I am home now. I was more than 24 hours trying to get home. Jet lag? Not sure, but I have been waking up for the last three nights in a row at precisely 3:04 a.m.--even if I have barely gone to bed at 1:30 a.m. It is odd. I am missing seeing my breath every day all day long in the crisp, cold air. Arizona is having a very late warm autumn season with temps still up in the 80 degrees F (26-27 degrees C). I have hung my jackets up in my closet and packed away my thermal shirts.
But there were a couple of items I hadn't yet written about and I wanted to finish the entire story. Here it is...written on the plane as I traveled across the Atlantic.
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I'm on the plane coming home now
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| 3 hours and we are still on the airport tarmac. |
But no, the same item malfunctioned again and we returned to the terminal for a second repair. Now it's two hours past the time we were supposed to leave and we are sitting and chatting and drinking water while we wait. Finally, the pilot assured us that after extensive testing and independent firing of the engines that the plane was safe to continue on its journey. It was almost three hours late leaving Switzerland.
I fancy that the lovely country just didn't want to release me to return to America. Maybe it's a good omen and it might mean something positive.
But we are now airborne and heading across the Atlantic. Still, there are events that I didn't mention prior to now. I think it's time.
Basel and I have been friends for two years prior to my visit
One of the biggest festivals in all of Switzerland occurs every spring in Basel. It is linked to Easter. Several weeks before Easter, there is Fasnacht. It is a version of carnival, but with the Swiss putting their precision and flair on it, you can imagine how unique it is.
I'll describe it briefly. Thousands of residents and tourists gather on the town square in the freezing weather of the first Monday after Ash Wednesday at 4 a.m. Four rings of the city clock announce the beginning of the carnival that will last three days and end at 4 a.m. on Thursday. There are three days of dancing, singing, drinking and dressing up like a clown, marching in parades (special one for just the children to march in) and/or playing the drum, flute or brass instrument. Also, knowing German allows you to understand the many skits and songs that will be performed making fun of certain people or events that featured in the past year. Confetti plays a big role.
For the past two years I have been watching Fasnacht via webcams within Basel every night in its entirety. Easter is in the spring, Fasnacht is in the spring. Tax season is in the spring. While I have been working at the office all those late nights, I had a portion of my computer screen showing the locations of Basel. It served to fuel my love of this special city. I wanted to live in Basel for my holiday, but could not find housing. An hour across Switzerland in Zurich was where I ended up, but my heart was always in Basel.
Imagine how it felt the first time I rode a tram past all the streets I
had been watching for two years. I must admit that my feelings
overwhelmed me and a tear or two dropped. It was unbelievable to finally
be on the streets, standing right where I had watched amazing events
unfold for two years.
This is the square containing the main government building for the canton of Basel Stadt. (Basel City. There are actually two cantons named Basel. Basel Land is the surrounding outlying areas around Basel Stadt.) America has the White House. Basel has the Rothaus (Red House). The actual bricks are red. This building is not painted that gorgeous color.
Notice the length of the tram. You can see it has three sections. Check out the accordion sections between the cars. Inside the tram when it is crowded, people are standing in the aisle, even in the accordion parts. One night on the way to the play where I volunteered to do the makeup, I was standing in the accordion section. I had a big surprise in store.
When the long tram turns a corner, there is a metal section on the floor that is a circle shape. It rotates along with the turn so the bus can maneuver. What that means to the unsuspecting tram rider is that you are standing there minding your own business and all of the sudden your feet are heading off in the direction of a circle. Surprised the heck out of me when it happened to me. After the initial startled feeling, I began to enjoy the experience.
There is a second party sponsored by Basel in the fall
Herbstmesse is the fall celebration of the harvest--a harvest festival, if you will. It is huge. It goes for three weeks in the city. There are carnival rides of all kinds. Flashing lights, screams of excitement and a gorgeous skyline proclaiming the festival to all the world. Hundreds of booths line the streets and plazas. Each booth has unique and interesting items to sell. Much of it homemade and excellent quality, I might add. I easily found too much to purchase. Too much.
A signature giant ferris wheel turns all day and night (until closing
time) in the plaza right by a major cathedral. It is lighted and
beautiful as it stands high about the flowing waters of the Rhein. Talk
about romantic! Yes, I rode it, but I was in a car with a cute couple.
She plays the cello for the symphony and we had a lovely conversation.
She made herself ride the "big wheel" each year to challenge her fear
of heights. I have met some of the most interesting folks.
There are treats and yummy things to eat, you can bet. Raclette is hugely popular. Grill roasted brats are also a main staple. One specialty that Helen introduced me to was some fabulous curry pockets--a little deep fried popover type thing filled with potatoes and veggies. YUM. For the sweet treats, chocolate. Duh. But there are a couple of chocolate specialties. One is chocolate covered bananas. Not frozen, just dipped. Absolutely delicious! There were chocolate fruit kebabs that had bananas, strawberries, and pineapple chunks.
I saw tons of people eating this one item. It was very curious to me.
It was oblong in shape, chocolate covered, and the insides were a mix
of marshmallow cream and vanilla cream. It literally melted in your
mouth. It was lighter than air too. Amazing.
(Who needs Hostess when you make something like this?)Thousands attended this festival every day--even on the rainy days. They just carried umbrellas. I went several days, and yes, one was even a rainy day.
I bought some hand made sheep to add to my little Christmas nativity scene. I can't wait to put them out. One is even a black sheep. Hey, all types need to be represented, don't you think?
