slow pace zurich

As I arrive at Zurich Main Station in a late afternoon my senses are inundated by a chaotic symphony of sounds. A multitude of people hurry from one platform to another or visit some underground stores for their last evening buys.

To avoid the crowd I head toward Central, crossing the bridge on the Limmat river. To my right I glimpse the bluish water and the rooftops of the old buildings veiled by a light layer of fog. Here a parallel narrow street opens into the old town, known as Niederdörfli (small village). The cobblestones bears the natural sign of countless footsteps and surprisingly the noise fades into a pleasant silence as I continue walking. There is a nostalgic charming atmosphere in the air.

Following a few hundred meters, I turn and proceed along a narrow, uphill side street. The houses along this street are adorned with green-painted wooden shutters on their windows and golden bells on their doors. At one point, I glance out at a small square: a bench sits beneath the still dense trees, a gentle warm light emanates from the lit windows. At one corner an art and photography bookstore is located with its minimalist style. I shield my eyes with my hands around my face and I try to look through the glasses.

It seems like a different universe; the chaos of the city center was just temporary.

Zurich Main Station and nearby area ©esther.nour