My first time in Switzerland. Only a six and a half hour train ride from Florence, here we are in the land of Alps, Lindt chocolate, alpine lakes and cows in green pastures. It is real. We saw it all from the train.
Basel is a total contrast from Florence. First of all, we are in German speaking Switzerland. The Swiss franc is the currancy. Most of the people in the streets are going about their business and seem to live here. It’s lightly raining. The gothic stone is deep red sandstone and the cathedral has flying buttresses. Few cars or motorcycles impede pedestrians; instead, long trolleys quietly ply the main streets. Modern buildings intersperce with the old ones and skyscrapers loom in the distance.
I am baffled by the German. I might have a hundred German words in my vocabulary but I’m lost here. Italian was so much more familar. I know that “Platz” is a plaza or square but “Barfusserplatz” made me laugh.
We are staying in a super modern hotel, at the other end of the spectrum from the faded palazzo. I had a little trouble with the push button shower but otherwise it’s a relief to have everything so new and sleek. And now I’m so tired that I’m climbing under the eiderdown with the tasteful ginkgo printed organic sheets and bid you gute Nacht.
Katy’s Blog Trip to Europe 2019 
Oh my. Being in a German speaking place. It is such a blow to the linguistic esteem. One time I deluded myself into thinking that I could rapidly (like in 2 weeks) learn what I called “sewing German” – so I could read patterns, ask questions at fabric shops, etc. I was very incorrect in my assessment of sewing German. And of my abilities to learn a non-Romance language. In two weeks. Alas. Those non-Romance languages (all 8000 of them) are just not going to enter my repertoire. . . But I can understand written Occitan. So I consider myself lucky. xoxoxo
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I thought about this a little bit more. Some people would say that English is a Germanic language. But apparently I don’t think so.
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I know. English is the hodge podge.
A little Somalian maid came to our door with extra pillows. She said “Bon jour.” I said “hello.” She said “here are the pillows” in a British accent. I said “danke.”
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Hope you slept well, Katy. I believe you are in the land of my farther’s ancestors. I love the store and it reminds me of Christmas in my childhood home. The hotel sounds fabulous.
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I had an 8+ hour sleep. I think you would love Basel. It’s much easier to navigate than Italy.
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