Everyone kept telling me I had to go to this miniature museum in Basel
Literally, it is a museum of miniatures and...wait for it....teddy bears. Yes it is the teddy bear museum. It actually has an official name, the Spielzeug Welten Museum, but everyone calls it the teddy bear museum. There are five floors to this museum. Two are completely dedicated to teddy bears. Large ones, medium ones, small ones, tiny ones. New ones, old ones, vintage ones, first-ever ones. The lady who invented the teddy bear was Swiss and there was a display dedicated to her.
Margarete Steiff was a healthy and active child until she was approximately two years old, when she contracted polio and it left one side of her body immobile. She never let that stop her. She had a lifetime breaking every barrier placed in front of her. When she came up with the idea to have a teddy bear with arms and legs that were able to bend, everyone said it would never last. We all know how that turned out.
The displays were fascinating, to say the least. Every theme imaginable was portrayed. Driving bears, medical bears, wedding bears, school student bears. There was even a bear amusement park with rides that actually ran. Bumper car bears!
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| Notice finger for size reference. |
Check out the size of this one miniature miniature. Notice the size of my pointer finger in the front. Crazy!
If you go to Basel, make time to see this museum. It is sweet fun.
Another museum in the area was having a special Degas exhibit. I rode the tram all the way to the outside edge of the city and saw it. It was inspiring. He did love to paint ballerinas and dancing girls.
I found a hugely exciting sporting event to go to by accident
From my Meine Schweiz stickers, I knew there was a sporting event that I really wanted to go to, but sadly, I found that they all took place during June and July, before I got to CH. It was the one Swiss sport I hadn't seen and didn't look like I was going to.
Then, one day, in the last two weeks of my visit, I was randomly searching for information about a parade and up popped this window announcing the 150th anniversary of the annual Schutzenfest contest (shooting contest) which takes place on the Wednesday before Nov. 11 (or Nov. 7 this year). ALL the major shooting clubs of CH would be there and the best shooters would be competing. It was taking place only one day away. (What timing! Just in time before my departure for home.)
I was so excited. Nothing could contain my joy. I had to get out the door and on my way by 6 a.m. but that was no problem at all!
Thousands of shooters were on hand to compete. From talking to a few of the competitors, I understand that this is the biggest tournament and participation is by invitation only. That means your club or you as a shooter have earned so many points and qualify to compete.
Hundreds of tables were set up and each one had the flag of the gun club proudly proclaiming their name. Many of the banners were quite old. You could tell they were displayed with pride and tradition was strong there.
What was also strong there was the amount of alcohol being consumed--by the competitors! (Yes, the fans drank too.) One or two confessed to me that they were glad their shooting turn took place earlier in the day, before too much of the spirits were downed.
One thing I discovered was due to a nice man who saw me standing and trying to talk to some elderly gentlemen who didn't speak any English. Ernst (or Ernie) works for the Laufen police department taking the photos for all sorts of purposes--whatever is needed.
Ernie took me to go get some kaffee (coffee). Many of the gun clubs had
a table set up and were selling a cup of kaffee for a donation--you
decide the amount. There was usually something to eat along with your
kaffee, a bite of cheese, bread, smoked sausage, etc. Let me tell you
about the "kaffee." It was a cup of a little bit of coffee and a whole
lot of schnapps. The smell alone almost knocked you off your feet.
And the routine was to walk from stand to stand and enjoy several cups of kaffee. I don't know how people were able to remain upright after 2-3 of those. And my question is, "How do they shoot after that???"
Back to the bangs and bullets
There were shooters of all ages competing. Champions in their 70s, 80s, 90s, who had obviously competed every year of their life. Younger competitors 30-40 were joined by those who were brand new--maybe demonstrating skills learned in the compulsory Swiss Army service. Sharpshooting is highly regarded and many young men aspire to become the best.
One of the fellows who was explaining it to me said this was a really prestigious tournament and the shooters didn't even get a "sighting" shot. Meaning, there were no practice rounds. Essentially, the first round becomes your sighting opportunity. And it counts.
The second round is two minutes long and each shooter has to shoot six shots during that time. The third round is another one minute and three final shots.
It was so exciting to be there. The scenery in the Rutli Meadow is incomparable to anything anywhere else. It is breathtakingly beautiful in that meadow. I just gazed and gazed. And, of course, since I was so thrilled to be there, I must admit I had that goofy smile on my face where I can't quit smiling. It was just so thrilling!
Switzerland scores a bulls-eye
But I learned about me and I learned about life. And it was beautiful. Thank You, Life. Thank You, Switzerland.
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| Just a few mementos for home. |
I am unequivocably in love with this country. I love the people, the food, the smells, the trains, the buses, the cows, the sheep, the EVERYTHING. It's a quirkly little country with quirkly little ways.
There was a contest online sponsored by Newly Swissed (check out the website) to choose three words to describe Switzerland. I won. I received a free copy of Swisscellany, the new book by Diccon Bewes. My entry was:
(red and hiking) Shoe-ing, Moo-ing, Fondue-ing.
Three months seemed like a long time when I was planning the trip. Now, it has gone by in a blink of an eye. I have looked out the window of the plane a couple of times as a tear slipped down my cheek. I am sad to leave behind the dear country of the alps.
Hopefully, there will be a second installment in my blog series featuring Switzerland. All I can say is....
Stay tuned.
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