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.