The Swiss are Very Precise.

Hallo from Zurich (photo above from the train), where I am spending my second night at the four star Hotel Engimatt. @JohnnyJet confirmed my misgivings when he tweeted a photo of his room with the line, "Does this Zurich room look 4 stars to you?"

Because it doesn't. I'm not complaining; I'm happy to be on this trip, but in the interest of honesty and telling it like it is, some things have to be said. This four star hotel might as well be a Best Western. And the beds don't even have that fun vibrating effect. The mildewy shower curtain (in the above sad shower) sticks to me. There is no towel rack save for the one under the sink. And everything else I listed in the last blog ... the star system in Switzerland must be a little weird.

Anyhow, I had a relaxing day today, getting some work done in the AM as my colleagues from the US and Canada arrived. In the afternoon, we went to Asia Spa for a little sauna and pool action, and I finally got the hot tub itch scratched. Soon after that, the whole group met up for dinner. We went to a charming local restaurant called Rüsterei (below) which featured very glam, derelict-style decor and had truly exemplary food.

So, um ... scandal! The Swiss tourism board had apparently mandated that we were to only have one glass of wine each on their dime, which is unusual, but fine ... and when several of us mentioned we'd be having a glass, our host recommended we order bottles. Then, the oddest thing happened when the bill came. I almost feel dirty mentioning it, but once again, I'm in a position to gloss over the imperfections or tell it like it is, and well, I know which I'd rather read. He asked us each to chip in $10 or 10 Swiss Francs for the third $60 bottle of wine, which he had ordered, not giving any of us the chance to say "no thank you" or to choose something less expensive. One glass of wine each was weird, but ordering for us, ordering expensive wine, and then asking us to pay? That's unheard of. I was too shocked to argue, but I really am taken aback. I don't want to call the tourism board "cheap," but ... WTH?

I'm back in the hotel room now, battling the internet. I wanted to download the last episode of LOST  to watch while I work, but the download will supposedly take SEVEN HOURS. So, that's what I'm up against, here. I hope this article makes it to my blog. It feels about as likely as sending a message in a bottle ...