Ten things I learned in Küsnacht…

Featured photo is of that amazing soup we had at Falken last week. I need to seek out a recipe for that. It was a mind blower!

It might not be easy to come up with ten things I learned in Küsnacht, since it is a part of Zürich, and this was our third trip to that city since 2021. But, I’m going to do my best, because people seem to like these quick and dirty wrap ups of our travels. So here goes…

10. Sonne Hotel is very convenient to the C.G. Jung Institute.

When Bill and I visited Zürich over the summer, we looked into book the Sonne Hotel, since it was so highly recommended by others. It was booked solid! But now that we’ve stayed there, I know firsthand how easy it is to walk to the Institute. Tina Turner’s former estate, Villa Algonquin, is also very close!

9. The Junior Suite at the Sonne Hotel is huge, and offers lovely views of Lake Zürich.

I’m glad I sprang for that room, if only so I could watch the boats on the lake. I could have sat in that room all day and watched activity on the lake and the changing weather. I don’t think I would have ever gotten bored.

8. The Stadt Rapperswil steamboat is worth the price of admission.

When we decided to take our lake cruise last week, we didn’t know that we would be on the Stadt Rapperswil, which is a steamboat that was built in 1914. It was really fun to take that particular vessel around the lake. I also thought it was more comfortable, because instead of hard plastic chairs, there were wooden benches to sit on. But it’s not a shuttle boat, so if you just want to go from point A to point B, you should take a shuttle boat.

7. Sometimes being a go-getter pays off!

Both Bill and the dark haired lady at our hotel showed me that sometimes in life, you just need to go for it! Exciting things can happen that will change your life.

6. Küsnacht is relatively peaceful.

Compared to Seefeld, where we stayed over the summer, Küsnacht is like an oasis of calm. I noticed there was a lot of traffic there, but it wasn’t nearly as noisy!

5. It’s fun to have a boat stop right outside of your hotel.

I loved that we could hop on and off the boats right outside our hotel. Talk about convenient!

4. Falken is currently my favorite restaurant in Küsnacht.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at this restaurant, which is within a six minute walk of the Sonne Hotel. I learned what Cassata and Crema Catalana are, and now I want to learn how to make creamy red pepper based soup that tastes of nachos…

3. Don’t try to smuggle meat, tobacco, or booze into Switzerland.

We weren’t trying to do that, but we’ve heard horror stories of people who were caught doing it. And we were stopped by a border guard on the way in, wanting to know if we had any contraband.

2. If you dine in Switzerland, you will be able to tell where everything you eat was sourced.

I noticed on all the menus, there were notes about where everything came from. Perhaps your fish was from Germany, or you ordered a steak from Ireland. I guess that’s a local law. Maybe it has to do with this…

And 1., Every time I go back to Switzerland, I like it a little bit more.

The first time I visited Switzerland, back in 2008, I didn’t really like it that much. I thought it was clean and beautiful, but something about it seemed a bit soulless. But since then, I’ve been back a bunch of times, and every time I go back, it appeals more to me. Maybe it has to do with having a lot more money now than we did in 2008… But then, I guess the C.G. Jung Institute might change that for us… not to mention the U.S. government.

Well, that about does it for my Küsnacht series. I did enjoy visiting Switzerland again. I have a feeling I’ll be getting to know it even better, if things go the way they look like they’re going. But we’ll see what happens. For now, I’m grateful for the memories of this past trip, and the beautiful photos and videos I managed to take, not to mention the people we met and the smiles we enjoyed. There seemed to be even more smiles than ever this time. I hope it’s a good omen.

Thanks for reading!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part four)

By Saturday morning, I was starting to look forward to going home. But we still had a full day in Switzerland and no big plans for how to spend the time. Bill said the weather would probably be turning later in the day, but on Saturday morning, it was sunny and temperate.

