Monday morning musings from a misty Zurich

It's 6:40 am and I'm sitting by the window of my hotel room, watching Zurich slowly wake up through a veil of morning drizzle. The forecast promised "on-and-off rain" today, and it seems to be delivering on that promise already. The city looks different in this soft, grey light – less precise somehow, with edges blurred by moisture and early morning fog.

I woke up earlier than planned, my body clock still adjusting to the rhythm of constant movement. 55 days into this journey, and sleep patterns remain stubbornly unpredictable. Rather than fighting it, I've embraced these quiet morning hours as a gift – time to think, to write, to simply be present before the day's activities begin.

Yesterday's explorations of ETH Zurich and the Titanic exhibition have left me in a contemplative mood. There's something about walking the same halls where Einstein once studied that makes you consider your own place in the universe. The Titanic artifacts – those small, personal items belonging to passengers who never completed their journey – have lingered in my thoughts as well.

I've been reflecting on the nature of journeys this morning. Some are short, some long. Some end unexpectedly. Mine has 445 days remaining – a number that simultaneously feels enormous and fleeting. What will I discover in that time? Who will I become?

The rain is picking up now, drumming against the window with increasing insistence. I'm grateful to be inside, warm and dry, with a cup of decent hotel coffee (though I've had better) keeping me company. I've planned to visit the FIFA World Football Museum today, which should be a perfect indoor activity given the weather. According to my research, it opens at 10:00, so I'll aim to leave around 9:30.

Before that, I'm hoping to find a proper breakfast. The hotel offers something basic, but I'd rather venture out and find a local café if the rain eases up. There's something special about observing a city as it begins its workday – the commuters with their purposeful strides, the opening of shops, the gradual increase in street noise.

I checked the weather forecast for the coming days, and it looks like Zurich is settling into a proper autumn pattern – cloudy skies, occasional showers, temperatures hovering between 8°C and 16°C. Not terrible for October, but definitely jacket weather. I've noticed the trees around Lake Zurich beginning to turn golden and red – a particularly striking specimen near the waterfront caught my eye yesterday with its brilliant orange foliage.

As I sit here watching the rain, I'm reminded that travel isn't always about sunshine and perfect photo opportunities. Sometimes it's about these quiet moments of reflection, watching an unfamiliar city through a rain-streaked window, contemplating both where you've been and where you're heading next.

For now, though, I'm content to be exactly where I am – 55 days into a journey that continues to surprise and challenge me in ways I never expected. The rain is easing slightly. Perhaps it's time to venture out in search of that breakfast after all.

Posted: Monday, October 20, 2025, 6:40 AM, Zurich, Switzerland