Basel Switzerland

After an eight hour flight from Minneapolis to Basel Switzerland and losing another 7 hours due to time changes, ours was to be a long, white, boat calmly waiting on the edge of the Rhine river.

We flew to Basel primarily to join the group of travelers that would be our family for the next few days cruising on the long boat named MODI owned and run by Viking Cruise Lines. After our flight we were met by a Viking representative who directed us toward a bus that would drive us to the Rhine River and to our longboat ship. There we found our cozy room (kind words for small quarters). I was quite impressed with the efficient layout of the space. It was comfortably appointed with a queen size bed, adequate closet and drawer space, a bathroom that one could actually move around in. It was much nicer than any of the rooms we had experienced on the major ocean cruise ships we had previously experienced.

After settling in and having a martini that my son-in-law made from supplies he had snuck into his suitcase, we strolled through the old town of Basel. Later, dinner was served in the comfortable dining room. I had halibut – not so good. Mona had chateau Briand – delicious. The rest of the meal was excellent as well. We later sat on the upper deck before being called to an orientation meeting. Soon after, and exhausted from the eight-hour trip and loss of seven hours due to time change, Mona & I retired early.

The following day, after a wonderful breakfast of omelets, bacon, fruits and great coffee, we joined a tour of the old city of Basel where Switzerland, France and Germany meet. There, idling at the curb on the street, attended by affable, logoed greeters, sat enough buses, all climate-controlled and ready to transfer this group to the city of architecturally beautiful building that date way before any we see in the good (not so old) U. S. of A.

There we saw incredible centuries old architecture including a cathedral build over two centuries. It took a long time to build but it stands as sturdy today as the day it was finished – something we can’t say about some of the building we built less that a hundred years ago here in the U.S. This medieval structure sits on a hill high above the Rhine River. I’m told the Romans had a fortress on this prior. The first structure was completed in 1019 with an addition of a tower in the late 11th century.

Only the Rhine river divides Basel from its neighbor countries, France and Germany. It is clode to the Jura mountains and not far from the famous Black Forest. Basel has always been a strategic trade center but when, in 1225, the city built its first bridge across the Rhine, did it become a world trade center. Pope Pius II founded Basel’s University in 1460. To think, I would not have thought of visiting Basel were it not that we had to join our Viking Cruise Ship at this location. Happy we did.