Auf wiedersehen Heidelberg and back on my “Orient Express” this time an S1 Train to Mannheim and then Freiberg. Here I discovered a charming little town with narrow man-made streams filled with wooden boats from children of all ages, understated gothic architecture and little squares and straßes to get lost in. A small rest in a peaceful square, while indulging in my intellectual read “Deception Point”, was a nice way to end my afternoon in Freiburg. Next stop Basel.
Surviving an aggressive passport check on my way into Switzerland I was greeted by a friend at Basel SBB. Our first adventure was to the Coop Supermarket, which included a tour of the chocolate isle and a lesson in economic differences. *Note to self: next time try not to look so terrified when walking around a Swiss Supermarket staring at prices. Must close mouth in public.
So, yes, Switzerland is expensive. Prices are at least double the price I’m used to in Paris. (Looking at the Big Mac Index you can see that Paris’s Big Macs are supplied at 3.60€ and their Swiss counterparts are 6.50 Francs which is about 5.20€1.) In the Basel Coop however my friend kindly bared the brunt of this or I may have had a cardiac arrest.
I managed to recover from the shock and we made it to the Rhine for a river-side concert. Whizzing down on the back of a bike (first time) we then topped it off with an excursion across the current-driven ferry. (Now this was the kind of 19th Century travelling adventure I’d imagined.) Finally we had drinks at a bar under the shadow of Basel Cathedral who’s plastic chairs and coloured lights were a sure sign of its understated chic…
The next day’s activities were open for discussion, or that’s one way of describing our tired apathy. Swimming in the Rhine had been ruled out given a large lack of swimming abilities added to the harrowing Rhine experiences of a previous guest. Walking in the mountains was a no-go as I’d managed to bring only my best flip slops (I didn’t think about much beyond my hat). Eventually time and inefficient communication led us to Lucerne/Luzern and a boat trip around the lake. (More of that 19th Century travel I’d been longing for.)
Back in Basel we returned to see the real sights, “All bar one” and “Paddy’s” the Irish bar on on Cinema Street. The trip could have ended there but the next day I was provided with a bespoke guide of the “Altstadt” - the Minster, the Rathaus, the burial place of Erasmus (one of my favourite historical characters), the Historical Museum and finally the Kunstmuseum (free on the first Sunday of the month.) NB. The sofas on the first floor are a great place to fall asleep oh and there is of course a great collection of Holbein the Younger (including that famous portrait of Erasmus). Returning back to base I had one final night before returning to Basel SBB and continuing my InterRail journey.
Overall, a great stop in the country of expensive prices punctuated with beautiful landscapes, chocolate and a long history not forgetting a strict application of Schengen rules.
1. http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
Surviving an aggressive passport check on my way into Switzerland I was greeted by a friend at Basel SBB. Our first adventure was to the Coop Supermarket, which included a tour of the chocolate isle and a lesson in economic differences. *Note to self: next time try not to look so terrified when walking around a Swiss Supermarket staring at prices. Must close mouth in public.
So, yes, Switzerland is expensive. Prices are at least double the price I’m used to in Paris. (Looking at the Big Mac Index you can see that Paris’s Big Macs are supplied at 3.60€ and their Swiss counterparts are 6.50 Francs which is about 5.20€1.) In the Basel Coop however my friend kindly bared the brunt of this or I may have had a cardiac arrest.
I managed to recover from the shock and we made it to the Rhine for a river-side concert. Whizzing down on the back of a bike (first time) we then topped it off with an excursion across the current-driven ferry. (Now this was the kind of 19th Century travelling adventure I’d imagined.) Finally we had drinks at a bar under the shadow of Basel Cathedral who’s plastic chairs and coloured lights were a sure sign of its understated chic…
The next day’s activities were open for discussion, or that’s one way of describing our tired apathy. Swimming in the Rhine had been ruled out given a large lack of swimming abilities added to the harrowing Rhine experiences of a previous guest. Walking in the mountains was a no-go as I’d managed to bring only my best flip slops (I didn’t think about much beyond my hat). Eventually time and inefficient communication led us to Lucerne/Luzern and a boat trip around the lake. (More of that 19th Century travel I’d been longing for.)
Back in Basel we returned to see the real sights, “All bar one” and “Paddy’s” the Irish bar on on Cinema Street. The trip could have ended there but the next day I was provided with a bespoke guide of the “Altstadt” - the Minster, the Rathaus, the burial place of Erasmus (one of my favourite historical characters), the Historical Museum and finally the Kunstmuseum (free on the first Sunday of the month.) NB. The sofas on the first floor are a great place to fall asleep oh and there is of course a great collection of Holbein the Younger (including that famous portrait of Erasmus). Returning back to base I had one final night before returning to Basel SBB and continuing my InterRail journey. Overall, a great stop in the country of expensive prices punctuated with beautiful landscapes, chocolate and a long history not forgetting a strict application of Schengen rules.
1. http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
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