We went down to breakfast and sat in the first dining room, as the breakfast area was full of people. Obviously, Friday was a big day for people checking in, as the room was bustling! The family with the German Shorthaired Pointer was also there. I got a kick out of the “grandpa”, a funky guy maybe Bill’s age, who was rocking red socks and bright orange shoes. Once again, I admired their beautiful dog, who was lying on the floor near their table. We heard him and another dog before we went down to eat. Later, we saw the family with a Schnauzer, who I guess wasn’t as laid back as their GSP was.

The table where we sat wasn’t the best, since people kept coming in and out. But at least no one slammed into my back, and I didn’t have to look at myself in the mirror!

After breakfast, we decided we’d just hop on a boat and take another boat cruise. Yes, it’s true that we took a boat cruise when we visited in July, but I really didn’t feel like going into the city and pounding the pavement. I wasn’t in the mood for crowds. Given that the boat stop was just outside the hotel’s doors, it was just too perfect to get on a long lake cruise and take photos. So, that’s what we did… but the coolest thing about that decision was that we took the 12:47 cruise from Küsnacht, and it wasn’t like the last boat we were on. We lucked into taking the 100 year old steamboat “Stadt Rapperswil”. In almost all ways, it was better than the last lake cruise we took, back in early July.

A short video showing the machinery of the boat, as well as a later boat in the swells of the lake during a storm!

I took some photos on our four hour cruise, which started and ended at the Küsnacht stop, rather than Bürkliplatz, which is the big pier near the inner city of Zürich. While we were waiting for our boat to arrive at 12:47, we noticed the dark haired lady from breakfast. I don’t think she saw us.

There was also an American couple, the female half wearing a Budapest sweatshirt. When we got on the boat, she annoyed the purser by asking if they could get off in one stop, as they wanted to go to Zürich. What they’d hoped for was a shuttle boat going to the city, but they got on the long cruise going to Rapperswil, instead. The guy was willing to work with them, but I could tell he was irritated as we paid our first class fares. This cost about 86 francs (for both of us), but it was basically a pass for ALL boats and trains until 5AM Sunday morning.

The below photos were taken before the weather turned to shit. We had lunch onboard. I made the mistake of having a burger, which I didn’t enjoy, as it didn’t taste like the Angus beef it was supposed to be. I think Bill had a salad. I wish I had, too. At least the fries were good. I didn’t finish the burger. The Stadt Rapperswil was much more comfortable than the other boat we were on, back in July. I really liked the bench seating.

We were getting close to Küsnacht when it started to sprinkle. We responded by moving inside, sitting at the end of the dining area with a half liter of white wine. Looks like Halloween is catching on in Switzerland, as there’s a costume party planned for the boat…

We made dinner reservations for a restaurant in Küsnacht called Falken. To be honest, I kind of wasn’t in the mood to go there. The weather was bad, and I was kind of wanting to just spend a quiet evening in… But, as it turned out, Falken was a really excellent restaurant, well worth the trip in the rain. By the time we started walking there– maybe about a six minute walk from the hotel– the rain had mostly ended.

It’s good that we made reservations, because the restaurant was pretty full, a good sign of its quality. And Bill and I both really enjoyed the food. He had scallopine with a light port sauce and a side of roasted potatoes, and I had chicken with lemon and garlic and a side of herbed risotto. I loved the “amuse” they sent out, a rich, creamy red pepper soup that had kind of a “nacho” flavor. I’d love to learn how to make it for the rainy, cold weather that is coming soon. And the best part of the meal was dessert– Crema Catalana for me, and Cassata with maraschino for Bill. Falken was definitely my favorite of the restaurants we visited on this trip.

We finished up dinner at a reasonable time and walked back to the hotel. Then we got into bed and listened to a video made by Bill’s daughter. We responded to her while in bed– at about 9:30 PM– and then enjoyed our final slumber at Hotel Sonne.

The next post will be the last one of this series, and it will include the story of the most “surreal” thing that happened on this trip!

C.G. Jung, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part two)

Featured photo is of the C.G. Institute in Küsnacht.

