Swiss Post #4: Martin's birthday: A lot of Soul at Bar Sol

We arrived in Zurich early Wednesday evening. Marc’s longtime friend Martin was returning the favor and letting us stay at his apartment. As the following day (Thursday) was Martin’s birthday Martin had plans that Wed. night for dinner with a friend who was unable to attend the big fondue party that was happening Friday night. Got all that?

So, we declined to join Martin and his friend for dinner having just gotten off a long flight but eventually we wondered out into the cool Zurich night and found a beyond cozy Pizzeria and had a total John Patson pizza experience. Sorry, only John,Vinnie and Lisa know what that means, but basically f-ing delicious!

The following day, our first day, after Marc’s dentist appointment (!) while I had “coffee talk” with Martin I hopped on the tram (just like old times when I lived in this city) and met Marc for lunch at the beautiful department store Globus. Afterwards we bought a case of wine and a birthday cake for Fridays party and went back to the apartment to hang the birthday decorations we had brought with us from Target!

When Martin arrived home from his meeting he was delighted to see his birthday decorations and after he blew out the candle on his single piece of decadent chocolate cake and opened his presents (a quite successful hat!) we told him we were taking out to dinner at a little cafe back in our old hood at Manesse-platz (where we used to live) called Bar Sol – a little Spanish restaurant, extremely cozy, a little smokey but always good and always fun. Was it a tram or a bus, how did we get there? Who knew? I felt like we had just gotten off a plane…

Good to be back – Marc ponders the scene at Bar Sol where he’s been going to for years.

Birthday boy Martin checks out the scene.

No fondue at this place, tonight it’s rustic chicken and vegetables.

And to finish a Carajillo – coffee with brandy – DELICIOUS!!!

Definitely gets my stamp of approval – down the neck (but whats new?!)

Seems we got the birthday boys approval too!

Martin liked his hat very much and so did we!

I think I laughed all the way home drunk from the Carajillo and jet lagged. A combination I highly recommend!
Tomorrow night, the real party, Cheese Fondue for 18! Bon Nuit!