Basel …Here we Come!

Early Trip to Basel

Today we open the season with a trip to Basel to play the Gladiators.  From what I

understand it is about a two-hour bus ride.  From what I am seeing this should be a good test for our team.  The game should be a solid measurement of what type of squad we have and what we need to work on to improve for the future.

Basel is located in northwestern Switzerland along the River Rhine and the city is on the French and German Border.  It is the third largest city in Switzerland (following Zurich and Geneva) with a population of around 200,000.

The city has forty or so museums – which makes this area one of the largest cultural areas per capita in all or Europe.  Basel is home to Kuntsmuseum which was the first collection of art in the world (1661) and the largest museum of art in Switzerland.  Also located there are the Foundation Beyeler and the Museum of Contemporary Art (Basel).

Obviously, this place is noted for its great devotion to the arts.  Well, I am not sure if football is considered art.  So at some point I will have to make a trip on my own to take a look at the place.  Well hell I was an art major right … well I guess Liberal Arts major might be actually what I was – probably not art major I guess.

But, then I hear that there is this great thing called the Basler Fascnacht.  Apparently, this is a pretty wild three day affair that starts early in the morning of the Monday following Ash Wednesday with masked revelers and musicians parading through old town.  Sounds like a winner to me.

Speaking of Holidays it sounds like Christmas is well celebrated as well!  Many Christmas trees line the streets with the large market especially popular during the Holiday season.

Also, it sounds like there are other great buildings such as the Town Hall (Rathaus) and the Basel Cathedral which looks out over the Rhine from the Pfalz (a terrace).

Sounds like it may be worth visiting to me!