Cruising Lake Zurich

10th May 2009

Moored ship in Bürkliplatz about to leave for RapperswilThis morning we decided to head down to Rapperswil on the ships of Lake Zürich. With good weather, the ships on the Swiss lakes are a most pleasant way to spend an afternoon or a lunch-time taking luncheon and merely watching the scenery go by with a glass of wine in one hand an a copy of the Weekend FT in the other.

The Lake Zürich region, especially around the Stäfa, area is known in the area for its white wine, which exactly what I had to accompany luncheon - a Riesling x Sylvaner 2008 from Martin Bachmann-Wirth Weinbau in Stäfa alongside a lunch of medallions of pork in a morel sauce and veg. Dining aboard ship watching those very vineyards slowly go past is pretty close to what Sunday afternoons could be all about. The meal itself was quite enjoyable, decent sauce, and the meat nice and the wine made a decent accompaniment. Either would have been fine on their own but seemed better together. Another glass and a dose more sun and I would have been right at home!

View of the Kloster and Castle of Rapperswil from a ship on the LakeOne of the more picturesque parts of the trip from Zürich to Rapperswil is actual approach to Rapperswil itself. The Kloster, originally hidden behind the now demolished city walls, is most clearly visible. The castle for much of the approach, at this time of year, is hidden behind trees in full leaf and only becomes more fully visible as the ship comes close to docking. It's almost like watching a short movie of a town being, piece by piece, revealed to you with bits tantilisingly poking out before being more fully revealed.

Two hours after leaving Zürich, we had arrived in Rapperswil which, especially when it's nice out, is a vibrant little city. The squares and waterfront are excellent places to sit back for a while with a cup of coffee and people watch. Which is exactly what we did before, sadly, jumping on the train back to town.

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