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Willkommen bei @basel !

Brauerei Fischerstube

Rheingasse 45 4058 Basel

Fischerstube Brauerei has the best bier in town !

Lager hell

Reverenz spezial

Robur dunkel

Weizen obergärig

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Basel

Basel is a great international city. With it's historical and art museums cafes, restaurants and theatres, there is always a new adventure to be explored. Unfortunately I was not able to visit them all. Most everyday and evening, I strolled along the Rhine River that devides the city into two distinct places. Basel borders the closest to France and Germany where I was able to visit both once again during this visit. A regular or should I say, frequent stop, was the Fischertube Brewery. I tried all the beers and found that I especially enjoyed the Robur dunkel, a dark ale, and the Reverenz spezial, an amber ale.
I found that much of the "Tagging", a term used here in the states for artists and gangs that spray paints art and or their gang tag/ID, is really more art than here. Much of the tagging I saw was actually commissioned art by the city before they will eventually be repainted. I was really impressed by this and will post some pictures once they are developed.

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Basel, Switzerland

Basel borders both Germany and France, but it has a character that is decidedly Swiss (as well as a great variety of food).

As snow and skiing are to the southern portions of Switzerland, culture is to Basel. It is quite proud of its 30 plus excellent museums, so much so it has applied for the title "European City of Culture" for the year 2001.

It wouldn't be the first time it was the hot bed of the arts and intellect. In the 19^th and early 20th centuries, the likes of Nietzche taught at the university, which boasts a 500-year-old history.

Before the Rhine flows into Germany's famous wine growing country, it flows through Basel. Here, in the city, is the famous Rheinknie -- where the river turns from the west to the north.

Every spring the city throws a carnival (you show your tourist stripes if you call it the Carnival instead of its proper name, Fasnacht). For three days, the city becomes a big party. People walk through the town in costumes, playing traditional pipes, drums and Guggemusigg. Say the folks at Basel Online: "The big secret behind the "Guggemusigg" is that they often don't play the right notes but it sounds great anyway."

In the next couple of weeks, I will be updating this document in real time. Let's see what kind of trouble I can get into this time! "DIPLOMATIC IMMNUNITY"
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Last of the Moe-hee-kens ----Saturday, July 31^st

Things have changed from the days of our "Yute". We were invincible, never thought these days could ever happen too us. As each of us has learned, we do get older, we find someone that puts up with our "stuff", and this is visa versa. We bite the bullet and ask those four words. Well Ed is the last out of the four (D, T, R, E) of us to ask these words and take the plunge.

Saturday, July 31^st

All Ed's planning, months and months of preparing finally was over. Nadine's response was the one that Ed wanted to hear. I, as I know everyone else does, wishes you both the best and congratulations.

What happened after everyone left the bar has to be told. 2:am or so, Teresa drove the Omni Love Bus (OLB), Anton's VW bus to get something to eat. Ed, Anton, and Kale gave Teresa extremely poor directions to El Gruillense. Not the closest one, but to the furthest one they could think of. Months and months of planning, and finally able to relax, put Ed into spin mode. I haven't seen Ed this gone since Traveler Daze. We stopped the OLB in front of some bakery where almost everyone jumped out to assist Ed with what ever he was doing. After, what seemed to be an eternity, they piled back into the OLB and headed to El Gruillense. Ed passed out within a block from the place, and was gone the rest of the evening. Anton drank some bad water and seemed to have caught whatever Ed had but did not pass out. At the restaurant, and to compensate for his malady, Anton ordered 20 tacos, every variety you could imagine. I'm sure the OLB smells like little Mexico with all the stuff we dropped on the floor. This morning, my sunglasses were covered in Salsa and I'm still trying to get them clean.

When they dropped me off In front of my place we all, except for passed out Ed, had a vision. A "Super Super Stretch Suburban Limo" was parked in front of my place. Gentlemen, we need to discuss renting one of these for Ed's Bachelor's party in the future.

