Aug 26-27, 2018
The day begins with a free walking tour of Basel, hosted by a local, suggested to me by Joel. I see the city’s ancient original settlement, the Münster cathedral, a handful of basilisk statuettes, and the famous Rathaus. It's a welcome glimpse into the history of a city I never thought I'd visit, and the strongest memory of this day was the walk back. Sunny but cool—not something I'm used to! I wrote down in my journal that on that simple walk it "fulfilled the desire I had to question what I wanted to experience in my everyday life", and I'm beginning to remember what that meant.
For the past couple of days, to be able to explore places with such storied histories at my own discretion—this is a huge first. And all the new input seems to foreshadow endless possibilities for the next couple months, but I come to the conclusion that I should just focus on the moment. And it's good I did! I think a lot about how memories are just images of the past that we experience in the present. But it's not a disheartening thing. To re-experience something is another experience altogether. It's something different, something new and now. But anyway...
On my last day in Basel, I learn that it's the only metropolitan area with a light rail connecting three countries together. Joel plans out a trip for me to visit both France and Germany, which are just a couple of miles away. In France, I take just a little peek into the town of Saint-Louis. In Germany, I find myself in Weil-Am-Rhein. Turns out I actually buy the wrong ticket at first, and border patrol walks me back to the station to buy the right one. 😅
In my several hours in Germany, I discover the wonders of currywurst, the Vitrahaus (basically...a high-end IKEA), and I take the 6 tram to just outside the Beyeler Foundation, a museum complex. I don’t enter, but I explore the nearby fields and tree passages and feel, truly, like I am in the forested green Europe I’d imagined.
My last night is a walk around the old city, and dinner with Joel and Butch: world-famous Swiss fondue. One curious glimpse at the bill, and I’m happy I stuck to the kebab shops.