On Thursday morning, we woke up to partly cloudy skies. I looked out the window and saw a group of youngsters emerging from the shuttle boat. I assumed they were headed to school, and for a moment, I thought about how interesting it must be to take a boat to school every day. Below are a few photos I took before bed on our first night, and the first photo I took on Thursday morning…

We got dressed and went down to the Gaststube for breakfast. The Sonne offers a generous buffet with prosecco and juices, but they’ll also cook eggs to order. They even offer Eggs Benedict for an 18 Franc upcharge. Maybe I should have tried them one morning, but I was too enthralled by the Swiss breads. They also brought out little smoothies most mornings. We didn’t get one on our last day, but I think it was because some of their help was a bit incompetent.

*These little biscuits were part of a welcome gift in the room.*

About halfway through breakfast, a tall, very slender, dark haired woman came into the breakfast area. She was obviously American, and I noticed she was very kind and polite to the wait staff. Every request was buttressed by a “please” and “thank you”. At some point, she struck up a conversation with us. She told us she came from Los Angeles and had booked the Sonne after having to move from her original hotel in Zürich. I think she said her previous hotel was undergoing renovations, as was the Sonne. She mentioned she usually works from home for her family business, which apparently takes her to conventions around the world. She also said it was her first time in Switzerland, and apparently, she was smitten with it. She even mentioned how clean the air was… I thought that was amazing, since she was in the city. Imagine her reaction to the Swiss countryside!

During our conversation, we learned that she’d be checking out the same day we were. She also complimented me on my blue eyes! I told her she should take one of the long cruises around the lake and get some photos.

Before long, we had to excuse ourselves, because Bill needed to get to Seefeld for his two interviews. As we were saying goodbye, I noticed a distinct look of discomfort on the woman’s face. She grimaced as if maybe she had stomach pain. I said, “Do you need the ladies room? There’s one right there.” I pointed to the WC in the dining room.

She said she was okay, but I did notice that she slipped in there as we were leaving. I hope she was okay. I got the sense that maybe she was a bit high strung and/or maybe had digestive issues, although she definitely enjoyed the breakfast buffet. She was very thin, but otherwise seemed healthy and rather joyful.

Bill and I said goodbye to the lady, and I decided to take a walk and take some photos… There was a peaceful park near the hotel, where I saw lots of ducks and a hungry swan. I sat there and watched the lake for awhile, enjoying the peace and quiet as I doomscrolled Facebook…

I spent a couple of minutes observing this Swiss swan…

While I was sitting in the park, I heard the joyful shrieks of small children, all wearing their bright orange safety sashes and matching blue baseball caps. The small group of youngsters were shepherded by two women. They all held hands until they got near the trees, where they were allowed to play. It looked like maybe they were collecting leaves to observe. The kids were so cute, and seemed so carefree and happy just to be alive, enjoying the beautiful fall morning by the lake. I wonder what it must be like to be a child in Switzerland. It seems idyllic to me, but maybe looks are deceiving.

After a bit more time in the autumn sunshine, I decided to head back to the hotel. Bill sent me a message letting me know that his first interview had gone well. I decided not to have lunch, because after an hour break, he’d have his second interview, and then be done for the day. I did some reading and writing, and chatted with our friend, Meg, who was offering suggestions on things to see. Before long, Bill sent me another message to tell me he’d finished his second interview and was on his way back to the hotel. He said his interviews had gone so well that one analyst invited him back on Friday, so he could get both of the required chats done with him.

By the time he got back, we were both starved. We decided to walk to Küsnacht’s centrum, such as it is. Getting there involved walking through an underpass and up a hill, then passing through another underpass that ran past the train station and the COOP (supermarket). I was getting really cranky as it got later. Just when I was about to go into a supermarket to buy a Snickers or something, we noticed a cafe called World of Bonnie. I had noticed it on the other side of the train tracks, too.

I looked up World of Bonnie, because it was kind of an unusual place. This business is part cafe, part gym, part wellness and beauty salon. You can go there, work out, get your nails done, sit in a sauna, and then have lunch! Only in Switzerland, right?

