We
checked into The Novotel which is not exactly glamorous.
The
other disappointing discovery was that we are in fact ten miles
out of Zurich right near the airport. Apparently it's because
the gig is nearby but I'm sure it's got something to do with
the fact that it's a lot cheaper than it would be in the city
and as we were soon to discover, it is not cheap to live in
this place.
I
spent a couple of hours at the hotel and fortunately we had
a view of the Swiss countryside from our window. John and I
decided to take the train to the city and after getting hopelessly
lost looking for the train station, we ran into an American
medical supplier on the platform called Gary who pointed us
in the right direction.
Zurich
Central Station is huge but we managed to find our way out and
although it was Sunday afternoon there were a lot of people
on the streets. It was about 3.00PM and very cold. We walked
up the main street through the business district and then turned
left and crossed the river into the old section of town.
We
stayed pretty close to the main street and bought some roasted
chestnuts from one of the many vendors on the street. I'd always
wanted to try some and they were excellent. A kind of nutty
sweet potato. We then found a bar/cafe called The Odeon that
had a deco type of feel...and it was warm.
There
was a more "alternative" type of clientele and John
and I spent the next couple of hours drinking half a dozen beers
each and talking, with varying degrees of success, to the people
who sat at the tables next to us.
We
staggered out of there as it got dark and made it back via a
few cobble stoned streets to the station. It wasn't easy finding
the right train but remarkably "American Gary" was
at the station and helped us out again. He's also staying at
The Novotel and invited us down for a few beers.
I
passed Mal in the corridor who was haggling with a Swiss doctor
over the price of a house call (the equivalent to A$200). Dave
our stage guy has been sick for the last couple of days and
has been diagnosed with pneumonia, poor bastard. I hope it's
not contagious because with all of us sharing the bus we could
end up with a very sick band.
I
dropped into the restaurant where the others were having dinner
and people weren't overly happy. It turns out the prices are
so high ($20 for a hamburger) that it was a bit hard to swallow.
Ron had just had a heated altercation with the waiter over the
tiny but costly shish kebab he'd ordered.
He
refused to pay. The chef was called out and he and Ron huffed
and puffed at each other for a while and then we went and had
a few more beers in the bar. Ron and I ended up having a reasonably
heated debate about inspiration in art and repeating your self.
I
actually made a fool of myself by misusing the word "penultimate".
I actually thought it meant "ultimate" and Ron hammered
me, but to his credit, when he saw how embarrassed I was he
dropped it. I like Ron a lot. He keeps you on your toes.
We
ended up deciding that perhaps making the art was the penultimate
and having it appreciated and paid for so you could make a living
out of it and make more, was the ultimate.
Ron,
Mick and I went up to their room for a couple of smokes and
more talk and then we were so dry we went back down to the bar
for a last drink. I wasn't exactly "compus mentis"
at this stage and as another altercation began with another
waiter and the chef was again being summoned, I took my leave.
I get the feeling we're not The Novotel's favourite guests!
I watched a bit of TV (24 channels) but had a headache (I wonder
why) and went to sleep.