Augusta Raurica - 3/26/08

What can we say, Roman ruins totally rock!! We felt more brave than the day before so, armed with detailed bus and walking directions from Robert, we took a bus slightly southeat of Basel to a tiny town called Augst, site of old Roman ruins of a town called Augusta Raurica. What a really cool little place. The weather was a tad rainy and dreary, but that didn't stop us.

This is the ruins of an old amphitheatre. It was really cool to walk around on here, the same place where the Romans walked and lived.

These are old markers - I am not sure what they say, as my Roman is a tad rusty! Really cool though!

I believe this is the corner of a wall that an past the foundation of the old temple. Despite the weather being drizzly, we decided to have a picnic lunch of sorts here (this was taken from the picnic table someone was kind enough to erect). Soft though the weather was, it was still a lovely picnic.

This was just a little cottage we passed in our travels - they are everywhere, these quaint little scenes - the very kind of place you'd love to wander around on a spring morning.

Clarification

To clarify our previous posts, we actually arrived in Zurich on March 24th, not the 23rd, therefore our first full day in Europe was on the 25th and not the 26th.

Day Two in Europe - 3/24/08

Feeling a little jet lagged and unfamiliar with the lay of the land, we decided to venture out apartment and check out Basel. We needed to find out (as if we didnt know already) what compelled Robert nad Melinda to pick up and move everything thousands of miles away to a country that is not predominantly English speaking. I have to say, we completely understood why - Switzerland ROCKS! It is blissfully not like America in all the good ways!

This is the view from Robert and Melinda's Balcony - totally spectacular nad tranquil. It was hard to peel away from this, but adventure awaited!!

This is the old gate to Basel. Totally midevil and awesome!!!

Here is another part of the old wall around Basel. It is down by the Rhine and really looks the part - ifyou just woke up there and didn't know it, you'd swear you were transported back in time!!

Kaitlyn and I both agreed that this cathedral was totally out of Harry Potter...

Hogwarts, here we come!!!

Someone let Dumbledore know I am on my way!! LOL

We have Arrived - At Last!!

Well, it was a drawn out journey, but we finally made it to Switzerland on March 23rd rather than on the 21st due to a late-in-the-season snow fall - predictably Chicago, right? Well, I have to say, it was well worth the wait. Here are a couple of pictures from Zurich - what a terrific city. So beautfiul and exactly as I imagined it!

This is a really cute fountain near the a river or park of the lake, I can't recall which. Anyway, these awesome public drinking fountains are all over the place and, unless it is posted otherwise, you can drink from them - what a concept!!

This was a really beautiful gate where Winston Churchill was at some point I want to say after WWII. Again, if you love ornate and gorgeous architecture and accoutrements, this is THE place to be!!

This is a chot across the river(?) - it looks too narrow for a lake, but what do I know! LOL You can't swing a dead cat (sorry kitties) without hitting a church. They are almost as prolific as the cheese, chocolate and watches!!

Here is a closer view. This one dates from at least 1732!!