Shopperholics

It is in our genes, it is beyond our control, women love shopping. We shop around in a way that makes our poor men want to tear their hair out and swear off women forever. We browse through shop after shop, trying on intriguingly similar objects above our price range, only to return to the first reasonably priced establishment with the only article of clothing we ever really liked anyway.

You and I know that the truth lies far and between. Without a doubt, there are countless female and, mind you, male shopperholics who are always out on the hunt for bargains or the latest fashion. Also, there are people who react to a prospective shopping trip as if they were about to experience open heart surgery without anaesthetics. The majority, however, are like you and me, considerably normal - neither here nor there. More than often, we shop out of pure necessity. We like things that look pretty, but wouldn't pay an arm and a leg for them.

Zürich caters for any kind of shopper, from fine ladies to Goths and Skaters. For people with expensive taste, a fancy for the exclusive, the South of Bahnhofstrasse is a good address. Here, fur, silk, shoe and jewellery shops line up in close proximity to cash supplies as if to ensure that your shopping experience isn't limited to the contents of your purse. For people like me, who can afford as much as a glance at the area, a retreat is nearby. The area around the North of Bahnhofstrasse - conveniently situated facing the main train station of Zürich (talk about Swiss efficiency), provides a mixture of product and price ranges, providing a haven for the ordinary visitor.

Little shops amidst cafés and pubs
My loyalties lie with the East of the Limmat. Strolling through the area of Niederdorf and Zürich's old town, I lost my heart to all the little shops amidst cafés and pubs along the curvy old lanes and little alleyways. For me, this was as good as shopping could get. Rindermarkt, not far from Grossmünster, was home to any globetrotter's dream - a little Travel Bookshop - one of those special rarities amongst bookshops, where you can dig your way through mountains of books undisturbed; where there still is a delightful chaos which makes you stumble over the rarest papery treasures. I truly had to force myself to leave.

Walking the streets of Zürich dressed in jeans and a t-shirt on any given afternoon, you often feel underdressed. The home of Fabric Frontline, which supplies fabrics to many great names in Haute Couture - like Vivienne Westwood or Chanel - Zürich's inhabitants hardly rank behind their home in looks. They like to come about their business in style - at all times. Their needs are catered to by Swiss designers like Kazu Huggler, Zimmerli, Akris and Dorothee Vogel, some of which have long been exported in an attempt to enrich the outside world with Swiss fashion.

I remain in jeans in t-shirt, but can warmly recommend Switzerland's little metropolis. In every way, my heart has warmed up this city within the Alps.