Ausfull

Next to our train on the Basel notice board, it said "Ausfull". My phone said it meant something like 'fill'. I wasn't bothered because we had a booking. Lyn said, "I am going to check." She found out it meant, "Cancelled"! The nice man in the railway uniform explained - just go to the French destination platforms and get on the next one. So we did. We are heading home from Switzerland and all is well. The problem is that Lyn also made the washing machine work this morning after a dismal failure by me. I may not hear the end of today for some time.

Basel is only a 40 minute train ride from Colmar. We arrived just before midday and walked to the Kunstmuseum - a famous art gallery. Before exploring further, we ate a two course vegetarian lunch in the bistro. 

The gallery was excellent. Though Lyn was dismayed to discover a whole wall of her pet hate - Piet Mondrian.

There were plenty of old masters too.

The entrance hall was impressive.

We then set off for the Tingueley Fountain. I took a video rather than a photo because it is an amazing kinetic sculpture. So you can't see it here. 

We were taking a walking tour of Basel which turned out to be very good and, this being Switzerland, went like clockwork.

We were given waterbottles and told to fill them at any of Basel's numerous and picturesque fountains.

The thing at the top of the last Fountain is a Basilisk. 

The big church was spectacular on the outside but dourly protestant inside.

Erasmus is buried here - quite an achievement for a Catholic priest!

The cloisters were interesting too. The red sandstone certainly had visual impact.

The church had a huge balcony area overlooking the Rhine.

The little boat in the middle pic is the ferry. It crosses using a wire rope and the current. Ingenious!

We passed through a park where they were already working on decorating the trees for the Christmas markets to come.

The town hall was pure overkill.

The tour ended with free pieces of the local chewy gingerbread. Lyn suggested buying more. I pointed out that three pieces each was sufficient. 

After a brief frantic grapple with the tram ticket machine we made it back to the station and onto the train.