We walked into the cafe, and a handsome, smiling young man invited us to have a seat. The place was mostly empty, except for a couple of men who were rather loudly discussing investment opportunities in Bermuda. One of the men was particularly animated and sounded a bit like a shyster.

I noticed the menu was heavy on healthy options– smoothies, sandwiches, quiches, and the like. They also had beer, and that’s what Bill and I had. I ordered a delicious club sandwich that had to be eaten with a knife and fork. Bill had a wrap. Both were really good, and the waiter was friendly and didn’t rush us. Like most of the Swiss people we encountered, he thought we were “on holiday” and was intrigued when we said we live in Germany. After I ate, I felt a lot better, and my mood was much more agreeable. The waiter beamed at Bill when he gave him a ten franc tip. He said, “This never happens in Switzerland!” Bwahahahaha! They probably don’t get a lot of Americans there.

We decided to make dinner reservations at a restaurant called Steinburg, which was very close to our hotel. I didn’t think I’d be too hungry for dinner, after I ate that big club sandwich for a late lunch. I was right. Steinburg turned out to be a nice place for dinner… Bill had veal cheeks and I had more fish– salmon trout on that occasion. I didn’t have a starter, but did opt for a “Colonel” for dessert– lemon sherbet with vodka. Bill had pistachio ice cream with cherries. We also enjoyed another bottle of Swiss wine– this time a red blend from the same winery as the previous night’s bottle.

Steinburg was a pleasant place for dinner, with views of the lake. I noticed another smiling face there, as a man who had originally been seated by the window moved to a table near us. His lady friend showed up a bit later, and seemed very happy together. That was a theme of our trip to Switzerland this time. I noticed a lot of people who seemed relaxed and contented. I took it as a good sign.

Perhaps against our better instincts, we stopped by the hotel bar for a quick nightcap. I was amused by the provocative artwork in there, along with the 90s era pop music. The bar looked like the bow of a boat!

After our nightcap, we went to bed. Although I had been looking forward to having a full day with Bill, I was glad he’d have the chance to have his second interview with one of the analysts. I decided to go with him and wait in the waiting room, rather than hang out alone in the hotel. More on that in the next post.

Baden-Württemberg, C.G. Jung, Education, short breaks

Four nights of “Sonne” in Switzerland… (part one)

If you’ve been following my travel blog, you might know that my husband, Bill, has an interest in the Jungian approach to mental health. For the past few years, he’s been undergoing psychoanalysis with a Jungian therapist, reading a lot of books about Jung’s theories, and auditing courses at the C.G. Jung Institute in Küsnacht, Switzerland. For about a week over this past summer, we even spent a week in Zürich, so he could attend the summer intensive course at the Institute.

Although I earned a master’s degree in social work, and had been in therapy for a years before I met Bill, I have never been particularly interested in Jungian psychology, but it’s something that fascinates Bill. This year, he decided he wanted to apply for admission at the Institute and potentially become a qualified analyst himself. This is something he feels driven to do, and I’ve noticed that he’s a lot happier and surer of himself since he started therapy. So, aside from the fact that it’s his life, and his money, I am all for Bill becoming a Jungian analyst, if that’s what will make him happy. The bonus is, I get to tag along with him to Switzerland.

For this visit, we found ourselves at the Sonne Hotel in Küsnacht, a lovely establishment on the banks of Lake Zürich. The people Bill knows from the Institute have always suggested a stay there, because it’s within walking distance of the Institute, and Carl Jung himself used to like to drink beer there. We were unable to book a room at the Sonne Hotel over the summer; it was completely booked during our dates. However, for this visit, I was able to book a junior suite, which was a real treat, as the room was huge, and had amazing views of the lake.

The funny thing is, over the summer, Bill was traveling to Küsnacht to attend classes, and we were staying in part of Zürich known as Seefeld. This time, Bill had appointments with two Jungian analysts– both of whom have offices in Seefeld– but we stayed in Küsnacht! It didn’t matter that much, though, as the two areas are easily connected by train and tram, boat, or car.

