This post is long overdue. But I have an alibi. I'm old.
I just turned 60 years old this year.
I had to admit I forgot that I started this post in March of this year, right after I came back from my trip to Europe. That was 10 months ago to be exact. Well, what I actually mean is, I wrote the TITLE (only) for this blog post, then I remembered I had to do some errands. So, I left to do the errands. I came back. Watched Netflix and then, this post became a history. Well... almost.
In my defense, I'm now a Senior Citizen!
Anyway, 60 years old? I can't believe I made it this far. I didn't even know how I got here nor what I had for breakfast today, let alone where I left my car key again for the hundredth time. Well technically, given my age now, I do have some legit senior moments that come and go and I bet it will get crazy overtime. But looking back from where I am now, it was indeed a long journey of both happy and sad existence. The good thing though, my 60 years old body doesn't feel like it. Thanks to Yoga.
Behind me are the two of the four main iconic churches along the Limmat River in Old Town (Altstadt) Zurich, the Fraumunster (blue roof tower) and St. Peterskirche (Europe's largest clock face on its tower).
On the other side of the Limmat River are the Grossmunster Church (The Twin Tower, which is under renovation at the time of my visit) and right next to it is the Wasserkirche Church. Those are the other two of the four churches along the Limmat River and across the Munsterbruke Bridge.
A lot of things and phenomena happened in the past 10 years. When I turned 50 years old in 2015, I was still married then. I also had the chance to go home to my motherland, the Philippines in 2017 for the first time since I migrated in 2007. I also attended my Bestfriend's Wedding that year. A few years after that, my brothers from-the-same-mother came to visit me here in the US and we had a blasts touring the East Coast for 10 days. Times fly so swiftly. In a span of over a decade more things happened. I got divorced in 2019 and spent Christmas in the Philippines with my family. The very last Christmas we spent with Japol. I gained more friends but I also lost a few loved ones. I left Maine in 2022 and moved to the West Coast. I became a Certified Yoga Teacher, worked as a PreK teacher and now as a Para-Educator in one of the best school districts in the State of Washington for 3 years now. It was such a crazy but delightful journey.
Now back to my birthday shenanigans. This year, I celebrated my birthday SOLO. I really wanted to celebrate my birthday all by myself this time. Just me, I and myself. Why not? I was born solo so I want to celebrate ME, solo too.
Walking away from the Christian Louboutin Flagship Store along the Limmat River.
It was not an impulsive decision. In fact, I did a lot of research about the place where I want to celebrate it. So I watched a lot of tips on YouTube about the place --- what-to-do, what-to-avoid, the top 10 activities, places to see, food to eat, etc. I took down notes, and clipped photos of the must-see places so I won't miss out on the important things about the place where I plan to go to. IN OTHER WORDS, everything about Zurich, Switzerland.
YES, I opted out from the extravagant celebration like what we see in social media nowadays. I wanted it to be quiet. No five-star hotel venue (can't afford that). No choreographed dance presentation with backup dancers (don't have time for rehearsals and too cheap to hire a choreographer). No custom-made gown (don't want to waste money on a dress that I can't wear to go to Walmart). No lavish yummy food buffet tables and wine bar (I don't do Sharons). No drama (Amen to that). In other words, low key. Well, kinda. Instead, I just reserved a table for one at Swiss Chuchi Restaurant and had myself the famous Fondue for dinner.
My very first Fondue Dinner at Swiss Chuchi Restaurant.
The first Fondue Parlor in Zurich's Old Town, established in 1953.
Fondue is a classic Swiss communal dish made of Gruyère and Emmental melted with wine, garlic, and sometimes kirsch (cherry brandy), served with bread cubes and in my case with steamed veggies on the side.
Anyway, one thing I realized... when you're getting older, your priorities change and your likes and dislikes can be switched, totally forgotten or create new ones. You tend to navigate to a different direction. Directions that when you were younger had never crossed your mind. Even your hobby takes a totally different alternative. You don't seek excitement like it used to be. You don't seek validation like an Olympic game. You just want to go to work, eat your probiotics, do some yoga, and watch K-Drama. Then go to bed minding just your own business. And that's how I operate now, so far.
Just doing the mandatory Yoga Pose for a quick break from walking, of course. Behind me is the amazing view of Old Town (Altstadt) Zurich and Limmat River. A vantage point from Lindenhof Square
Speaking of Korean Drama, I know it has been a rave for a while now. But it didn't bother me when it started taking the world like storm maybe because I hate subtitles. May brain bleeds when I have to read subtitles and focus on the scene at the same time. That's not for me. So no matter how the K-Drama craze stormed the world with great spectacle back then I never watched it. Until... a friend of mine wrote a lengthy review of the Netflix phenomenon... Crash Landing on You on Facebook. She was a great writer to be honest with you. The fact that she was able to catch my attention and my curiosity, she is indeed good. So I watched it... OUT OF CURIOSITY.
