Zurich for a Day

I had an unexpected stop in Zurich due to a delayed flight, so I was excited to explore a new city. I've been to Switzerland twice, but never to Zurich, and I had exactly 24 hours. So I hopped on Google and pinpointed the "downtown" area with lots of things to see in a concentrated place. I got a map from concierge and set out by foot. My hotel was not near the town center, but the trams in Zurich make it super easy to get around, so this city gets tops points for public transportation! Within 15 minutes, I was in the center checking out the rich architecture, gorgeous clock towers and churches, and the serene lake. But honestly, the most fun I had was window shopping! This city boasts the best shopping I've seen in a while. Definitely a destination I'd love to come back to~

Note: Switzerland is not on the Euro, they use Swiss Francs. So you have to do a money exchange when coming from neighboring countries. Lucky for me, this trip was all-expenses paid due to my delayed flight. I really love Swiss Air and I suggest traveling with them whenever possible! They really take care of passengers.

Castellane and Trigalance

When exploring the mountains in the South of France, the little towns and villages are a great way to see a lot in a short amount of time. The towns are usually very small, so you can hit a few of them in one day. This trip included Castellane and Trigalance, two adorable towns very close to each other. As soon as you enter Castellane, you'll spot a church high on a mountain cliff overlooking the village. I immediately blurted out, "Can I go up there?" Of course!

After stopping in a cafe to have an espresso (which I only seem to drink in Europe) I set out on this epic, steep hike. Along the way, there are really cool ruins of where the old village used to live. Ravaged by war, all that remains are a few stone walls, but I can easily imagine myself in the 14th century, running through that old town.The ruins really have a presence to them, I could feel an amazing energy there.

After about 45 minutes of hiking through the ruins, I finally made it to the top where the church sits. The outside of the church was beautiful, but the inside was nothing special. But I don't think seeing the church was the prize for all that hiking; making it to the top just felt great and looking down on the town below, which sits near Le Verdone, was just breathtaking. A must for anyone in this area who is able to keep up with a moderate hiking pace.

After all that, it was time to treat myself. Trigalance is town a few minutes drive away from Castellane, and it's so small, you can drive through it in a few short minutes. While the town wasn't much to look at, at the top there lives an ornate caste. And if you read by blog often, you know I just love castles!

So what else to do but visit the castle for a spectacular 5 course meal? This was honestly the best meal of my life. Each course melted in my mouth. One course alone was a sampling of 15 different cheeses! I really love French cuisine and I've just got to learn how to replicate that experience in the States...