GO WEST YOUNG MAN
Isn’t that what they said when the American west needed to be explored? Well, I am doing my version of it now, but the “young man” aspect has got to go, huh? So, how about a revised title:
GO WEST OLD MAN.
Anyway, that is what I am doing this trip. Going west until I go totally around the world.
Leg one is done, a week in Shanghai for a furniture trade show. It was probably the nicest, clearest weather I have experienced there in my many visits. We always stay at the Grand Hyatt, in the Jin Mao tower, which used to be the largest building in Shanghai at 88 floors. Now, with the 105 story Park Hyatt building and the brand new unbelievably giant 128 floor tower each across the street, from a distance the Jin Mao looks tiny. The new one, at least for now, is number two tallest in the world.
Leg two began with a nice flight from Shanghai to Zurich, and a quick overnight in Zurich before picking up my car and starting the driving portion of my Swiss experience. The first leg was back through Zurich, without freeways in the city. Fortunately, it was Sunday morning, so I did not cause too much trouble as I wandered around trying to understand the navigation system’s directions.
After finally getting through the city, I was off to Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, and the hottest. (Trust me, they mean temperature, not anything else.) As far as I could tell, it seemed a bit too much like Seattle in late October. Drizzle, low clouds, people bundled up. You all know that time of the year. But a good base of operations for some of the train trips I wanted to do.
 |
| Seattle to Shanghai |
Shanghai to Zurich ch |
 |
| One of the first store fronts I saw in Chur. Welcome to Switzerland! |
 |
| The 14th century cathedral in Chur. Do not even ask about the clock. Of course it works correctly. |
 |
| Its Switzerland. There will be flowers everywhere. |
 |
| Just a nice old mansion in Chur |