In regards to what happened to Ed once they got him home is a mystery. Did he wake up and stumble to bed? Did Anton and Kale have to carry him? This was just the engagement party... oh oh !!

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Firstenzi reeporten frume Basel Tourismus --August 5th
Vell I am here inz Basel. Nothing like flying in the nose of a 747 with wind shear. Keepen zine hands oop inza air. Way kick! I flew out Monday, Heathrow via Basel. It took about 9.5 hours to get to Heathrow, party all the way, "die NO tuuenzie sleep !!". Got a massgae while on board, I tried to get another, but was shot down. The deal was one per seat/customer, I told the massuse that I would get another seat. She made me realize that I am all tense and that alcohol alone will not remedy problema. Had a 4 hour layover in UK, thank goodness for Sky Lounges. I flew CrossAIr to Basel and all I can say is that CrossAir stewardesses RULE !!

Wheather has been very humid, in the high 70's F, and has now been raining for a day and a half, light rain most of the time, not a bad change from homenzie. ---- I've hit a few of the local pubs, went to a local brewery and sampled a couple dark and wheat biers. To get an idea of prices, a jack and coke with an ounce of Jack is about 13 CHF, at an exchange rate of $ 1.28 to US dollar. Food, well I've been asked to mention the cuisine here. I've been eating at a French restaurant "Le Provence". Jet laggy night eh, I had Veg. Salat vit local and French legumes. Zukes and tomatoes, some others I can't even describe. All cooked in olive oil with garlic and herbs in an oil and vinegrette mixture. I've had the traditional steak and pomme frit (fries). A traditional French dish I remember from my childhood during my visits to France. They cook it with an herb/garlic butter and some baked Provence tomatoe. COn-ne k tion g et tin g lo ssstt, beee e e bbb ack la te r

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SecondziReeporten das Basel Tourismus --August 6th
Went too Germany with a programmer/contractor we work with. Way Check !!. We ate at a German Authentica restaurant. I had what was a combination of a variety of traditional dishes. several meats, some I don't want to know what they were, but all wonderful. We had a few "German" Inzen Ettes its das Mosten Bestenzie Biers" they say. They were good, but can't compare to Coors light, Vats es dis Course lite bier?? Not a very well understood joke over here, Bud is a little better known.

Switzerland Cyber Police would like to know who-n-zie dis Jone Peecsonne ettes. He its note allout en de-in des conetree. They have asked what my affiliation is vit dis fellow. I tried to tell them about BearCat the Dye colored dog, but that was Way Too Skitty for them. Oh, by the way, Thanks Jon, for the lovely message. All my collegues are now quite literate in Ld Sht-ng jargon.

Very quiet trip so far, mind you, only the third day and the weekend is comming up. I may go to Lucerne, no not to Butter, a village/town resort area on a big lake. from the pictures, it looks way Kick.

Please bare with my typing during this trip. Many of the keyboards are set up for German, and they have a few extra buttons I keep hitting by accident. No english dictionary is available, so Gerbonics is they best I can do. We really take the US for granted and I am thankful for US configurations...Viva Las US/Silicon Valley Eh!

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Moontday --3rd Reeporten, Basel Tourismus --August 9th
Well it is Monday here, 11:00 pm your time. Word of the day is "poussez". I got a big kick out of this while in France on Sunday, many of the doors have this written on them, contrary to what may think this means, it means PUSH... I could just imagine REDTRAVELER, and Mike, touring Europe, and heckling the local spelling of EURO_WORDS.

