September 21, 2022
The day that I’d been anticipated for over a year has arrived and I’m in Basel, Switzerland; the starting point for our river cruise to Amsterdam on the Scenic Crystal. I’m meeting a bunch of friends and family here and I’m looking forward to spending some time with my peeps.
Linda and I join my sister Robyn and her wife Joan for the hotel breakfast. The buffet was very nice especially after we discovered the Prosecco which we transformed into mimosas to wash down our delicious breakfast choices. During our extended breakfast, we ran into a bunch of the cruising crew. It was lovely to have a chance to catch-up on their recent adventures as most folks had come to explore Switzerland for a few days or a few weeks prior to the cruise.
A quick trip back to the room to grab our bags so we could check out and head out to explore the city before heading to board our boat later in the day. Our hotel is very close to the Basel Rathaus (City Hall); a 500-year-old building dominating the Marktplatz and as good a place as any to start our explorations. Linda and I are joined by Deb and John Hutchings who’ve been in Basel for a few days and know their way around.
Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the Rhine with a population of around 175,000; Switzerland’s third largest city after Zurich and Geneva. Basel is commonly considered to be the cultural capital of Switzerland and the city is famous for its many museums; 40 museums are spread across the city. No time or interest in museums today. It’s beautiful and sunny so we opt for a quick walkabout instead.
We walked around for a bit going where the wind blew us indulging in a little window shopping and some actual shopping before heading back toward the hotel.
We made it back a bit early so dropped into the local Coop to pick up a couple of beer to enjoy on the lovely terrace of the Hotel Märthof with spectacular views of the city. Soon enough it was time to grab our bags and hop into cabs to the cruise boat mooring.
On arrival, we were greeted by the friendly crew who relieved us of our luggage and escorted us to our cabins. The boat is beautiful and our room is cozy with a lovely balcony. I’ll take pictures another day. Once our bits and bobs are unpacked and stowed away, Linda and I head to the lounge for some refreshments where we find some of the crew to begin the shenanigans and explore the boat a bit.
The late afternoon and evening sped by (time with friends always seems to fly) and after the requisite welcomes and speeches from various members of the crew, we were off to the dining room for dinner. The caprese salad, veal ragout and lemon profiteroles washed down with the sommelier’s wine choices were scrumptious and filling.
After a leisurely dinner, we headed back to the lounge for more chatting and a nightcap or two; the first of many days to enjoy great food and even better company.
Tomorrow is another day. Luxurious adventures await …
Judy’s Rambles 