Zurich
Well we wanted snow and we got it! As we emerged from Zurich international airport in -4C, the snow flakes started to flutter down in front of us...and it hasn't really stopped since. Snow in Zurich apparently is a rare occurrence happening only once or twice a year if you are lucky. And we are! We have walked Zurich for 2 days as snow has fallen, experiencing an amazing city of Christmas markets, expensive and extensive shops,winding narrow cobblestoned streets, quaint houses, efficient and punctual public transport and of course a rich history. 
Zurich is at the northern end of the Lake Zurichsee and the city is split by the River Limmat into 2sides, surprisingly called the Old and the New Town. We visited the Grossmunster cathedral, built in 1200 and also renown as the starting point of the Reformation in Switzerland. This is the church where the protestant preacher Zwingli spread his message on 'pray and work.' As a result of the reformation many of the church's embellishments that gave a wordly appearance were removed including pictures, altars, sculptures...even the organ! We also visited St Peterskirche that has Europe's largest clock face of 8.7metres diameter and also the Fraumunster, a 13thC church with amazing glass windows by Marc Chagall. 
But Zurich hasn't all been about church or history or markets!  We have eaten bratwurst sausages, Raclette cheese melted onto spuds or bread-yummy... and of course the ubiquitous cheap travellers' fare of cheese, ham and bread and bread, ham and cheese and...But the best bit of all is it does seem like it's the real Christmas here. The familiar Christmas trees, lights, carols, shops full of decorations and presents are the same as we know...the snow seems to make it feel like it's like that elusive Christmas we longed for depicted on those Christmas cards.
I am writing this from the warmth of our hotel room. While it is cold outside it hasn't worried us. Firstly, the inside of the houses are very warm and cosy, and secondly when we are outside we are putting to good use the thick coats, boots, woolly scarfs, hats, gloves and our many layers of merino that we seemed to spend ages collecting! It's been dark since 4.30pm, however outside the lights are twinkling and inviting so we are setting off to hear the singing Christmas tree (where children dressed in red hats and scarves, perched in a specially scaffolded tree sing carols) and see the Raclette vendor, who awaits our return!
JT