Prospect Park Boathouse

Schermerhorn Street and Boerum Place

Phat Albert Building on Flatbush Avenue

The Phat Albert Warehouse building at 495 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225, looks to be getting another tenant (in addition to the vocational training school). Workers have been fixing up the southern storefront and a huge Planet Fitness sign is now visible. It seems that there is now enough demand in the area for a $10/month gym.  It's no surprise that the four clocks surrounding the building's tower still don't work. Maybe the presence of a popular corporate chain will finally force the building's owners to fix this eyesore.

Tudor Style in Brooklyn along Chester Court

Switzerland from the Air

Swiss Raclette and Fondue

Here, a friend and I share Swiss raclette and fondue at a restaurant in Zürich, Switzerland. According to my Swiss friend, one traditionally heats the entire block of raclette cheese, then uses a knife to scrape the melted portion over potatoes, ham, vegetables, etc.

For simplicity, smaller tabletop raclette ovens contain small cast iron hot plates which perfectly melt the raclette cheese for pouring.

Fondue and raclette are essentially "fancy" ways of eating traditional European foods covered in cheese, something not at all alien to American taste buds. The primary difference between American and Swiss fare is the quality. In the U.S., people will melt cheap Velveeta or another quasi-cheese over, well, pretty much everything. In Switzerland, the cheese is actual cheese, and of excellent quality.

An entire bag of small boiled potatoes was given to me for my raclette order: "Gschwellti" (Swiss German) or "Pommes de Terre" (French).

This restaurant offered several choices for the raclette--basic, or with ham or another featured item. I opted for the country ham, which was delicious. There were also pearl onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, gherkins (pickles), applesauce (I think), and miniature corn cobs.

Here, you can see my Swiss friend gleefully taking a break from devouring the fondue to trying my raclette.

I have a standard American "gimme more" appetite, and still found this platter of raclette and pot of fondue hard to finish. But no trip to Switzerland would be complete without trying these traditional Swiss food dishes.

Inside a Tram Car in Zürich, Switzerland

The trams in Zürich are remarkably clean and timely. Like Swiss trains, they operate on a trust system. Passengers purchase tickets from vending machines at tram stops. These tickets are not checked when one boards. However, inspectors randomly hop on board to check passengers' tickets, and issue a fine for those caught riding without one.

Monitors mounted above display route information and the names of upcoming stops.

The windows are large and provide an excellent view of the city.

There is plenty of room for travelers bringing along luggage, etc. Bikes can be transported on trams for an additional fee.

Mount Uetliberg in Zürich, Switzerland

Here are views of Mount Uetliberg in Zürich, Switzerland, as my friend and I hiked up, and viewed the region from the top. One can essentially see all of Lake Zürich.

The Swiss are a bit more accustomed to hiking up mountains than Americans. My reward was hot chocolate at the hotel on top of this mountain.

Woods on Mount Uetliberg in Zürich, Switzerland

Plaque on Mount Uetliberg in Zürich

This plaque commemorates Dr. Walter Schadelin (1873-1953) and is located along a shady trail on Mount Uetliberg, overlooking Zürich, Switzerland.

Hot Chocolate in the Alps

Hot chocolate at the Hotel Eden Montana.

JFK Airport at the AirTrain Station