I was so curious and gave it a shot. My plan was to watch just the first episode. Little did I know it didn't have a "disclosure" that I will get hooked to it. Yes, I watched the entire season (16 episodes) for 24 hours straight, taking a break only to go to the bathroom, make something to eat and rehydrate. And yes, I watched the same movie over and over again every weekend for 3 months straight. And the fact that aside from the subtitle, it was dubbed in Tagalog (my native language) too. That made me realized I was doomed!
The streets of Old Town (Altstadt) Zurich are mostly paved in cobbled stones, giving it a unique medieval charm.
The next drama I watched was my SOLO 60th Birthday Celebration in Zurich, Switzerland last March where I recreated my own K-Drama, Filipino version, that is.
So, 4 months before my birthday, I booked my flight and hotel accommodation in Zurich, Switzerland without telling anyone except my brother Gary and a couple of people who are on my need-to-know-basis for security reasons. Everything was highly classified. I filed a couple of personal days off the week prior to my departure and sent my itinerary to my emergency contacts so that whatever happened to me, they know where to find me or at least they can provide a "lead" for investigation. My plan was strategic. I'm well prepared.
Beautiful, brave and crazy Me. Just chilling after my big birthday lunch.
I flew from SeaTac to Zurich for 18 hours and had 3 hours layover in Heathrow Airport. Then I flew another 1 and half hours on my connecting flight to Zurich. I took the train from the Airport to get to Saint Georges Hotel in Weberstrasse. I was so grateful that Zurich airport was easy to navigate and the train ride was efficiently smooth. It took me about 30 minutes to get to my destination. I had to walk about 5 minutes from the train station to my hotel. It was already 8 pm when I arrived, The street was well illuminated but since I was in an unfamiliar territory I had to ask a local for directions because I always doubt google maps. Maybe it's just me or my trauma. Anyway, Swiss people are very kind and accommodating and they speak English. So asking direction was a breeze. The lady even brought me right on the door step of my hotel. Got checked in right away and in less than a minute I was already safely checking the bathroom of my hotel room.
In the background is Saint Georges Hotel in Weberstrasse where I stayed during my trip which was
constructed in 1895. It was my home away from home during my birthday vacation.
Zurich, Switzerland is indeed one of my dream travel destinations but never have I imagined that the urgency to go there was to recreate a few of the scenes in that K-Drama - Crash Landing On You. I have never been this crazy in my entire 60 years of existence. But doing it opened up my eyes to a new level of awareness of my own strength and aspiration. As if living a solo life after divorce and doing things my way, in my own terms, pleasing no one but me, and celebrating life's little wins alone, are not enough proofs that I am living my best life. But why do I feel that this K-Drama influenced my life choices now? And why does it feel crazy that I traveled thousand of miles across the globe just to feel the romance of the scenes just for a few moments feeling like I am Yoon Seri.
Ahhh, the curse of K-Drama. I hate it! Glad this bold move didn't maxed out my credit card.
Crossing the Limmat River through Munsterbrucke Bridge strutting like Joon Seri hoping to find Captain Ri.
.jpeg)
Just like in the K-Drama series, I had to do the iconic walk of Lindenhof Square overlooking Limmat River, a historic public square or hill in the Old Town offering city views where Joon Seri was hoping to find Captain Ri.
Posing in the middle of the Munsterbrucke Bridge with the iconic Fraumunster Church in the background where Captain Ri was with Seo Dan when Captain Ri was still in College as a Piano protégée.
So yeah, I went to Zurich to have a photo on the same spot where the main characters in the K-Dram series had their iconic scenes, I did all these during my 3-day 60th Birthday in Zurich, Switzerland all by myself. I didn't waste one minute of that chance to enjoy myself and the unfamiliar place I was in. I took in the vibe, enjoyed the scenario I was immersed in. And I appreciated the sound and sight with leveled up freedom and bravery.
Of course, I have to get a couple of shots on the exact spot where the opening scene of the K-Drama Crash Landing On You was filmed. It was where the couple passed each other at the Lindenhof Square.
At this point, I can say that I did have a blast doing my own version of CLOY minus my own version of Captain Ri. My experience is something I will cherish as long as I can remember and even if I forget 10 years from now, I have this blog to remind me that I was once brave, beautiful, and crazy. Although I didn't have the chance to go to Iseltwald on Lake Brienz where the Piano Scene was shot, I am still grateful that I'm blessed with good health and wealth to be able to do something so beautifully drastic and unforgettable.
For now, I'm laying low on K-Drama before I get so immersed again into it that I might take another expensive trip to reenact scenes that might break the bank.
0 Comments