Zürich, Day 3

Martin, our locally based ex-member of the Music Group, had invited us for brunch today, which began at 12.30. Before that there was time to walk along the riverside down to Lake Zürich and soak up some more of the glorious weather and the wonderful atmosphere of this great city. The blip is of what we came to describe as 'the other side of the river'. Zürich is built around the lake and along the river Limmat. It's a perfect setting. We were based on the east side of the river, where the trams ply their routes beside the river and where the larger part of the old town is situated. Things are noticeably quieter on the west side, tram routes don't pass through the narrow hilly streets, and there's generally a different pace to life here. I love it. This group of buildings is just beside a bridge which is at the end of the street which goes down from our hotel to the river. I was constantly fascinated by the higgledy-piggledy look of the rooflines and the unibiquitous window shutters.

Brunch with Martin was great, and after that we had time to get back to freshen up and change for the opera, the first actual musical part of the trip. Tonight's performance was of Mussorgsjy's Boris Gudonov. It isn't often performed, and I'm not too familiar with it. I enjoyed it musically and vocally (the role of Boris was sung by Martti Salminen, the greatest living operatic bass), but the production was a bit disappointing. It's a long opera, beginning at 7.30 and not finishing until 10.45, so there was just time afterwards for a quick bite to eat and a few drinks.