial big company was an element of festival. It was colored like crazy. Just by light... Not real paint. What's good about Zürich Festival is that people can really find a way to enjoy personally. The highlight of the festival is fireworks start from 10.30pm. In Japan, in such a special occasion, people are eager to find the best position and squeeze each others. However, here in Zürich, there are no hassle like that.

Here, normally people can swim into the lake, laid down on the grass and relax. This day, it was specially arranged as a place to watch fireworks.

You can get a food like this.

After a meal, wait for the fireworks for a while, chilling on the sands. With blanket, we could lay down on the sand and relax. I was munching ice cream for dessert. How luxurious way to enjoy fireworks!

Then came fireworks! Ok, I was REALLY impressed! In Japan, fireworks is one of the biggest event in summer for every cities. I went to see fireworks many times. However, here in Switzerland, it was completely another different art. First of all, music is played (live) background and fireworks is collaborating with it. Also, the base was fixed four places on the lake. Therefore, entire outlook of fireworks is wide. In Japan, the base is only one so the outlook is more narrow. Fireworks in Switzerland indeed light up entire of the sky. The variety was also more than that of Japan. In climax, hundreds of firework were shoot up and was like a thousands of sunflowers bloomed in the night sky! People are all overwhelmed by this beautiful art. Some goes home but many remain in the city for more party. The city itself was like a disco club. Whenever music play convert to dancing hall. It went until morning and continue over the weekend.

Culture shock at doctor!

My weekend has started horrible way.. I had to visit doctor first time since I moved to Zürich. Nothing is wrong, I'm healthy ever before but I have to have constant check at gynecology. I was nervous of course from language problem but more from how I will be treated. Even in Japan where always go to, I was nervous every time when I visit gyn. So I met doctor. A woman who kindly spoke high German for me. First shock. A chair for internal examination was sitting there facing door. Second shock. There is no curtain in front of this chair. In Japan, when you sit on this chair just like being a frog, you can't see a face of doctor who is checking inside. Like this, patient is less embarrassing. But here, I can't see curtain anywhere!! My anxious was already in full level.. Then the doctor asked me many questions. She wants to know everything about me relating gynecology. I was not able to concentrate 100% since this freaky chair was always in my sight. Then she told me take off my underwear. Ok,,,, here it comes.. I didn't realize but there is a small curtain on the corner of the room and I had to take off underwear. I wore short skirt this date so that I don't have to be completely naked but I was even not allowed to keep my skirt on. She also told me to take off my bra. Why bra as well? Being half naked, my anxious was more than 100%.. Third shock. I had to walk toward the chair in this miserable look. Again in Japan, patient can take off their underwear behind the curtain of chair. Therefore, once you took off the underwear, you can straight sit on the chair without seeing the face of doctor. So I sat down on the chair being a frog. I had to look into the eyes of doctor while she is talking, even though opening legs just like a frog. In Japan, there is a saying "A fish on the chopping board" when man is being helpless from danger. I was indeed A FISH ON THE CHOPPING BOARD!! I don't know whether the doctor was aware of my anxiety or not but she put on gloves on her both hands. Then came something instrument inside. Whhhhhhhh, I hate it this moment. Somehow it heats up for a while. I was praying to finish as soon as possible. Then she started massage my breast asking whether I check my breast condition myself. Well, no... I've never taught to do so in my life nor being massaged my breast ny doctor.. Fourth shock. No she sticked in her finger into me. I was surprised but trying to be calm. But same time she start pushing my stomach which is very tickling. I closed my mouth tight and just wishing that time goes by. FIFTH SHOCK!! Which is the biggest!! Ohhhh, so horrible even think about it. After her finger was removed, I thought it's finished but then all of sudden, she sticked in her finger in my axx. I had to scream this moment. I was too shocked and finally tear came out from eyes... I was really hoping for a word "finish" but doctor is still preparing something which looks very very dangerous.. She is now holding big thick stick in her hand. I was speaking to myself, if that is another instrument, I have to die. But, nooooooooo!! She is putting condom on the stick and adding gel on it!!! Please, let me run away from this room!!! " Ok, sixth shock. Of course, she sticked in this bar into me... Whatever.. I thought I could bare anything now.. But actually not. She never let this bar go from me. She showed me the screen and explaining about my body while this instrument is inside. She moved the bar left and right, back to left again, telling me this and this. I don't remember anything she has said. I was just praying to god. Please just let me go. So my first visit to a doctor has finished, remaining trauma.. I had to have a sip of very good coffee to be back in mood of weekend. Next appointment with doctor is November...
Update: I just found this article in Weltwoche

Yuka's Cocktail

Still Winterwonderland

People are all enjoying sun on the street in here Zurich. Zurich had such an unusual winter, snowed only 2 or 3 times and here come already summer, even skipping spring! So, we decided to go back to winterwonderland once again which is accesable from Zurich just by day trip! Get on a train from Zurich to Arth-Goldau and change to cool cog-wheel train. First the train was empty but soon it was full with tourists or other Swiss people who are also looking for lost winter. Slowly slowly, train climb up the mountain and city underneath goes smaller and smaller. Actually, the train is the oldest cog-wheel train in Europe which takes you to the top of mountain. It was like a miracle for the people those age, since the mountain was something to climb up on the horse!
Up on the hill was spetacular panaroma view of Alps!!