Christmas Eve day in Zurich

What a splendid day it was - temperatures around 8C!!! and clear blue skies and no wind. How can anyone ask for any better type of day for sightseeing in the winter? In the morning we had a quick coach tour of the town and then set out on foot to see the sights "up close". We were rewarded with a fabulous swan joining us to see what was going on! Swarovski was everywhere in Zurich and their icon is a swan, how could we not indulge in a little photography - and the swan obliged most willingly! Even puffed up to look like the icon for us!

Another spot that tickled my fancy were the really neat cafes - and the warm blankets ready and waiting to be used, should the day turn cooler!

Would love to have stopped and enjoyed a hot chocolate with Swiss Kirsch in it and get wrapped up in the robes!

As we walked along the river we saw another semi-familiar site for Canadians! It was a rowing boat race - not unlike our polar bear dip in a way..... Crazy folks out enjoying the water in the winter!!

No fundraising that we could see - just good fun!

And further on we heard all about the Grosmunster church - the largest in Zurich. Construction started in around 1100 and was completed around 1220. It was situated on the hill overlooking the river and the two towers are famous landmarks in the city. We decided later to go back to the church for the late Christmas Eve service - in German, but hey - how different is the Christmas story in any church? The real tree was decked with candles and as they burned low and eventually burned out, another switch was thrown and the whole tree lit up with fairy lights - a lovely transformation! Here is the church during the day.