Saturday morning the weather was OK, so I walked all over the platz. I followed the Rhine (big river through the city) into industrial and oil refineries. I knew that I was a little lost when the last sign I read said "FORBOTTEN, (sp?, who cares). Later that morning, it rained so I took the public transportation, which is extremely efficient, around the city. The most interesting thing is that I continue to find myself at FisherStuben. I am not a big bier drinker, but really do like it. I had a late lunch there as well. No one in this pub speaks English, so I have to talk really slowly and loud, this seems to annoy the waitress, who then ignores me. To shut me up, she brought me a really big bier, cool! Eventually someone walked in and wanted to experiment with thier English. This guy was pretty cool, kinda like the bartender and Robbs up at Ice house "The Con" (refer to Links page for more details on Rubicon Trail) He told me that the music scene has really gone hill since 20 years ago. Back then Stone, Zepp, Tull, and many others used to tour through Basel. Now they see very few Goot bands, Marla Glenn, well know Blues singer, in Basel I guess, from the states, played an outdoor concert, 30 minutes into her show a major storm came through and ended it. The crowd apparently said OK, and just left.. Now if that were at home, well we remember Joe Perry Project and Michael Schenker episodes.

Sunday I went to France, I went way deep into the country and got back to my roots. I really felt one with the country. Kick thing there is that the French are very impatient. Horns were honking non stop, someone sneezed and the car would honk, you were making a turn, put on your signal, "HONK". Yes I felt right at home.... Then (use your French Fake Accents) ....A stupeed toureest was use-ing bofe za laines tu makes ze lafe-t tourn !,#%@*/:@!^! Honk, Honk Honk, Beep Beep Beep, Honk, beep, Espess dur Embesille! Honk Honk, Beep Beep....... Way Kick......

Once again back in Basel, I took the trams throughout the city, again.. Really incredible how this system works. Many of the trams meet up into the MarketPlatz which is the major networking hub for all of Basel. Young skateboarders, shoppers, the tourist, the international girls, every walk of life meet here. Around 4, I found myself back towards the Fsh Fsh Fsh, Stube, but to my dismay, it was closed. I ended up back towards my hotel, where even the Irish Pub was closed. I ended up in the Hotel bar where I met a very Famous Swiss Ventriloquist (Europeans are very easily amused by what had become a dead art in the US about 35 years ago. This guy was kick, asked me everything about US life. His biggest upset was that he had heard that "one iz note allout tu drink alkohol on dah street een Ameireeka". He was getting pissed, both US and UK ways (pissed in UK is buzzed/drunk) He asked , "but whoot eef I whus havink a Bar-B-Que in my front yardt, I am note alout tu have Alkohol". I calmed him down by informing him that you can drink and drive in Texas, or drink from a paper bag. He wasn't impressed. Then they started to ask me if I knew or saw fifty thousand actors and musicians, geez. Then this one guy all of a sudden asked me if I had seen Ray Charles' wife, I said no, his reply was "neither has he". This was a total mock Dave, he had all the jokes, Clinton "ClinTone" jokes and more.

Art is one of the things I really enjoy here. The Advertisement is unique, they are allowed to get away with what we recognize as improper. There is a bit of Stylized design which one may think is very simple, but much of the foundations I've studied are practiced in every millimeter of design. The structure is very formal and very well thought out. Tagging is one hell of an art, some of the best I have ever seen. Not just ID tagging, but a real art, Jimi Hendrix Experience was this 15 foot piece of Art, and others I can't explain, but took pictures and will display them once I get a chance. This is one of my favorite reasons coming to Europe. I would recommend all artists come visit at least once a year to take in all the great art, If you are a trained artist, you can appreciate what I am trying to get across here. Things one takes for granted, it's just an advertisement, just another ad or pretty picture is really well designed......

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Tuesday --Fort Reeporten, Basel Tourismus --August 10th
So I'm the Cat's Meow in the eyes of a yocal. Many of you already know what I mean. Who the hell would have ever thought this would happen. Very strange experience, don't even want to think about it. HeteroS allest da vay. You know, this is all I can say about this. Reporten ettes done-inzie. Yes Steve, I do work. Stevie I think that we should sit right down and talk it over, you know the time has come. All the fussin and fightin, so much energy... I miss good rock. The club-Disco, you know Italian/French, didn't even have Motley.... I was a little upset. I was getting a little annoyed by German renditions of the Love Boat theme music....

Word of the day is "AusFahrt Freihalten" I think it means no parking ??

