“Jet lag is for amateurs.” ~Dick Clark
Ugh, jet lag. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to fall asleep during a flight. It doesn’t matter how much water I drink—they say that helps to prevent jet lag—or how long I stay awake the day before an international flight, I just can’t seem to fall asleep on the plane.
Travel pillows, comfy clothes, the softest classical music, window seat, aisle seat (my personal favorite), and none of it helps me really sleep. I’m short and so I don’t need a lot of leg room, but I still can’t seem to get comfortable. I guess I haven’t learned how to sleep sitting up.
One day, and I hope that day arrives sooner than later, I will fly first class, or at least business class. Maybe then sleep on a plane will come. Oh, how I want a seat that reclines! Until then, though, maybe the next best thing is getting to the destination and finding the best food that makes me want to stay awake.
And who knows, maybe that meal turns out to be the best thing I eat that week.
Last week’s flight from the states to Switzerland wasn’t too bad as far as international flights go. The aisle seat was mine, and I was well hydrated. My clothes were comfy and I had new headphones in which to listen to my favorite Bach standards. I also didn’t eat as much as I usually do before a flight. (I’ve learned to stop doing that as it just makes me feel more miserable in addition to being miserably tired when I arrive.)
New motto: travel hungry.
While I’m not sure how much it helped me be less tired after last week’s flight, I was definitely hungry when we arrived in Zurich.
Surely not a bad place to suffer from hunger, right?
First, to the hotel to drop off bags until the room was ready, next stop a Starbucks for much needed caffeine and then a Denner Express for a warm croissant with cheese and ham. And while not a proper meal, I just love when the simplest things can be so good!
The hotel room was ready at noon, which is earlier than most check-ins, so I was able to relax my tired muscles for a bit (if not try to take a quick nap), get settled in, and then a walk around the streets near the hotel for something good to eat and drink. Something so good that a nice and sound sleep would come later—but not too late—in the evening. A good filling and satisfying meal and then turning in somewhat early was all I wanted at this point.
Lucky for me filling and satisfying meals are all around in Zurich! Fondue (which I’ve already written about), rosti, luscious cakes and pastries, the most decadent chocolate, sausages of all types, and of course raclette.
If you follow me on social media, you know I’ve been obsessed with raclette for a few years now. It was Andrew Zimmern or someone on Food Network who introduced me to it, and then I added it to my food bucket list. It’s melted cheese, after all. Melted cheese that you can pretty much slide onto anything!
Just two minutes, and 130 meters away from the hotel is Raclette Factory. A restaurant—you guessed it—devoted to raclette. Honestly, it was like a dream come true. Jet lag or not, I was going to eat raclette and it was gonna wake me up! Awake long enough to enjoy the raclette, at least. And the beer.
Now, I’m not a doctor or a therapist, but I can say that the raclette and beer made me feel better. Physically better, and mentally as well. Probably emotionally, too, if I’m honest. Melted cheese atop potatoes and sausage and cold lager seem to have that effect on me, I discovered. I mean, I almost forgot I was tired.
Complaining here aside, jet lag will never keep me from flying (even if I am still stuck in coach…); but I’m not ashamed to admit that it isn’t getting easier the older I get. What is getting easier is realizing that in a week filled with so much amazing meals, sometimes the best one is the one that welcomes you, with open arms and lots of melted cheese.
Will I always be an amateur when it comes to jet lag? I hope not. But then again, who cares if I can eat raclette.
Elda XO
Visiting Zurich? I highly recommend Raclette Factory https://www.raclette-factory.ch/englisch
I also recommend finding the local Denner Express to pick up a nice warm croissant, a cold drink, or anything you normally need from a small grocery store. https://www.welle7.ch/en/shopping-enjoyment/denner-express
