Hotel Alfa Basel

so... es nochet... no die letschte Sache schnäll erledige.. ond scho gli stoht d'Sabine do zom öis abhole! - be dene doch öppe 7 Grad ond dem Räge verosse eschs om so schöner chöne mer ed wärmi! Es sett aso am Mettwoch doch 37 grad warm wärde en darwin.... :O)

so... i ben no a de letschte Vorbereitige ond denn esch es bald sowiet ond mer chöne go. Es esch chum z'glaube aber de Roger esch ab 7ni uf ond no es Gschäft go die letschte Sache erledige... - hoffe er chonnt bald weder hei ond helft mer nochli.... <br>Bes Bald!

Got up and got ready to go to the Autumn Fair that is in Basel. Its in Switzerland across the border and we got the train took around 20 mins its funny how you can zip in and out of different countries in such an easy way. We did have to go through passport control its a good job that we did not get stopped as we did not have our passports with us. We walked a bit but did not have a map so could have been ...

... fairgrounds to check things out.<br><br>In Münsterplatz we rode the big wheel and got a nice view of the city lights reflecting on the Rhine. After our ride we just hung around a stall selling gluwein, drinking and chatting. Everywhere we went was crowded with people in good spirits and children full of sugar and excitement. Herbstmesse is a fun time in Basel!

... trunk and backseat, we said goodbye. It was a bit sad for me but mom had a really hard time. This is somewhat amusing as when I moved here, she didn't shed a tear when I left, but cried like a baby when Lincoln left later when my sister came to visit.<br><br>Anyway, finally they got in the car and I joined the man by the exit so we could wave them along the way. The entire trip mom and dad joked about how happy they are I was with them because without me they just get ...

... the parade had its benefits too though. As the parade passed, the street barriers were moved and the spectators followed behind the bands, walking down the street, across the Rhine, and into Rheinegasse where we were planning on heading next anyway.<br><br>On this side of the river there was a party going on. We mixed with the crowd, enjoyed some good food and refreshing drinks, and were serenaded by the roaming bagpipers of Pipefest. These pipers perform ...

... Yorkshire Puds. They had us laughing almost immediately with their stories of luck and co-incidences which seemed to follow them around. As they were telling us, in walked an old colleague of theirs from the U.K who had moved to Basel and just happened to be in THAT bar on THAT night. Already we were beginning to think we should ask them the lottery numbers for Saturday night!<br>After a few beers, we went into the main part of the city ...

... Thais who demand, that their prime minister (or what you call it in English) be replaced. I hope that this will not result in violence against them, because I suspect that their demand is justifiable. Wow, what a mess this planet suffers. Reminds me of an old joke: Two planets happen to come accross each other on their ways through the ...

... was incredible-the pictures speak for themselves (I took a total of 144 MB of pictures that day). On the trip, I saw tons of skiers and met people from the southern US, England, Germany and of course, Switzerland. I can also add another country to the list of where I come from-a woman from Switzerland guessed that I come from Poland. It sure was cold on the mountain, but I warmed up with some cheese fondue, hot coco and a ...

... of the Black Forest, to the village of Hägelberg. Our hosts were one of dad's good friends from his teens and his wife; we had a lovely meal, chatted lots, and had an interesting time throwing around Swiss-German and English, translating the tricky bits that not even hand gestures and facial expressions could communicate. We did have to be up at a half-decent hour the following morning though, so we said our goodbyes around midnight and headed off back to Switzerland.