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Wednesday ...Total Solar Eclipse today --August 11th
Today, if weather permits, will experience a total Solar Eclipse. Though here in Basel, it will only be 98% of the eclipse, it is an exciting time to be in Europe. I believe Strutgurg, Germany and Cornwall (sp), UK will have the best/fullest view of this once every 72 years experience.

Most of my working associates took a half day off to be with family to watch this event, so did I. So I saw a Solar eclipse, Everyone was out and watching this spectacular event. Everyone wore there aluminium glasses, kinda like being at a 3D movie, but outside. The entire "Full" eclipse lasted about 3 minutes, the city turned to a sort of dusk look, I found a bar and had a beer..

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Friday ...Going home Saturday Morning !! --August 13th
Well, I did get to play a guitar Thursday evening in a retaurant. A co-worker took me to a Mexican/Spanish reataurant. It was a cross between Chevy's and a Authentic Spanish (Spain) restaurant. Two Guitar players, hired by the restaurant, walked by us and said hello, I commented on the uniqueness of his Hand Made Classical guitar for Spain, and how well it must play. He handed me the guitar and said Huesto Alos Guitaro, I played a little bit of something I wrote, he liked it, the Natives looked and went back to their Margs. After I played, handed back his guitar thanked him, and again commented that it was a beautiful guitar, They then had a Sangria (sp ?) and started to play, They were kick !! Ed they Played Freddy (Maniquin/Full Moon Tan) stuff, but maybe even better. Really a nice dinner. We had a Combo platter for two, so much food, that when I asked the waiter for more chips and salsa, he said "NO" and with a smile, he then explained that if after I had finished this meal, that I wanted more chips, he would bring them. I then asked if I could have another Marg, and he smiled again and said "Yes". We started off with about 15 different Tapas, "mini Samplers" and after that he brought 6 or 7 main course plates with all the normal stuff, i.e. rice, black beans, and totillas. After dinner, the waiter asked if I wanted those chips, I said "No".....

After dinner we went out for a cocktail, we went to Paddy's Pub, aparently, this is an international hang out for all ages. It was nice but a very Yueppie platz. We paid 28 francs for two extremely monitored ounce shot of Jack and flat coke, with 2 ice cubes. In the US dollar conversion is 18 to 19 US dollars.

So this is my last note before I go home. I'm a little happy, a little sad, but I will be back. People I've met, co-workers, some of the locals have been wonderful, but as those famous words from the wizard of Oz, "There is no place like home".....r

