4: Basel Christmas markets, cathedral

Tuesday, December 21, 2010: Day 6
Kandern, DE
Basel, CH

Today we slept in rather late, opting to relax and feel like we were vacationing rather than rush into the cold to explore.

Around 11AM we rubbed the crust from our rested eyes and lumbered down the compact spiral stairway in Jayma's German home for freshly baked plum bread and sweet coffee.  We sat at the breakfast table in the kitchen and stared at the melting snow outside, pondering the forthcoming rain and slush we would deal with later in the day.  We rejoiced that the weather would cease to be so thoroughly bone-chilling.

Around 12:30PM we drove 20 minutes south to Basel, Switzerland to visit a couple of Christmas markets.   Market One was set up very nicely, with lovely Christmas decorations, a giant ferris wheel, and classic American Christmas music playing over the speakers.  Jayma and Jon sampled some truly disgusting cheese.. the experience was akin to chewing Stride flavor-changing gum, only instead of tasting berry change to mint, we tasted dishwater change to outhouse.  I've tasted some disgusting cheese in my life but this one really kicked the bucket; no wonder the cheese guy was giving it away.

Food, clothes, and other goodies at market number one were priced too high for us to enjoy in good conscience, so we quickly moved on to other things.  We walked down the main street, passing many interesting shops, sharply dressed Euro-citizens, and handsome bicycles.  We stopped at a second Christmas market where things were cheaper but still too expensive.  After deciding we could afford to settle for glüwein at 5 Francs a cup (kinderpunch for Jayma), we walked into the bank on the corner and exchanged our colorful Euro bills for some colorful Swiss Franc bills.  The glüwein was very good, as always.

In the rain, we crossed the Rheine river and walked up the hill to Basel Münster, a grand cathedral that overlooks the city.  We sat briefly inside the sanctuary, taking in the majesty of the architecture.  Becky's cracked right boot, which had been taking on water the whole afternoon, began to audibly squish.

Back down the hill, we bought some pastries from a pastry shop, a garlic-buttered pretzel from Brezelkönig (Pretzel King), and a flowery accessory from a discount clothing store.

A short but pleasing stop in a very pleasant city.

Back at home in Kandern, we ate Jon's chicken rissotto and soggy zucchini and then went to bed at a reasonable hour.

Becky double-fisting glüwein, urging Jon to hurry with the photo.

Jayma and her kinderpunch crossing in front of Starbucks in Basel.

Jayma's feet crossing the train tracks

Jon's face, Becky's umbrella, and the city.

OMG cute right?

Becky and the tram

What a smart-looking Basel bike.

Basel Münster is quite grand on the interior.

A quiet moment

Jon studying a heavily-weathered stone carving outside the cathedral

Looking out over the city and smiling at the possibilities...

The Rheine river.  It's big!

Yeah, it's THIS big!

An odd sign on the exterior of the cathedral.  All I gather from it is that someone interested in these types of hats might find them on the right.