Basel, Switzerland Part One

And so our journey begins  

in Basel, Switzerland pronounced Baasel not like Basil the herb.  Basel, nestled on the Rhine river, is Switzerland’s third-largest town and, partly because of its proximity to France and Germany, there is a strong sense of its own identity. It is a bi-lingual city, on account of it being so close to both France and Germany.

If you have been following European weather reports this summer many parts are experiencing a drought. As a result we may have part of our trip changed to go by bus and stay at hotels picking up a riverboat in a different, town coming from an opposite direction.
This was a beautiful view of city on either side of the Rhine.  

I changed the filter on this photo to make it look more old world. Interesting architecture in the historic old town. 

On a late  Friday afternoon in the Marktplaz historic old town many markets were available where you can pick up fresh foods or sample some local delicacies Here we found a carnival like atmosphere with many families milling about.

Many of the streets were designated just for pedestrians and parking looked scarce. Lots  of bicycles make navigating the town easier to shop at fancy small boutique like shops. Basel has a great art scene and boosts several renown museums and lots of art exhibits.   
Coming from Minnesota where it has been cold and snowy lately here is one of the best reasons to visit Basel. It has a temperate climate and boosts  around 300 days of sunshine every year. Hard for me to even imagine so many days with sun. 

Check back tomorrow for Part Two touring Basel and enjoying the food scene.