June 9: Lausanne, Jura, Basel
Dear Ones,
After breakfast at the hotel, we were off on a scenic train ride to Basel along Lake Biel, Lake Neuchatel, and through the Jura mountains that straddle France and Switzerland. The mountain range gives its name to the Swiss canton of Jura, which has a rich history of horology, and is therefore also referred to as “The Watch Valley.” Especially the towns of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites for their cultural past. Le Locle has been the home to manufacturers such as Zodiac, TIssot, Ulysse Nardin, and Montblanc and has even been cited as the birthplace of the watch industry, with roots dating back to the 1600s.
Our route from Lausanne took us to the following stops, in case anyone wishes to follow them on a Swiss map: Lausanne—Yverdon-les-Bains—Neuchatel—Biel/Bienne—(then a change of train)—Grenchen—Moutier—Delemont—Laufen—Basel. We transferred luggage without any trouble, as “between” times were reasonable.
By the way, the gentleman who had fallen not once but twice in Lausanne and had incapacitated his knees spent the night in a Swiss hospital undergoing tests, and it looks like he and his wife will be in the hospital for a little while longer, and then will be on their way back home. Sad ending when the ambulance came by last night and transported him to the hospital from the hotel. The uneven surfaces of European cities must be negotiated with care and deliberation. I saw several falls waiting to happen, and it is imperative that they be avoided at all costs, as fiascos like this do not do a trip any favors!
Arriving in Basel, we sorted luggage out and drove to the Hotel Bildungszentrum 21 for a stay of 2-nights’ duration. Rooms are simply but nicely furnished. A kind of porthole window looks out on the grounds and rose garden below. The hotel is close to the impressive ancient Spalentor, a famous landmark of Basel.
Once check-in had occurred, we attended a lecture entitled “Basel and the Arts” by Irina Roos, who talked about the holdings of various museums in Basel, the Basel Art Fair, and the Basel Carnival. She answered practical questions as well, and it was from her recommendation that Cathy and I decided to go to the Harmonie restaurant down the street from the Spalentor. Both Cathy and I wanted Rösti, essentially a potato pancake. The ones we ordered were topped by two sunny-side-up eggs on the top, sprinkled with a bit of paprika. So good! As we finished, the heavens started opening up! Luckily, we had our umbrellas with us. Once it stopped raining, we went to the Botanical Gardens (belonging to the university) and strolled some of their grounds and greenhouses. Meanwhile, we are back from our stroll and are trying to dry off. Have in mind to go to Catholic Mass with Cathy tomorrow morning, then explore the Kunstmuseum (Art Museum), the Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum), as well as the Tinguely Fountain—all three after a tour of the Old Town of Basel by today’s speaker, Irina Roos. Stay tuned! As ever, SV
After breakfast at the hotel, we were off on a scenic train ride to Basel along Lake Biel, Lake Neuchatel, and through the Jura mountains that straddle France and Switzerland. The mountain range gives its name to the Swiss canton of Jura, which has a rich history of horology, and is therefore also referred to as “The Watch Valley.” Especially the towns of La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites for their cultural past. Le Locle has been the home to manufacturers such as Zodiac, TIssot, Ulysse Nardin, and Montblanc and has even been cited as the birthplace of the watch industry, with roots dating back to the 1600s.
Our route from Lausanne took us to the following stops, in case anyone wishes to follow them on a Swiss map: Lausanne—Yverdon-les-Bains—Neuchatel—Biel/Bienne—(then a change of train)—Grenchen—Moutier—Delemont—Laufen—Basel. We transferred luggage without any trouble, as “between” times were reasonable.
By the way, the gentleman who had fallen not once but twice in Lausanne and had incapacitated his knees spent the night in a Swiss hospital undergoing tests, and it looks like he and his wife will be in the hospital for a little while longer, and then will be on their way back home. Sad ending when the ambulance came by last night and transported him to the hospital from the hotel. The uneven surfaces of European cities must be negotiated with care and deliberation. I saw several falls waiting to happen, and it is imperative that they be avoided at all costs, as fiascos like this do not do a trip any favors!
Arriving in Basel, we sorted luggage out and drove to the Hotel Bildungszentrum 21 for a stay of 2-nights’ duration. Rooms are simply but nicely furnished. A kind of porthole window looks out on the grounds and rose garden below. The hotel is close to the impressive ancient Spalentor, a famous landmark of Basel.
Once check-in had occurred, we attended a lecture entitled “Basel and the Arts” by Irina Roos, who talked about the holdings of various museums in Basel, the Basel Art Fair, and the Basel Carnival. She answered practical questions as well, and it was from her recommendation that Cathy and I decided to go to the Harmonie restaurant down the street from the Spalentor. Both Cathy and I wanted Rösti, essentially a potato pancake. The ones we ordered were topped by two sunny-side-up eggs on the top, sprinkled with a bit of paprika. So good! As we finished, the heavens started opening up! Luckily, we had our umbrellas with us. Once it stopped raining, we went to the Botanical Gardens (belonging to the university) and strolled some of their grounds and greenhouses. Meanwhile, we are back from our stroll and are trying to dry off. Have in mind to go to Catholic Mass with Cathy tomorrow morning, then explore the Kunstmuseum (Art Museum), the Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum), as well as the Tinguely Fountain—all three after a tour of the Old Town of Basel by today’s speaker, Irina Roos. Stay tuned! As ever, SV
Comments
Post a Comment