9/30/2019 Basal, Switzerland, Creations on river.

I don’t know the story behind these creations.  They were on the land beside where our ship was docked.  There were many more than what is pictured.  

9/30/2019 Monday Basel Switzerland

9/30/19  Monday Day 3 Grand Circle River Cruise Basel, Switzerland •  Ave. temp.  65 high  48 low 31% chance of rain  
Day 35 total travel
Phone says I walked 13,110 steps or 4.8 miles and climbed 4 floors. 

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Accommodations: River Ship
Today Switzerland discussion • Captain’s Welcome Dinner 

/BAH-zul/

TOUR INFO "After breakfast, your Program Director will go over the details of your upcoming trip and answer any questions you may have. Then explore Basel, Switzerland’s second-largest city—and one with a split personality.

On the one hand, giant, modern chemical research and pharmaceutical companies dominate the city. On the other, a network of narrow alleys weaves together the city’s medieval architectural heritage. You’ll enjoy the excellent public transport system with

a streetcar ride, followed by a walking tour, which includes the lively Marktplatz, the colorful Town Hall, and the twelfth-century, red sandstone Munster (Cathedral) among other highlights. To make it more convenient to explore on your own, you’ll receive a one-day streetcar ticket.  We, did not ride a streetcar nor were we given a streetcar ticket. I did about half the things that I found as suggestions.  

After lunch onboard, you’ll have the afternoon to relax or use your streetcar ticket to explore Basel at your own pace.  Since we didn’t get the streetcar tickets, I walked around the neighborhood near the ship which proved to be interesting.  The area near the ship was covered with shipping containers that were decorated with graffiti.  Some were stacked with porches.  I don’t know what the story behind them was. I wondered if it was a weekend venue for music.  

Hoosesagg Museum is the smallest museum and has bells, toys, sunglasses, statuettes, salt and pepper shakers, old tins, hotel keys, ladies' pins, wine stoppers, pez containers, tins, etc .  Imbergasslein 31  It is a window in a door.  

Basel Old Town (Alstadt) is on both sides of the Rhine River (Grossbasel and Kleinbasel) joined by the Mittlere (Middle) Brucke.  In the center of Mittlere Brucke is a copy of the Kappelijoch.  It was the old bridge chapel and in the Middle Ages, prisoners were sent there to die.  

Lackerli is a sweet treat, originally almonds, hazelnut, candy peel and kirsch (cherry brandy).  My guide bought us lackerli, it was like gingerbread.  

Basilisk is a green creature that is part snake and part bird (dragon-like?).  It can be seen on fountains, podiums, etc.  

There are three gates to the old medieval walled city.  The Spalentor is one of the most beautiful gateways, then Sankt-Alban-Tor and Sankt-Johans-Tor.

Marktplatz dates back to 1260.  The ruby-red Rathaus (town hall) for over five centuries is a renovated Renaissance palace.  The Rathaus is beautiful outside and has a lovely courtyard inside.   

Rheinfahre (Rhine Ferry.) A small open boat is hooked to a rope across the Rhine River and uses the river current to cross.  The Munster-fahri which is located in Basel Old town is the most accessible for visitors.  The 15-minute trip is an experience and costs 1.60 chf.  

NO With more than 30 museums, Basel is a well-known center for art and culture. Dating to 1662, the Museum of Fine Arts is considered the oldest public art museum in Europe. Inside, you can view Renaissance masters such as Hans Holbein, along with 20-century Abstract expressionists, like Jasper Johns.

Later, you’ll enjoy an Exclusive Discovery Series discussion about Switzerland today before being welcomed onboard and meeting your ship’s crew at the Captain’s Welcome Drink and Dinner."  The local gentleman who spoke works as a college prof and a historian.  He offered a lot of information about life is Switzerland. 

Phone says I walked 13,110 steps or 4.8 miles and climbed 4 floors.  

  

Basel is a quite hilly, medieval city and is lovely at night.  Basel was untouched by the World Wars, as Switzerland remained neutral.  

Basel Old Town (Alstadt) is on both sides of the Rhine River (Grossbasel and Kleinbasel) joined by the Mittlere (Middle) Brucke.  In the center of Mittlere Brucke is a copy of the Kappelijoch.  It was the old bridge chapel and in the Middle Ages, prisoners were sent there to die.  

Basel Old Town (Alstadt) is on both sides of the Rhine River (Grossbasel and Kleinbasel) joined by the Mittlere (Middle) Brucke.  In the center of Mittlere Brucke is a copy of the Kappelijoch.  It was the old bridge chapel and in the Middle Ages, prisoners were sent there to die.  