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Basel Tourismus --August

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Basel, Switzerland Basel borders both Germany and France, but it has a character that is decidedly Swiss (as well as a great variety of food). As snow and skiing are to the southern portions of Switzerland, culture is to Basel. It is quite proud of its 30 plus excellent museums, so much so it has applied for the title "European City of Culture" for the year 2001. It wouldn't be the first time it was the hot bed of the arts and intellect. In the 19^th and early 20th centuries, the likes of Nietzche taught at the university, which boasts a 500-year-old history. Before the Rhine flows into Germany's famous wine growing country, it flows through Basel. Here, in the city, is the famous Rheinknie -- where the river turns from the west to the north. Every spring the city throws a carnival (you show your tourist stripes if you call it the Carnival instead of its proper name, Fasnacht). For three days, the city becomes a big party. People walk through the town in costumes, playing traditional pipes, drums and Guggemusigg. Say the folks at Basel Online: "The big secret behind the "Guggemusigg" is that they often don't play the right notes but it sounds great anyway."
In the next couple of weeks, I will be updating this document in real time. Let's see what kind of trouble I can get into this time! "DIPLOMATIC IMMNUNITY" XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Last of the Moe-hee-kens ----Saturday, July 31^st Things have changed from the days of our "Yute". We were invincible, never thought these days could ever happen too us. As each of us has learned, we do get older, we find someone that puts up with our "stuff", and this is visa versa. We bite the bullet and ask those four words. Well Ed is the last out of the four (D, T, R, E) of us to ask these words and take the plunge. Saturday, July 31^st All Ed's planning, months and months of preparing finally was over. Nadine's response was the one that Ed wanted to hear. I, as I know everyone else does, wishes you both the best and congratulations. What happened after everyone left the bar has to be told. 2:am or so, Teresa drove the Omni Love Bus (OLB), Anton's VW bus to get something to eat. Ed, Anton, and Kale gave Teresa extremely poor directions to El Gruillense. Not the closest one, but to the furthest one they could think of. Months and months of planning, and finally able to relax, put Ed into spin mode. I haven't seen Ed this gone since Traveler Daze. We stopped the OLB in front of some bakery where almost everyone jumped out to assist Ed with what ever he was doing. After, what seemed to be an eternity, they piled back into the OLB and headed to El Gruillense. Ed passed out within a block from the place, and was gone the rest of the evening. Anton drank some bad water and seemed to have caught whatever Ed had but did not pass out. At the restaurant, and to compensate for his malady, Anton ordered 20 tacos, every variety you could imagine. I'm sure the OLB smells like little Mexico with all the stuff we dropped on the floor. This morning, my sunglasses were covered in Salsa and I'm still trying to get them clean. When they dropped me off In front of my place we all, except for passed out Ed, had a vision. A "Super Super Stretch Suburban Limo" was parked in front of my place. Gentlemen, we need to discuss renting one of these for Ed's Bachelor's party in the future. In regards to what happened to Ed once they got him home is a mystery. Did he wake up and stumble to bed? Did Anton and Kale have to carry him? This was just the engagement party... oh oh !! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firstenzi reeporten frume Basel Tourismus --August 5th Vell I am here inz Basel. Nothing like flying in the nose of a 747 with wind shear. Keepen zine hands oop inza air. Way kick! I flew out Monday, Heathrow via Basel. It took about 9.5 hours to get to Heathrow, party all the way, "die NO tuuenzie sleep !!". Got a massgae while on board, I tried to get another, but was shot down. The deal was one per seat/customer, I told the massuse that I would get another seat. She made me realize that I am all tense and that alcohol alone will not remedy problema. Had a 4 hour layover in UK, thank goodness for Sky Lounges. I flew CrossAIr to Basel and all I can say is that CrossAir stewardesses RULE !! Wheather has been very humid, in the high 70's F, and has now been raining for a day and a half, light rain most of the time, not a bad change from homenzie. ---- I've hit a few of the local pubs, went to a local brewery and sampled a couple dark and wheat biers. To get an idea of prices, a jack and coke with an ounce of Jack is about 13 CHF, at an exchange rate of $ 1.28 to US dollar. Food, well I've been asked to mention the cuisine here. I've been eating at a French restaurant "Le Provence". Jet laggy night eh, I had Veg. Salat vit local and French legumes. Zukes and tomatoes, some others I can't even describe. All cooked in olive oil with garlic and herbs in an oil and vinegrette mixture. I've had the traditional steak and pomme frit (fries). A traditional French dish I remember from my childhood during my visits to France. They cook it with an herb/garlic butter and some baked Provence tomatoe. COn-ne k tion g et tin g lo ssstt, beee e e bbb ack la te r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
