Radisson Sas Hotel Basel

... So another let down. Apparently the only thing going for Basel is the River Rheine. In summer, everyone swims in it. I wish I was here in summer now, because Autumn is terrible. I saw some Swiss banks. That was exciting. I went back to my hotel in disgust, at my friend, at the city of Basel. Im sure the rest of Switzerland has something to offer. Not Basel.

I am sitting in an internet pub right now recommended by the Lonely Planet guide ...

... the gift shop, we went to the pedestrian area and I searched for gnocchi. I did not find gnocchi on any menus but I did find an Alsatian restaurant, so we all had flammkuechen and a refreshing Swiss wheat beer (mom opted for the Swiss wine).

We didn't stay out too late because tomorrow my vacation starts and we are getting up somewhat early to begin our road trip across Austria, which I am really looking forward to!

... un petit stock de chocolat.

La ville est vraiment à voir, ne serait ce que pour la cathédrale, au cloitre plein d'anciennes pierres tombales plutôt curieuses en tuf et pour sa crypte peinte de fresques du XIV° siècle. Un autre truc sympa: le jardin botanique et les serres exotiques, près du Spalentor.. et en plus, c'est gratuit :)

Arrivée à Mulhouse dans l'après midi après 7h00 de train assez éprouvant, ça fait plaisir de retrouver des amis pas vus depuis longtemps. Visite de la vieille ville de Mulhouse le Samedi, la Ville est Assez industrielle, ce n'est aps encore l'Alsace de Carte ...

... The street that winds behind the theatre past Atlantis to the Elizabethenkirche was shut down to traffic and absolutely overflowing with people. They were squeezed into nooks and crannies with their caipirinhas, cachaca, and beers. Holding the crowds from spilling over into the cross streets were booths selling trinkets and treasures from around the globe, food stalls of amazing variety, and ...

... car to leave, skipping the museum. Once we were back in air conditioned comfort we reflected on the day and thought maybe we should try the amphitheatre as well. We tried to drive there but either it is inaccessible by car or we were very lost. I think in fact the case is both.

We went back to the theatre and parked there then walked the kilometre to the amphitheatre. This is about the time that we would have all been willing to consider kill one another ...

... slices heating under the grill where the vegetables were frying. Once your slice has melted, you try to slide it off in one piece onto your plate of vegetables, then get another slice going. Basically this continued on until I could not eat any more, which took a surprisingly long time. The boys taught me that having beer with raclette is not sufficient because there is not a high enough alcohol content and it will ...

... back home, Dudley Zoo, which is famous for having a castle in the grounds but not many animals. We didn't get time to see the whole zoo, but what we did see impressed us. The zoo even had Zebu, more famous in the UK for being served in two thirds of the burgers served in Wetherspoons, being cheap, bland meat for cheap, bland pubs. We are now on the train to Luxembourg, expecting to arrive around tea-time, all being well.

... someones signature over and over again. After that museum we bought lunch at a market again and then we went to a paper making museum. It was really cool, I got to make my own paper and print my name in metal type and I bought a calligraphy pen and ink which I'm super excited about. For dinner we went to Professor Dierck's friends apartment for a cheese fondue dinner. It was so amazing! we had little pieces of bread and these little ...