We got an early start with breakfast at the hotel and a quick tram lesson from the bellman before heading out to meet Angelo. The plan was to meet him in the “main hall” of the Zurich train station—which turned out to be easier said than done. Between the renovations and the fact that Zurich Hauptbahnhof is one of the busiest train stations in Europe, we quickly realized we had no idea where this so-called “main hall” actually was.
Thankfully, Sheila had connected with Angelo on WhatsApp, and we pivoted to another universally understood meeting point: Burger King.
It was really great to see Angelo. Now 27 years old, he’s no longer the little guy Sheila once looked after as an au pair. He’s just a few classes away from finishing his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zurich—one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. (Albert Einstein studied there, along with a few dozen Nobel laureates.)
ETH was our first stop on the tour Angelo had planned. Before heading up the funicular to the campus, Cedar surprised him with a stash of gummy bears—a treat Sheila remembered Angelo loving as a kid, and conveniently available in a giant jar at our hotel lounge.
Once at ETH, we were greeted—casually—by a robot dog walking along the sidewalk. No big deal 🙂 Inside the main hall, there was a fascinating origami and mathematics exhibit. I got my first glimpse of Angelo’s engineering brain in action when he effortlessly folded an origami frog while reading the instructions upside down. Meanwhile, I was struggling to get past fold two. Impressive young Jedi.
We didn’t have time to search for Einstein’s locker, but just being inside such a hub of science, tech, and innovation was pretty exciting. The buzz around campus was really cool, and I found myself imagining what it would be like taking a class or two.
From there, we strolled through old Zurich to our lunch spot, where we met Angelo’s girlfriend Jasmin. We’d seen a few photos from family holidays, but this was our first time meeting her—and she was lovely. A primary school teacher, she instantly connected with Cedar, which was no surprise.
After a great pizza lunch at Molino’s, it was time for the highlight of the day: the WOW Museum—a museum entirely dedicated to optical illusions. What a perfect introduction to museums for Cedar. From the minute we walked through the door, his mind was blown (ours too). The five of us had a blast exploring the interactive exhibits, laughing and snapping some very weird, very fun photos.
The day wasn’t over yet. Angelo’s younger brother Gabriele was able to take a break from his studies to meet us too. Both he and Angelo are in exam mode, so it meant a lot that he carved out time. Gabby joined us for a train ride and a short hike up to Uetliberg, Zurich’s mountaintop lookout, with a phenomenal view over the city.
After a long and adventure-filled day, we said goodbye to the brothers at the train station and headed back to the hotel for dinner and bedtime.
The Next Morning
We were pleasantly surprised the next morning to be invited out by Angelo and Jasmin for a coffee and morning treat before we left town. It was incredibly thoughtful, especially during such a busy time, and we really appreciated the effort.
We enjoyed coffee, tea, and chocolate croissants while strolling along the lakeside promenade toward the Zurich Opera House. It was a sweet and simple end to a special visit—and a lovely moment to reflect on just how proud Sheila (and I) are of Angelo, Gabriele, and all they’ve accomplished.
After our goodbyes, we dashed back to grab our bags and catch the train home—another scenic ride capped off with a picnic train dinner. It felt pretty great to roll back into Chernex and sleep in our own beds.
One response to “Zurich Part 2: WOW of a Weekend”
Wow looks like an incredible side adventure! The wow museum looks similar to something we went to in Bangkok. Very neat looking. You guys all look like you’re thriving! Keep up the great journalism 😉