SecondziReeporten das Basel Tourismus --August 6th Went too Germany with a programmer/contractor we work with. Way Check !!. We ate at a German Authentica restaurant. I had what was a combination of a variety of traditional dishes. several meats, some I don't want to know what they were, but all wonderful. We had a few "German" Inzen Ettes its das Mosten Bestenzie Biers" they say. They were good, but can't compare to Coors light, Vats es dis Course lite bier?? Not a very well understood joke over here, Bud is a little better known. Switzerland Cyber Police would like to know who-n-zie dis Jone Peecsonne ettes. He its note allout en de-in des conetree. They have asked what my affiliation is vit dis fellow. I tried to tell them about BearCat the Dye colored dog, but that was Way Too Skitty for them. Oh, by the way, Thanks Jon, for the lovely message. All my collegues are now quite literate in Ld Sht-ng jargon. Very quiet trip so far, mind you, only the third day and the weekend is comming up. I may go to Lucerne, no not to Butter, a village/town resort area on a big lake. from the pictures, it looks way Kick. Please bare with my typing during this trip. Many of the keyboards are set up for German, and they have a few extra buttons I keep hitting by accident. No english dictionary is available, so Gerbonics is they best I can do. We really take the US for granted and I am thankful for US configurations...Viva Las US/Silicon Valley Eh! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Moontday --3rd Reeporten, Basel Tourismus --August 9th Well it is Monday here, 11:00 pm your time. Word of the day is "poussez". I got a big kick out of this while in France on Sunday, many of the doors have this written on them, contrary to what may think this means, it means PUSH... I could just imagine REDTRAVELER, and Mike, touring Europe, and heckling the local spelling of EURO_WORDS. Saturday morning the weather was OK, so I walked all over the platz. I followed the Rhine (big river through the city) into industrial and oil refineries. I knew that I was a little lost when the last sign I read said "FORBOTTEN, (sp?, who cares). Later that morning, it rained so I took the public transportation, which is extremely efficient, around the city. The most interesting thing is that I continue to find myself at FisherStuben. I am not a big bier drinker, but really do like it. I had a late lunch there as well. No one in this pub speaks English, so I have to talk really slowly and loud, this seems to annoy the waitress, who then ignores me. To shut me up, she brought me a really big bier, cool! Eventually someone walked in and wanted to experiment with thier English. This guy was pretty cool, kinda like the bartender and Robbs up at Ice house "The Con" (refer to Links page for more details on Rubicon Trail) He told me that the music scene has really gone hill since 20 years ago. Back then Stone, Zepp, Tull, and many others used to tour through Basel. Now they see very few Goot bands, Marla Glenn, well know Blues singer, in Basel I guess, from the states, played an outdoor concert, 30 minutes into her show a major storm came through and ended it. The crowd apparently said OK, and just left.. Now if that were at home, well we remember Joe Perry Project and Michael Schenker episodes. Sunday I went to France, I went way deep into the country and got back to my roots. I really felt one with the country. Kick thing there is that the French are very impatient. Horns were honking non stop, someone sneezed and the car would honk, you were making a turn, put on your signal, "HONK". Yes I felt right at home.... Then (use your French Fake Accents) ....A stupeed toureest was use-ing bofe za laines tu makes ze lafe-t tourn !,#%@*/:@!^! Honk, Honk Honk, Beep Beep Beep, Honk, beep, Espess dur Embesille! Honk Honk, Beep Beep....... Way Kick...... Once again back in Basel, I took the trams throughout the city, again.. Really incredible how this system works. Many of the trams meet up into the MarketPlatz which is the major networking hub for all of Basel. Young skateboarders, shoppers, the tourist, the international girls, every walk of life meet here. Around 4, I found myself back towards the Fsh Fsh Fsh, Stube, but to my dismay, it was closed. I ended up back towards my hotel, where even the Irish Pub was closed. I ended up in the Hotel bar where I met a very Famous Swiss Ventriloquist (Europeans are very easily amused by what had become a dead art in the US about 35 years ago. This guy was kick, asked me everything about US life. His biggest upset was that he had heard that "one iz note allout tu drink alkohol on dah street een Ameireeka". He was getting pissed, both US and UK ways (pissed in UK is buzzed/drunk) He asked , "but whoot eef I whus havink a