Lindt and Lake Zurich

This morning we had breakfast at our Airbnb and then managed to find Aunt Rennie at the station to take the train and then a bus to the Lindt-Sprungli museum experience in Kilchberg.  After a 20 minute ride, we arrived and were soon smelling chocolate in the air as we rounded the corner up the hill from the bus stop.

Upon entering, we checked in for our museum tour and then started learning about the harvesting process and history of chocolate.  Halfway through the tour, after taking in some virtual dioramas extolling the virtues of Swiss industry, we hit the jackpot.  

First, there were vats of molten white, milk, and dark chocolate to sample at our leisure.  None of us could control ourselves. 

But then, there was more - a machine that dropped samples of various pure and flavored chocolate bars into our hands on demand with no limit.  This was, undoubtedly, the boys’ favorite moment in their lives thus far. 

Finally, near the end of the tour, we learned about how Lindor truffles are made and then got to pick free samples of 8 various different truffles — each.  You better believe we stuck our grubby little paws in.  We loaded Rennie’s tote bag with 40 flipping truffles.  What?!

But wait - there’s more.  After learning about and viewing the assembly line process, we each got one more Lindt filled square from a marble run contraption.  We literally were stuffed before we could get to the gift shop (in which gift shop, for good measure, each visitor received another complimentary truffle - just for walking in).  You cannot lose. 

Following a tasty (non-chocolate) lunch, we made out like bandits, armed to the teeth with complimentary chocolate.  

Rather than the bus, we took the hour long scenic ferry back, sailing up and then back down Lake Zurich to the city.  

What we lost in time we made up for with lovely breezy views, which Bennett particularly complimented.  (It only took four different spots on board to find a lovely breezy spot!)

After the cruise, we went back to our Airbnb for quiet time.  Then, we joined back up with Aunt Rennie and Uncle Hang Hang to go to a swimming spot on Lake Zurich.  We got into the water but weren’t able to stay long since we needed to navigate around the Zurich triathlon and get the boys back for dinner and a bath.  

Finally, we put the boys down (go to sleep, kids!) and had a tasty dinner before starting to pack for our three day trip to Interlaken where we are ready for a break from this heat wave.  

As our friends Matt and Sam say, to the mountains we must go!