Thursday, November 29, 2018

Arlington's School

Arlington's high school recently moved into a new building here in Basel.  I had a chance to visit the other day when her school held an event.  It really is a pretty building, and right in the heart of the city, which Arlington loves.  The inside is just as pretty, but I didn't take pictures.  Too many people.  My favorite part of the building is the top floor.  They have their auditorium there, but also a floor size lounge for the students.  They have swinging egg chairs, couches, tables, and even a place for them to make coffe or lunch.  What a great space for kids to hang out between classes or to study.  Arlington's school schedule runs more like a college (she starts at different times depending on the day of the week, and also has large breaks during some days) so the students need somewhere to be so they don't bother the people in class on the other floors.


Saturday, November 24, 2018

Christmas In Basel

Now that Thanksgiving is over, Christmas has sprung in Switzerland.  Well - technically, there is no Thanksgiving in Basel, but we giggle because every year - on American's "Thanksgiving Day" the Christmas season starts in Basel.  The city is beautifully decorated and the Christmas markets appear.  I love walking around the markets - looking at all the handmade items and sipping hot chocolate.  The markets will stay up until December 23rd - plenty of time for us to go and have some good food and get some great treasures for our ever growing collection.

Every year, the Christmas markets come out with a mug.  This is the 2018 version.  I love it

The center of town.  There are always tons of really large, live trees spread throughout the city that they decorate.




 My favorite thing at the Herbstmess and the Christmas markets - fondue inside of bread.  It is so delicious - I could eat it every day
 Love this huge Candle Spinner
Parts of the city at niht - so may pretty lights


 These folks are lined up around the block for a pop up fondue restaurant!


After our visit to the market, we broke out this year's board game.  Each year, we buy a board game to play around Christmas.  It is a tradition that we got from Mat's family that I just love.  I started dating Mat when I was 15 years old, and every year on Christmas Eve, his parents would bring out a new board game for us to play after church.  I looked forward to it every year, and knew I wanted that same tradition for our family.  This year's game was "The Plague"



Thursday, November 1, 2018

Friends, Food, Fun

Yesterday I had two of my closest friends here over for lunch.  I have made several friends since I moved here, and we try to get together weekly when possible, but no less than monthly.  I feel like my survival in a foreign country has been made much better with them. 

So yesterday, I had over my friends Tiffany and Marta for lunch.  They have both hosted me at their houses in the past, and it was my turn.  I am not a very good cook, so I chose simple things for our afternoon.  I made traditional Swiss fondue, and we had a pumpkin pie.  We had a great time - talking and laughing, and I wish I had remembered to take a picture of them.


I am grateful for their friendship over this last year, and feel so lucky to have met them.  There is nothing like girlfriends.