Let the Church bells ring

Each Saturday night at 7pm, the bells in all of the churches in Basel start to ring.  They don't hold back either.  For 15 solid minutes they pull out all the stops and let those bells roar throughout the city. 

What we have been told is that this signifies the end of the work week and the start of a day of rest (Sunday).  As you might be aware - Sundays are pretty low key here in Basel.  Most stores are closed.  We are to remain quiet and relaxed (no loud household chores like laundry, mowing the lawn, running the vacuum). 

The ringing of the bells is quite beautiful, and Mat and I just happened to be out walking when they started to ring, so I filmed just a few seconds of the church we were closest to.  (which happens to be the oldest church in Basel - the Munster).

While we were out we discovered a street we can see from our apartment building, but had not wandered down.  Don't know how that happens after being here for 8 weeks, but we just had no reason to go that way, I guess.  We found a neat building and courtyard just steps away from where we are living.

 Great staircase

 Stained glass windows

 Fountain!

One random picture from today - when you dog is being cute while he sleeps, you have to take his picture

Finley's Friends

Finley has made some good friends at school.  Some of them ride the tram to and from school with her each day.  I am still accompanying her (until we move to our permanent housing at least), but I am just background noise.

I am glad she found some pals while we are here.

Basel Walkers - Take Two

Today I joined the Basel Walkers once again for one of their Monday hikes.  This one was really fabulous.  My American friend, Heather, is away on vacation, so today I talked my friend Marta into going with me.  We had a great time.  The walk was from Ettingen Switzerland to Grellingen Switerland (Which is about 30 minute train ride south of where we are living right now).  The scenery was beautiful.  We passed through a few small farming communities and over rolling hills.  We really enjoyed ourselves and I am so glad Heather introduced me to this group.  Hiking is one of my favorite things to do, so this fits me perfectly.  (plus this group stops to eat half way through the hike, so it is a plus).

This is Marta.  She allowed me to take her picture while we were on our break.  This was another big bench like the one Mat and I and the kids saw on Saturday

 Our group starting the hike

 Swiss countryside - cannot get enough

 We stopped at a little herb garden - called Ricola (not even kidding).  They had Ricola samples

 Baby cows being tended to

 Another fountain picture for my collection

 Baby cow waiting to join his mama.  We were able to pet his little head

 Little farming town.  

 We saw several of these along our walk today at different farms.  You bring your own bottle - deposit the money, and fill up your bottle with fresh milk.  Really neat

 I was a little late taking this picture - we were on the train.  There was a big castle ruin on the hillside

Skulpturenweg Park

Today we decided to take a little trip to a park that was recommended to me by a friend.  Finley is at a sleepover weekend, so it was just Mat and I with two kids today.  We had a great time.  It is in an area of Basel called Reinach, and it was about 40 minutes by tram to get there.

We had a great time walking around and checking out the sculptures.  They are all carved out of tree trunks, and some are really unique.  It took us about an hour to walk through the park before we headed home.  IT was a nice way to spend the afternoon.  And the best part was - it was FREE!

Swiss countryside

 Second random cross I have spotted in less than a week

 The sculptures - made out of tree trunks

 Snow White (and they had the seven dwarfs as well

 Little Red Riding Hood

 King on his throne

 More Swiss Countryside