On the Kleinbasel side, there are stairs that lead down to the Rhine.  The boardwalk leads to restaurants and kiosks.  Be sure to notice the fountains.  

Stop and have a pretzel from a street vendor.  In some shops, you can get a free sample of lackerli.  Lackerli is a sweet treat, originally almonds, hazelnut, candy peel and kirsch (cherry brandy).  I did have this, it was like gingerbread.  

Basilisk is a green creature that is part snake and part bird (dragon-like?).  It can be seen on fountains, podiums, etc.  

Rooster head on a dragon’s body with a snake’s tail.

Find the original city gates.  There are three gates to the old medieval walled city.  The Spalentor is one of the most beautiful gateways, then Sankt-Alban-Tor and Sankt-Johans-Tor.

Marktplatz dates back to 1260.  The ruby-red Rathaus (town hall) for over five centuries is a renovated Renaissance palace.  

Inside courtyard of the Rathaus.

Rathaus is open Tuesday to Saturday 7:00 AM.  Stadtmarkt is nearby and has many stalls.  Founded the 1500’s.  Try Apfelschorle, a 50/50 blend of apple juice and carbonated water.  

Basel’s Rhine River waterfront 

Rheinfahre (Rhine Ferry Picture below.) A small open boat is hooked to a rope across the Rhine River and uses the river current to cross.  The Munster-fahri which is located in Basel Old town is the most accessible for visitors.  The 15-minute trip is an experience and costs 1.60 chf.  

   

Hoosesagg Museum (below) is the smallest museum and has bells, toys, sunglasses, statuettes, salt and pepper shakers, old tins, hotel keys, ladies' pins, wine stoppers, pez containers, tins, etc .  Imbergasslein 31

Hoosesagg Museum (below) is the smallest museum and has bells, toys, sunglasses, statuettes, salt and pepper shakers, old tins, hotel keys, ladies' pins, wine stoppers, pez containers, tins, etc .  Imbergasslein 31

Munsterplatz (below) is the square of the red sandstone church.  The church is the highest part of Basel in Grossbasel and offers incredible views of the Rhine River and Kleinbasel.  Munster was once a Catholic Church and during the reformation, it became protestant.  The stained glass is beautiful.  Look carefully for an almost hidden passageway into a cloister hall.  Find the crypt where the tombs of royalty and prominent citizens of Basel were buried hundreds of years ago.  You can pay a fee to climb 250 steps in one of the towers

Did not do or find any of the following.
Look for Lallekonig, a king with his tongue stuck out.  One represents Grossbasel and one Kleinbasel.  Look on each side of the bridge.

Find the Half House near the Kunstmuseum on St Alban-Graban St.  

Find Dreilaendereck, the place where three countries meet, Germany, France and Switzerland.  You can get there by tram or boat.  

Elizabeth Church or Elisabethkirche is Switzerland’s best known neo-Gothic building.  It was built between 1857 and 1864.  The bell tower is 72 meters/236 feet and has internal stairs.  

Tinguely Fountain has nine moving iron figures (mimes and other performers) that play in the water.  It was built on the site of the old city theater.  

Tour Basel by Tram The suggested line was 15/16, which passes many museums, shops, and restaurants.

9/29/2019 Sunday Basal, Switzerland

9/29/19 Sunday Basal, Switzerland   GCT Day 5, Total days 34   Phone says I walked 2.4 miles, 5771 steps and climbed 4 floors.  Basel Ave. 65 high  48 low 31% rain

• Included Meals: Breakfast

Tour info. After breakfast, you’ll transfer to Basel to join your Romance of the Rhine & Mosel River Cruise.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610

RIVER CRUISE STARTS

9/29 Day 2 Basel, Switzerland • Embark ship • Included Meals: Dinner  Ave. 65 high  48 low  31% rain

• Accommodations: River Ship

TOUR INFO  "Arrive today in Basel. A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and assist with your transfer to the pier. If you began your explorations early with our pre-trip extension to Lucerne, Switzerland, you will join the main group today to begin your cruise along the Rhine and Mosel rivers. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax after your overseas flight or do some exploring on your own.

In the early evening, you’ll gather for an introductory briefing about your ship. Throughout your Rhine and Mosel River Cruise, you’ll receive these evening briefings from your Program Director—called Port Talks—as you cruise toward your next destination so you can make the best use of your free time when you arrive.

After that, get better acquainted with your Program Director and traveling companions over dinner."

