Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Cainan's Karate

Cainan started a karate class this winter. It was a leap for him because it is a different type of Karate (Ken-Shin-Kan Goju-Ryu) than what he was doing in the US, and the class is taught all in German. But he is loving it. Today he went up a belt and got a certificate.


Monday, March 25, 2019

Finley off to Ski Camp

Today Finley left for her weeklong ski camp in the Swiss Alps.  She was pretty excited.  This is only her second time skiing, but she has really taken a liking to it.  She is hoping that maybe next winter she can go more often.


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Fasnacht 2019 - Day 2

Fasnacht last for 3 days, but we only went to two of them.

This morning we got up and went to see all the lanterns on display in our oldest courtyard.  They line them all up for the next two days for people to admire.  Each clique desides on a theme and then an artist makes their creation.  A lot of them are polictical stances, but some are not.  We enjoyed walking around looking at them all.



 I loved this one.  We saw it in the parade.  It was actually steered and it would turn when the person driving it moved the handlebars.
 I took this one so you could see how big they all are

 This guy (peeing) is the symbol on our public restrooms in the city







We walked around a bit listening to the music, and then headed home.  In the evening we ate out and then listened to the concert for a few hours.  Different bands come onto the stage and play 3 songs each while dressed in their costumes.  It was weird and delightful all at once.






Monday, March 11, 2019

Fasnacht 2019 - Day 1

This year, my parents are in visiting for Fasnacht.  It was great to have them here to witness the way the Swiss let their hair down for 3 days.  I love this traditional carnival and the mess and noise that comes along with it.  It is a lot of fun.

This morning we were up at 2:00am to make it down for the 4:00am Morganstreich.  This is the official kick off to Fasnacht where they turn off all the lights in the city and the cliques parade through the city with lanterns as the only light.  We had front row seats for the parade and had a great time.

The crowd at 4am waiting for the start

 Always the butt of the jokes in any country - Trump
 An example of small lanters that were in front of each clique.  Each one is different for the group.

We were back by 6am, and took a nap before heading back out for the afternoon parade.  The cliques come back out in matching costumes and parade all over the city with their instruments, floats, confetti, candy, oranges, flowers.  IT is something to see.  If their scary masks don't chase winter away, I don't know what would.

Afternoon Parade

 All of the floats are in Swiss German, so I can't translate much, but I do know thatb"Joor" is "year"




 A lot of NASA floats making fun of Trump's "Space Force"
 The bands will put their drums and masks along the road and then go off and eat or have a coffee, and no one will bother them.  Because this is Switzerland

 Our main bridge in the city with hoards of people watching the parade


 No.idea.



This is our second Fasnacht in Basel.  I am glad we had my parents here to share in the fun.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Arlington's Trip to Spain

Arlington recently took a school trip to Spain.  They went to Girona, and Barcelona during the 5 days.

The kid's schools normally take a compulsory trip each year - even starting as young as the 3rd grade.  Cainan and Finley's schools go skiing for a week.  (How cool is it that they get to ski the Swiss Alps?)  But Arlington's high school decided to do a Study Trip these last few years instead.  It seems to be more popular for the older kids.  Last year they went to Yorkshire, England, and this year was Spain.  I am grateful that she gets this opportunity to go.

She had a great time exploring.  She did wish they had more time to go into some of the historical buildings, so I think we will be returning to these areas of Spain in the future to explore a little further

Pictures as they are coming into Spain by airplane

 The beach in Girona - their first stop.  They did a kayak trip on the Mediterranean



 The Salvador Dali Museum.  They did go inside and she said it was "very strange"
 He is buried in Spain
 A huge church that was being built whlie she was there
 the Spain Arc de Triomphe

 This was the eternal flame from the Olympic games that were held in Barcelona
 One of the Olympic stadiums

 Pretty Sunset
I had her take this one for me.  She couldn't get any closer, but this was on the set of Game of Thrones.