Bill had already traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland to speak to one of the three analysts who each needed to interview him twice before he can enter the Institute. He did a second online interview with the analyst in Lausanne, and then scheduled one interview with each of the other two analysts in Seefeld. As we were preparing to go to Switzerland for the fourth time this year, Bill was planning yet another visit for later this year, as one of the two Seefeld based analysts prefers in person interviews. Still, in spite of the six total interviews he needed, Bill was very excited about getting started with the process of starting this program, which attracts people from around the world.

On Wednesday, October 1st, we loaded up the Volvo and headed down to Switzerland, with a stop at the Birkenhof to drop off Noyzi and Charlie. Noyzi especially loves going there. We had to wrap his left hind leg, because he has a touch of dermatitis.

Noyzi loves his “second home”! He barked all the way there!

Once the dogs were dropped off, we headed south. The GPS sent us down A81, which passes through our former stomping grounds of the Stuttgart suburbs. On the way there, we stopped for gas and a pee, and I was astonished to see parts of a windmill loaded on trucks. It’s hard to fathom how huge those things are when you’re driving or flying, but up close, they really are enormous!

We ended up stopping for lunch in Herrenberg, a little town not far from either of the villages we lived in when we made the Stuttgart area our home. Bill parked at the Bronn Tor parking garage, and when we exited, we found ourselves immediately confronted by Ristorante Rado, an Italian place we somehow missed on our many previous stops in Herrenberg. I’m not sure when this restaurant opened, but we left the Stuttgart area about seven years ago, so it was our first time visiting. I’m pleased to report that the food and service were excellent. It sure beat the hell out of eating at McDonald’s or Burger King, or having a cheap schnitzel at a rest area!

After lunch, we got back on the road, and passed a few familiar sights, including the huge elevator testing tower in Rotweil…

You never know when the border patrol is going to stop you for a check. This time, the Swiss did stop us, wanting to know if we were bringing meat, alcohol, or cigarettes into the country. We said no… or, actually Bill said something along the lines of “ohne” (without), when he probably meant “kein” (no). In spite of the flub, the Swiss guard got the message and waved us on to Zürich.

We arrived in the city in the late afternoon, and after several nervewracking moments navigating through rush hour, we finally pulled in at the Sonne, where there was a prime parking spot waiting for us. I snapped a few photos along the way. Sometimes they turn out okay.

*I spotted a man buying a glass of wine at this imbiss, which he no doubt meant to enjoy lakeside.*

A tiny young lady welcomed us to the hotel and checked us in, assigning us to room 310, which is a junior suite located in the hotel’s tower overlooking the lake. The door to the room is halfway down a flight of old stairs between the second and third floors. It would not be suitable for people who can’t manage stairs, but for us, it was a very nice place to spend four nights. When I compare it to where we stayed in Budapest last month, it was quite an upgrade! Of course, it also cost about twice as much per night! At this writing, prices start at 435 CHF per night. But that’s still cheaper than a lot of hotels in downtown Zürich!

The bathroom in the suite was a bit strange. Its walls didn’t go all the way to the high ceiling. It also had a bath/shower combo, which meant climbing over the tub to shower. But there were good toiletries, and the toilet was separated by a door. The room also had generous closet space, a small fridge, a TV, and a desk I could actually use. I also liked the mattress, which, for once, wasn’t way too firm!

The best part of the room was its windows, which were on three sides and offered stunning views. Of course, since they overlooked the boat stop for Küsnacht, they were also a source of noise. But that was a minimal complaint, especially given how noisy Seefeld was when we stayed in July, and Budapest last month. Compared to those two places, Küsnacht was blissfully peaceful.

We decided to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. We were lucky to be able to do that, as right now, one restaurant is closed for renovations, and the other closed yesterday for two weeks, as the ventilation system is overhauled. Bill and I both enjoyed fish dishes in the hotel’s charming Gaststube. We also had Swiss wine… a local blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Sylvaner.