Between May 2nd and June 7, 2009, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered tourists and activists flocked to Zurich, Switzerland for EuroPride ’09 – the largest festival for gays and lesbians in Europe.
All of the gay pride events held throughout the past month collimated with a massive and festive Gay Pride Parade, which attracted upwards of 50,000 people on June 6th. Winding down the streets of Zurich, dozens of organizations and corporations took part in this event. The parade featured colorful floats and thousands of individual participants (some of whom truly dressed up for the occasion).
Corine Mauch, the Mayor of the City of Zurich, kicked off the parade, however, representatives from countries throughout all of Europe took part. Zurich tourism is quick to point out that as Switzerland’s largest city, it is home to a well-established and diverse gay community that goes well beyond the typical gay bars and clubs found in many most cities throughout the world.
According to Zurich Tourism, “Zurich’s residents have a very liberal attitude towards gays and lesbians.” What was both surprising and refreshing about this year's EuroPride was the total lack of protestors, as well as the overall sense of acceptance and safety one felt throughout the city during these events.
Regardless of your sexual preference, throughout the year, Zurich is a wonderful vacation destination for anyone looking to visit a beautiful European city that has a rich history, diverse culture and an abundance of activities suitable for the entire family. From museums and art galleries, to world class shopping and dining, Zurich offers something for everyone.
Americans looking to visit Zurich can take any of several major airlines, including Swiss Air International, which offers affordable nonstop flights from several U.S. cities, such as New York, Boston and Los Angeles, to Zurich.
Once in Zurich, acquiring a SwissPass offers tourists unlimited use of the city’s ultra-modern and convenient transportation system (including buses and trains), so no rental car is needed. The SwissPass also includes unlimited entry into many of the city’s more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries, as well as admission to many popular tourist attractions and historical landmarks.
As the city that’s located in the heart of Europe and the center of Switzerland, Zurich is continuously ranked as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. After spending just a few days here, it’s very easy to see why. In addition to being a beautiful city, the people here are extremely friendly and welcoming to all visitors.
Once in Switzerland, however, don’t just limit your visit to Zurich. Using the country’s train system, traveling throughout the country as a tourist is extremely inexpensive and easy, plus top-notch hotel accommodations can be found throughout the country.
Out of all of the European countries I’ve had the pleasure to visit, Switzerland is definitely my favorite for a multitude of reasons, including the multitude of activities and attractions it has to offer, the wonderful restaurants, the abundance of shopping opportunities, and the friendliness of the population. Americans truly feel safe and welcome here.
For more information about traveling to or vacationing in Zurich, Switzerland, visit www.zuerich.com. Additional information about EuroPride ’09 can be found at www.europride09’eu.
The following is a sampling of photos from EuroPride '09...
All images (c)2009 Jason R. Rich.
All rights reserved. Please visit www.JasonRichPhotography.
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