Growing up in and near Chicago, a summer time tradition was to go to the beach. Almost every year on my August birthday, we would head to the zoo and then the beach, eating homemade PB&J along the way. We would build sand castles and swim until the skin of my siblings and I were a golden tan. We always slept well those nights.
Here in Zurich, there is a massive lake – Lake Zurich, go figure – and in the summer time, everyone heads to the Lake. Where I used to go to the Beach, in Zurich they go to the Lake. I guess it makes sense, right? I mean there isn’t sand, just banks of grass or rock that lead into the crystal clear water.
Tony and I have visited a few times now and it’s actually really fun. There are always tons of people, music playing from somewhere, and vendors selling water and amazing ice cream. There are free sections, that are always crowded, “Badis” that you can pay for for a bit more privacy, and then certain areas off of the river, one being female-only. Tony and I are cheap so we’ve only done the free option thus far.
I could definitely get used to the views from the lake, especially when facing the alps while swimming. It’s like a picture. It makes me think of when Forrest Gump was telling Jenny about the beautiful things he experienced…I have a feeling the view I get to see would’ve made it into that monologue….
Not to take away from the somber nature of the clip, but the one thing that throws me are the horrible tattoos everyone at the lake seems to have. I feel like everyone swimming next to me had a drunken night in Tijuana and just threw a dart on a wall with a bunch of crappy tattoo options and decided that would be the perfect thing to look at for all eternity. I can’t even count the number of tribal tattoos I’ve seen, coupled with especially hideous skulls, thorns, swords – and that’s on the ladies. I am dying to take a picture but my reaction time is usually too slow. I just stare with my jaw dropped into the lake with the rest of me dumbstruck.
But anyway, the Lake is great and I look forward to many more treks and swim sessions this summer.
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