films, field trips and faux pas

5 days in Zurich and I'm faring well so far. This is a photo I took in our bathroom just before I headed out on my 1st solo adventure. (Other than to the mall/grocery/Starbucks...)


While browsing on some of the ex-pat sites/blogs I have happened upon some great info. One such bit had to do with places where one could find furniture and home goods that was not either IKEA nor a crazily expensive boutique. As anyone who knows me well can imagine, when I heard that it was like a GoodWill/Salvation Army with lots of art, I had to check it out.


I looked at the still unpacked suitcases and piles I have already created (sorry M. I can't seem to help myself ... don't they say something about brilliant, creative minds thriving in clutter-filled surroundings? Yeah - that's it...) and I decided it all could wait. I was going on a field trip.


I was v. proud of myself as I did not know where this place was, other than the address I found on their site. The tram/bus that would get me there was no where near our apt. or area, but I was bound and determined to find my way. Needless to say, I did. And this is what I found...


Imagine an underground parking lot filled with walls of paintings and other art, chairs, furniture, clothes, electronics, pottery, china, lighting, books and so much more. It was pretty cool. And good that I had about an hour there before Mark arrived, as he can only stand about 10 minutes (tops) in such places. I can't wait to go back on a rainy day with time to browse through the racks and racks of paintings. There was a fairly good selection of books in English and I grabbed an armful which spanned from my chin to as long as my shorter-than-average arms would go. Some good ones too: Vanity Fair, Persuasion, an Evelyn Waugh, a book on how to be a good butler - always important to know - and a handful of others, all for about $18. This may not sound like the deal of the century, but here it is. The only place that sells books in English new in Zurich is known for being incredibly expensive and limited in its selection. This is another oft-visited topic in the threads on the ex-pat sites - where to find affordable books in English.


I half joked about starting a quaint English bookstore when I got here upon initially hearing that the above was true. Maybe it's not such a crazy idea afterall.


We've watched several films since I arrived - both at the theater and at home. I had received Away From Her from the SAG Awards before I left and we watched that over the weekend. Julie Christie is really fabulous and looks amazing. Worth seeing for sure. I'd be v. interested in hearing others' reviews (esp. my film friends - you know who you are...)


We went to the theatre - at $18 a pop! - on Saturday night to see There Will Be Blood. I had been dying to see Daniel Day Lewis' performance. Good film. I don't think it is Best Film. He was amazing as usual, but I do think that his character was somewhat similar to the one he played in Gangs of NY. It's crazy, but they always have an intermission during films here. If you have to use the loo or are a smoker, I suppose its a welcome break, but for me, it was just a jerk out of the reality that had been created on screen. (And they didn't even break between scenes - right in the middle of one....)


I have discovered that itunes has movie rentals and since we have only 5 channels on the TV and only one (CNN Europe) is in English, I decided we might need to try this online rental thing out. After a few aborted and crashed attempts, we were able to watch Mr. Brooks and Live Free and (or?)Die Hard. I think I purchased a cable to connect my laptop to the computer so the next one we can watch on the tv, but the first 2 - after waiting about an hour to load -we watched in bed on the little screen. Cute - yes. Comfortable - for about 10 minutes. Practical - no.


Still no luck in the apt. dept. saw one this afternoon and will see another one tonight. I will feel SO much better when we have that settled. (And when the house in NH sells too.) This is the outside of the place we are in now. The neighborhood is great and the place is growing on me. It's fabulous to be able to walk to work with M. in the a.m. to go to the gym and to be so close to so much but still in a fairly quiet neighborhood.


We went to the American Comedy Theatre on Monday night where they were having a reading of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters. It was fantastic - the reading and the group. V. friendly and happy to have some 'fresh blood' potentially in the group. I am v. excited about the possibility of being involved with this English-based theater group and plan on going every week to the readings, helping backstage during their upcoming production and finding out more about their improv group! I needed that. A little taste of home I guess. Kind of. Well, not really, but being in a room of people who all spoke English was great.


I have downloaded a few podcasts onto my ipod which are basic German and new lessons daily. I find myself thinking in Spanish and even French so maybe that is good? I am going to start immersion German in a week or so.


I talked to my mom today. She is recovering well from her hip replacement. She is amazing. Now 3 parts bionic. Wow. She got her passport in the mail, which is v. exciting. Her v. 1st one! Now get over here, Ellen (and Diane, and Sandy, and Coletti and Pam)!


I think I'm gonna like it here. So far, so good. Now if we can just get in some skiing before the snow is all gone...