Bar-B-Que in my front yardt, I am note alout tu have Alkohol". I calmed him down by informing him that you can drink and drive in Texas, or drink from a paper bag. He wasn't impressed. Then they started to ask me if I knew or saw fifty thousand actors and musicians, geez. Then this one guy all of a sudden asked me if I had seen Ray Charles' wife, I said no, his reply was "neither has he". This was a total mock Dave, he had all the jokes, Clinton "ClinTone" jokes and more. Art is one of the things I really enjoy here. The Advertisement is unique, they are allowed to get away with what we recognize as improper. There is a bit of Stylized design which one may think is very simple, but much of the foundations I've studied are practiced in every millimeter of design. The structure is very formal and very well thought out. Tagging is one hell of an art, some of the best I have ever seen. Not just ID tagging, but a real art, Jimi Hendrix Experience was this 15 foot piece of Art, and others I can't explain, but took pictures and will display them once I get a chance. This is one of my favorite reasons coming to Europe. I would recommend all artists come visit at least once a year to take in all the great art, If you are a trained artist, you can appreciate what I am trying to get across here. Things one takes for granted, it's just an advertisement, just another ad or pretty picture is really well designed...... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tuesday --Fort Reeporten, Basel Tourismus --August 10th So I'm the Cat's Meow in the eyes of a yocal. Many of you already know what I mean. Who the hell would have ever thought this would happen. Very strange experience, don't even want to think about it. HeteroS allest da vay. You know, this is all I can say about this. Reporten ettes done-inzie. Yes Steve, I do work. Stevie I think that we should sit right down and talk it over, you know the time has come. All the fussin and fightin, so much energy... I miss good rock. The club-Disco, you know Italian/French, didn't even have Motley.... I was a little upset. I was getting a little annoyed by German renditions of the Love Boat theme music.... Word of the day is "AusFahrt Freihalten" I think it means no parking ?? XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wednesday ...Total Solar Eclipse today --August 11th Today, if weather permits, will experience a total Solar Eclipse. Though here in Basel, it will only be 98% of the eclipse, it is an exciting time to be in Europe. I believe Strutgurg, Germany and Cornwall (sp), UK will have the best/fullest view of this once every 72 years experience. Most of my working associates took a half day off to be with family to watch this event, so did I. So I saw a Solar eclipse, Everyone was out and watching this spectacular event. Everyone wore there aluminium glasses, kinda like being at a 3D movie, but outside. The entire "Full" eclipse lasted about 3 minutes, the city turned to a sort of dusk look, I found a bar and had a beer.. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Friday ...Going home Saturday Morning !! --August 13th Well, I did get to play a guitar Thursday evening in a retaurant. A co-worker took me to a Mexican/Spanish reataurant. It was a cross between Chevy's and a Authentic Spanish (Spain) restaurant. Two Guitar players, hired by the restaurant, walked by us and said hello, I commented on the uniqueness of his Hand Made Classical guitar for Spain, and how well it must play. He handed me the guitar and said Huesto Alos Guitaro, I played a little bit of something I wrote, he liked it, the Natives looked and went back to their Margs. After I played, handed back his guitar thanked him, and again commented that it was a beautiful guitar, They then had a Sangria (sp ?) and started to play, They were kick !! Ed they Played Freddy (Maniquin/Full Moon Tan) stuff, but maybe even better. Really a nice dinner. We had a Combo platter for two, so much food, that when I asked the waiter for more chips and salsa, he said "NO" and with a smile, he then explained that if after I had finished this meal, that I wanted more chips, he would bring them. I then asked if I could have another Marg, and he smiled again and said "Yes". We started off with about 15 different Tapas, "mini Samplers" and after that he brought 6 or 7 main course plates with all the normal stuff, i.e. rice, black beans, and totillas. After dinner, the waiter asked if I wanted those chips, I said "No"..... After dinner we went out for a cocktail, we went to Paddy's Pub, aparently, this is an international hang out for all ages. It was nice but a very Yueppie platz. We paid 28 francs for two extremely monitored ounce shot of Jack and flat coke, with 2 ice cubes. In the US dollar conversion is 18 to 19 US dollars. So this is my last note before I go home. I'm a little happy, a little sad, but I will be back. People I've met, co-workers, some of the locals have been wonderful, but as those famous words from the wizard of Oz, "There is no place like home".....r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Basel Tourismus --August