Guten Morgen Freunde,
All is well here. We arrived on Saturday, early evening, about half past six. Paul started documenting the signage for the bathrooms in Basel's small airport. Design is certainly at an elevated level here, as one would expect -- no exceptions. I snapped some posters declaring the rights of citizens to publicly demonstrate and protest.
The town seems quite manageable -- small, clean and quietly running, like a well-oiled machine, minus the oil. Prices are what they say. But we don't dwell on that -- it is what it is. In the downtown, store front shops are adorable and ubiquitous, lining cobble-stoned streets, running this way and that, up and downhill.
Immanuel is quite well -- looking as dashing as ever. His flat is very comfortable with floor to ceiling windows in the kitchen and the bedroom that look out onto a lovely natural landscape. The garden has various plants, trees, shrubs, an oval-shaped stoned area and a water garden. He has a small patio adorned with plants and herbs. The exterior walls are painted a bright peachy pink accented with a red trim -- influenced by his landlord's travels to Thailand, I am told. This is unusual for Basel, but I think it's uplifting and for a moment I reminisce about Bali. I like it.
Immanuel has graciously stocked the fridge with a plethora of goods that would impress any foodie. There is everything from Landjäger to Emirates dates in a package resembling a book that opens from left to right -- the opposite of how our books open.
Yesterday morning we visited a flee market where the vendors were largely Turks. They sold everything from underwear, [yes] shoes and antique musical instruments to the common Swiss army knife. There was also good ethnic food and good coffee which we all enjoyed. Nearby, and somewhat hidden are what look like abandoned warehouses. This is a happening party district late in the evening and a place where Immanuel frequents when the mood strikes. The site was literally on the other side of the tracks. One venue, a two-story red bricked train station looked like it was presently occupied by a some squatters.
The weather is a bit on the cool side. The day started off with warm sunlight filling the flat as I did my morning Kundalini practice. Later, it became overcast, breezy with drizzles of rain, but not cold.
At night we visited a traditional Swiss village and dined in a restaurant there. The beer tasted the way a good beer should. Coming soon to smilepolitely.com Paul will have a write up on the meal. My German is non-existent at this point -- I know Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Ja, Nein, Bitte and Danke. Finally, we ended the evening at home with Immanuel making homemade Tiramisu -- Yum!
Hope to be posting more in the coming days...later in the week we go by train to Zurich to visit a design museum and next week Immanuel has two trips planned for us -- one to Alsace in France, the second to the Swiss Alps. It is very exciting!
Peace, Light & Love,
Bonnie
Schynige Platte! No words can describe it. Orgasmic is the closest similiar experience that it can be compared to. A really really good orgasm. An experience that is felt throughout your body, and is full-on emotionally, one that washes you over to the point where you feel you are forever changed. My legs buzzed and I could literally feel the blood and energy moving through them. My heart slowed and recovered from its constant thumping and I was overcome with emotion. My eyes looked out at the most beautiful view and I was overwhelmed with sadness that seemed silly and unexplainable. The elevation may have touched me. I felt gratitude that my feet and legs had continued bringing me forth and these heights were unimaginable.
