Hello From Zurich!

This week I am writing to you from Zurich, Switzerland! It’s my first time to this country and it’s been a phenomenal week taking it all in. One thing that intrigues me about this place is the diversity of people and cultures. Zurich is a hub for businesses as well as travelers (like myself), which influences the languages heard on the street and in the intertwining of varied social circles. Over the past week I’ve had the pleasure of doing some hiking, biking, swimming in the river, and catching up with friends that recently relocated here.

I’m trying to embrace some good weather (while it’s here!) and the good Swiss vibes (like above!). Hopefully this week’s newsletter will help you feel some of that positive energy, wherever you may be.

Songs To Stitch To, Sing To, Get You Through The Week

(I was feelin’ a little funky this week with these summery jams)

East Coast Girl - Cayucas

Party Theme (Bout De Toi Remix) - Anemone

Calma (Remix) - Pedro Capó & Farruko

Set Aside Some Time This Week For Some Self-Care

I. Experiment with refreshing summer beverages: The past few days I’ve really been feeling the heat. It’s funny to say so, as I was dreaming about warm weather during the dreary days of rain in Slovenia, and now my body is slow to adjust. I’ve combated this by crafting some infused water. I recommend mixing and matching with ingredients you like: perhaps grapefruit and mint, lemon and cucumber, basil and strawberry.

II. Try out a new self-love podcast: Tuning in to podcasts can often help me tune in to my own creative fire and life perspectives. I’ve recently been loving a podcast created by a good friend of mine called Not Another Wellness Podcast. This podcast features topics like self-care, entrepreneurship, healing, and movement and I love its authenticity and awesome guests.

III. Take care of your plants, they’ll take care of you!: This weekend I helped a friend redecorate his studio apartment to feel more “him”. He recently relocated to Zurich (alone) and wanted to feel more at home in his new home. One of the things we prioritized was buying a nice big plant. Not only will this add to the soothing aesthetic to the space, but also house plants reduce air pollutants, dust, and carbon dioxide. Also, we agree that living alone can be made a bit better when you have something beyond yourself to share the love with.

Uplifting Things Happening Around The World

I. National Geographic celebrated successes of marine protected areas. For World Ocean’s Day, Nat Geo put together a short but impressive slideshow of “pristine marine protected areas, where our efforts have borne fruit” and I highly recommend giving it a look! There is still SO much to do to protect our oceans and it’s uplifting to see evidence of good work.

II. A newly created platform will help people support pollinators. This news piggy-backs nicely off last week’s newsletter where I shared my experience visiting a bee exhibit in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Bee kind is a website and app that helps people evaluate how “bee friendly” their garden is and educates users how to choose the best plants for pollinators.

III. More women in West Africa are asserting control over their marriages and their lives. I came across this article in the New York Times this week, which discusses the “quiet revolution” that is building among women in historically conservative pockets of West Africa. These days, women are more educated, more likely to be in the workforce, and have higher expectations of what their relationships and marriages should be like.

Sunday Salutations:

Below are three mantras to meditate on this week:

“People grow when they are loved well. If you want to help others heal, love them without an agenda”
Mike McHargue

“My time is the most precious thing on Earth. I don’t have time to spend on people that are not mutually nourishing. I don’t have time to do things out of obligation. And really I don’t have time to doubt myself.”
Mari Andrew

“Learning to be present is crucial. Living life to the fullest is recognizing that the fullest is not always full speed.” Tyler Hubbard

There She Goes

As I mentioned, I recently traveled through Munich, Germany and I’m currently in Switzerland! Here are some highlights I’ve collected to share with you.

Sights that have made me say “WOW”

I. Marienplatz in Munich. If you’ve heard of Munich or been there in person, you know Marienplatz. It’s in the heart of the old town and dates back to the 12th century, where it was the site of medieval markets, celebrations, and tournaments. It’s also well known for the “clock show” that happens each day at 11am and noon. Though I did not see the show, simply being present in the square was enough of a wow factor.

II. The walking paths around Lake Zurich. There is nothing quite like catching views of a beautiful clear lake and the Swiss Alps on the horizon. There are paths all around the lake, which people enjoy on foot and by bike. There are also some hip graffiti areas, bars, restaurants, and parks that line the lake. I could easily spend days simply exploring the curves of the lake’s edge.

III. The overall cleanliness throughout the city of Zurich. Really though, it has a wow factor. The other day we were walking in the underground part of the train station and I was shocked how easy it was to breathe and how the floor was free from the pedestrian trash that I am so accustomed to seeing in the train stations of the US. This is something that the Swiss are very proud of, as locals will go out of their way to pick up the scarce pieces of trash that somehow find their way to the sidewalk. We can’t help but join in and pick up any runaway trash that we see too!

Destination Fun Facts

I. Beer is considered as an official food in Bavaria. I can attest that we saw beer gardens on just about every corner as we walked around Munich last week. On that note, there are apparently over 60 beer gardens in Munich, so it’s certainly an ingrained part of the culture (not to mention a popular summer pastime!).

II. “Blue Laws” are enforced in Switzerland. These laws restrict or ban activities and business operations, effectively enforcing what I like to call designated down day. That means that Saturday is the day to get all your errands done and Sunday is a day to relax, hike, and BBQ with friends. In Zurich, Switzerland (where I am now) the grocery store was a madhouse on Saturday because Monday also happens to be a holiday, which means another designated down day!

III. There are 1,200+ fountains in Zurich that offer free, high-quality drinking water 24-hours a day. They are not what you would describe as typical water fountains, as some of them are regarded as historical pieces of art! Already, I’ve quenched my thirst at various fountains around the city and they definitely add to what makes Zurich such a special place with remarkable quality of life.

Good Eats

I. Croissants for breakfast? You bet! Turns out Europe is a little slow to the breakfast game. Most cafes don’t open until what my partner and I would identify as “mid-morning,” and this can be tough when we are trying to maximize our days without access to a proper kitchen. All of this to say that we found an awesome and OPEN spot in Marienplatz to indulge in German croissants and lattes. Since we ordered our croissants by gesturing, I can’t really tell you exactly what we got. The one on the left seemed to be like a sesame pretzel and the one on the right was a cinnamon sugar. Both delicious and worth it!

II. Rivella is a pretty iconic soft drink that was created in 1952. After seeing various people drinking it in Swiss cafes, I asked my host what the big deal was. Instead of describing it he decided it was best to make me try. I don’t even know how I would have described it if I were him because the flavor is like nothing else I’ve had before. Trying “local delicacies” like this is one of the fun parts about traveling somewhere new. I don’t think I’ll find myself ordering it at a bar but I’m glad to have shared a few sips!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and listen with us today!

We hope you have an excellent week filled with lots of happy stitching.

Be well,

Brooke & Sheila

There She Goes: Germany to Switzerland