Beautiful Basel the Blog

Last weekend we took advantage of one of the many jours feriés that we've had lately. I believe May 8 was VE day, and because it fell on a Thursday, many schools and businesses took the Friday off as well to make it a nice long weekend (the Monday was ferié as well. I know, la vie est dur).

We hopped on the new TGV line and headed east to Switzerland to visit our Swedish friend Alex who now lives in Basel.

Basel is a beautiful city, very compact, and very German in many ways, being part of the German part of Switzerland. It's close enough to both the French and German borders that Alex regularly does her grocery shopping in France.

On our first day there, Alex took us on a tour of the high town, we visited the Cathedral, had a snack at an old paper mill, put our feet in the Rhine, and crossed the river on a boat that is powered by the current.

Crossing the Rhine on the current powered boat


Enjoying the view



Testing the waters (verdict: cold!)


Is it bad to say that the highlight of the trip was Alex's apartment? She has a very cute place, with a great garden and a patio, and we all our meals outside. Erik was thrilled to be able to barbeque, and spent both evenings outside manning the grill while the girls sipped blender drinks on the terasse.

Erik loves the BBQ


We make pina coladas


So much meat!



Mmmm... cheese


MMMMMM.....Swiss chocolate!

On Sunday we rode the tram through the countryside to visit the Beyeler Foundation, and private art collection that is now open to the public. The collection was very impressive, and we viewed works by Picasso, Monet, Cezanne and Gaugin among others, all displayed in a beautiful building designed by Renzo Piano, the same architecht who created the Centre Pompidou here in Paris. We also perused an exhibit they were showing on Action Painting, featuring Jackson Pollock. It was interesting, but I think we all left feeling kind of like we just didn't get it.

Beyeler Foundation


Enjoying some rose on a patio

Saturday night Basel was playing Bern in the Swiss Soccer finals, so we watched that then headed down to the main square after the win to see the team tour through. Very exciting.

All of Basel comes out to celebrate their win


The winning team


The beer cart



Sunday morning we checked out the architecture museum, which was featuring two very disappointing exhibitions which we didn't enjoy. Then it was back on the train for our quick trip back to Paris.

It was a lovely weekend, and so much fun seeing Alex again.

We might have also enjoyed some TV. Oh how I miss the BBC....