The Rhine River and Basel from the Schwarzwaldbrcke. The twin towers are the Basler Mnster (Basel Cathedral). DSC_0616p1
The coach driver on the Lucerne to Basel transfer was another American expat. He drives tour buses and his wife works for a in Basel. He told of life in Switzerland. The greatest downside is the expense of Swiss goods, he said. Prices are lower across in Germany and he tries to do grocery shopping there, while staying aware of Swiss customs at the border.
The drive to Basel along the A2 motorway was generally a descent from the mountains and lakes around Lucerne to the Rhine River valley, passing though farmland around Sursee and the Wiggerthal. Arrival in Basel was indicated by the sight of the twin towers of Basel Munster as we crossed the Rhine via the Schwarzwaldbrcke. The coach made directly for the Viking cruise dock, so there was no sightseeing opportunity. Basel is home to many and there was definite evidence of their office campuses. One interesting sight passed was the 14th century St. Johns Gate, once part of Basels city walls. We boarded Viking Sigrun and checked in to our cabin. There was time to explore the river craft before sailing at about 6:00 p.m. Both Susan and I had been
- Roche Tower. Office tower built for the Roche Opened in 2015. At 594 feet (178 m) it is the tallest building in Switzerland. DSC_0614p1