9/29/19 Sunday Basal, Switzerland   Grand Circle Travel Day 5, Total days 34   Phone says I walked 2.4 miles, 5771 steps and climbed 4 floors.  Basel Ave.Temp. 65 high 48 low Average chance of rain 31%. 

The most interesting thing that happened this morning was realizing that the nightclub next door to our hotel continued to play music with a lot of bass until 8:45 AM Sunday morning. The club was next door to our breakfast room. I did hear the bass in my room throughout the night Friday night, but luckily I didn’t hear it last night.  

The transfer to Grand Circle Travel's  River Rhapsody on the Rhine in Basal, Switzerland was uneventful.  We passed through a lot of farm country.   We had lunch, took  some time to get settled.  I unpacked completely for the first time since 8/26/2019.  Looking forward to sleeping in the same bed for two weeks.   Later in the afternoon, we went to the Old Town.   When I returned to the ship it was time for the Captain’s Greeting, the hotel manager’s talk, the port talk and dinner. 

Basel is a quite hilly, medieval city.  Basel was untouched by the World Wars, as Switzerland remained neutral. There are many beautiful old buildings and narrow alleys.  Today's picture is the Basel Minster.  The church is located in Grossbasel, the highest part and offers incredible views of the Rhine River and Kleinbasel across the river. The there is a lovely terrace behind the church.   Originally, it was a Catholic cathedral and today is a Reformed Protestant Church.  The building is red sandstone with colored roof tiles and twin towers. The stained glass is beautiful. The design is late Romanesque completed about 1225.  There was much damage done to the church by the people during the Protestant Reformation. The two towers are named Georgsturm (1429) and Martinsturm (1500).  Equestrian sculptures next to the main entrance on high pilasters honor these saints of the knights.    

Phone says I walked 2.4 miles, 5771 steps and climbed 4 floors.  

 Basel Minster, which was dark and a bit dreary inside.  

Another church.  Yes, it was a beautiful day.

An interesting house.  Lots of windows in the roof.

Basal was not damaged during WWII like many other cities as Switzerland remained neutral.  

Rhine River in Basel

Rathaus

My home for two weeks - The River Rhapsody.  

Rhine River from Basel Minster overlook

9/28/2019. Lucerne to Weggis

9/28/2019 Day 4 Lucerne, Total days 33.   To Weggis, Switzerland

After my morning climbing on the wall in Lucerne, I wanted to go on a boat ride on Lake Lucerne so I asked for a recommendation at the Visitor’s Center.  I decided to go to Weggis.  The afternoon proved to be perfect for a boat ride, sunny and about 68.  In Weggis, I stopped in the visitor center and learned it had a surprise for me.

There was a Cow Festival with crafts, flowers, bread, cheese, farm equipment, etc.  Then there were the Brown Swiss Cows.  There was a competition and the winners were awarded bells.  The bigger the bell, the higher the award.  Brown Swiss cows have been bred for high fat milk production which is good for making cheese.  At the end of the event, each group herded their cows through the streets with all the bells clanging.  There were some really BIG bells and I wish I could post a video so you could hear the cacophony of all the bells.  It was also amusing to watch the bystanders.  

It was a lot like a County Fair with a lot of family/community involvement.  Some of the groups herding the cows through the streets were mostly adults, but several had children bringing up the rear.  There was a great deal of camaraderie with this event.  I believe this was a once in a lifetime experience for me and being raised on a dairy farm in PA increased my appreciation..

Most of the people used a long string to contain the cows as they moved them throught the the crowds.  People spaced out up one side holding the string, which also went across the front of the herd and down the other side.  It worked to keep the cows together.  The people also had sticks to redirect an errant cow.  The cows are used to moving together as they travel to the high meadows to eat in the summer and return to the farm for the rest of the year.  I did find moving the cow herd fascinating.

At the end of the cow parades, I walked along the lake to pass the time until the next ferry boat returned to Lucerne.  It was quite an afternoon.  Weggis had some lovely old buildings and I visited a cemetery with more interesting markers and beautiful flowers.  

.  

Those black metal items are bells.

Cows moving through the crowds.  Most of the people used a long string to contain the cows.  There were people spaced out up one side holding the string, which also went across the front of the herd and down the other side.  It worked to keep the cows together.  The people also had sticks to redirect an errant cow.  The cows are used to moving together as they travel to the high meadows to eat in the summer and return to the farm for the rest of the year.

I’m not sure the significance of the decorated cows.  If I was one of these cows, I think it would annoy me.  

At the end of the cow parades, I walked along the lake to pass the time until the next ferry boat returned to Lucerne.  It was quite an afternoon.

Weggis had some lovely buildings.  

Views along the lake.  

More beautiful flowers and stones in the cemetery.  

9/28/2019. Lucerne, Switzerland

9/28/19, Saturday, Day 4 Lucerne, Switzerland. Total days 33  Ave. temp 63 high 48 low.  Daily mean 50 47% rain

• Accommodations: Ameron Hotel Flora or similar Included Meals: Breakfast

PHONE SAYS 6.9 MILES, 16,698 STEPS 28 FLOORS!!!  

The first place I visited on Saturday morning was a market with bread, cheese, flowers, fruits and vegetables, etc for sale.  Everything looked appealing.    

Spreuer Bridge/Spreuerbrucke is another covered wooden footbridge crossing the Reuss River in Lucerne.  Inside each section, the peak of the footbridge is decorated with forty-five 17th-century paintings depicting a Danse Macabre-style (Dance of Death) about mortality and human existence.  Skeletons, priests, courtiers, and angels are in scenes.  This bridge is between Kasernenplatz and the Muhlenplatz. 

The Museggmauer and its nine towers date back to the 14th-century.  They are the remnants of the old wall that surrounded the city and a part of Lucerne's fortifications.  Four towers are open to the public. 

I started out by the river at that round building with the red pointed roof to the left of the picture.  I walked up a lot of steps to get to the base of the first tower which is near the center of the picture.   

I climbed up five stories in the first tower and then I had to go back down the way I came up because I couldn’t get out on the wall to go to the next tower as I thought I would be able to. . .   Yes I was winded after the climb up from the river to the tower base and then five stories in the tower.  Originally, these towers would have been considered castles.  They had one room on each level and defense was quite easy.  

The clock on the Zyt Tower dates from 1535 and is the town’s oldest clock.  On the hour, it chimes one minute before all the other clocks in town. Inside the tower the clock works are visible.  

These are the workings of the clock tower which you will see below.

Lake Lucerne is Switzerland's fourth-largest lake.  

The Rathaus (original town hall) in Lucerne was built 17th-Century.  It now has a brewery and pub.  You can have a beer, Weisswurst (spiced white sausage) or Luzerner Kasekuchen (a cheese tart).  I went there today for a beer, but they were at capacity.  The current Town Hall is across the river.  

Saturday Market

Spreuer Bridge/Spreuerbrucke is another covered wooden footbridge.  Inside each section, the peak of the footbridge is decorated with forty-five 17th-century paintings depicting a Danse Macabre-style (Dance of Death) about mortality and human existence.  Skeletons, priests, courtiers, and angels are in scenes.  This bridge is between Kasernenplatz and the Muhlenplatz. 

Chateau Gutsch is a turn-of-the-century hotel that can be reached by climbing a long staircase.  You will enjoy a great view of the city and Lake Lucerne. The bar alone is worth the climb.  I missed this too.

The Museggmauer and its nine towers date back to the 14th-century.  They are the remnants of the old wall that surrounded the city and a part of Lucerne's fortifications.  Four towers are open to the public.   

I started out by the river at that round building with the red pointed roof to the left of the above picture.  I walked up a lot of steps to get to the base of the first tower which is near the center of the picture. Steps pictured below.  

The steps I climbed to get to the base of the first tower.  

I climbed up five stories in the first tower and then I had to go back down the way I came up because I couldn’t get out on the wall to go to the next tower as I thought I would be able to. . .   Yes I was winded after the climb up from the river to the tower base and then five stories in the tower.  Originally, this would have been considered a castle.  They had one room on each level and defense was quite easy.  

View from a tower including the Spreuer Bridge/Spreuerbrucke.  

Another view from the tower.  

Cows along the wall in town of Lucerne

At the second tower, I met some nice Canadians and we pondered climbing the second tower.  There  was no way of knowing if we could get out on the wall so we didn’t climb it.  That was lucky because we skipped two more before we found one that got us on the wall.    

Walkway between towers.  

Three of the towers on the wall.

Clock Tower The clock on the Zyt  Tower dates from 1535 and is the town’s oldest clock.  On the hour, it chimes one minute before all the other clocks in town.

The clock tower has clock works inside which are pictured at the top of this post.  .

Mount Pilatus offers the best views of Lucerne and can be reached by gondola or cable car. You can count 72 other mountain peaks on a clear day.  We drove by Mount Pilatus.  

NO Take a Nuclear Bunker tour that was built in the 60s and 70s.  It can be accessed from the Sonnenberg highway tunnel. The Sonnenberg Bunker could shelter 20,000 residents if there was a nuclear attack.  Tours are available on the last Sunday, but we are there on Saturday.