Basel, day 2

Today, sunny, hot and 31 degrees; we have certainly been blessed thus far by the weather. So it has been another day spent touring the city streets by tram (free ticket entire time we are here) and walking for hours around the Basel Zoo.
Some things worth noting here:
1. We have been walking for about 4-5 hrs per day since we began our trip.
2. My BSL's are fantastic - and with regular meals, only 1x hypo thus far.
3. Visiting this zoo 2day, made me feel so proud of our beautiful Melbourne Zoo; and the superior care and facilities provided our wild animals.
4. We could have bought Charlie! It was the same in London I must admit - for both here and London incredibly dog friendly. They are allowed to stay in hotels with you; you can ring reception and they will have someone come and take them walkie's for you; they will "doggie sit" whilst you go ta-ta's; and they can go on the trams with you; and in and out of stores, airports etc! (I have taken a few photos of doggies we have met along the way)....and boy do I miss my own Charlie Boy!!!!!!
5. Beer tastes really good over here; and walking so much and for so long, certainly sees us build a thirst from about 11:00am! Talking of beer- there is really only one kind here - and that is Swiss! Locals are very "thingo" about their beer.......and so far we have not been disappointed.
6. Melbourne could certainly learn something from Basel's public transport system! Trams run all over the city; travel to the end of their given route and then returns you to the starting point again (great for us sightseer's) and trams arrive every 2-3 minutes!!!!! Traffic in general incredibly sedate, with no speeding or cutting others off. Taxi drivers both here and in London are incredibly safe - and know immediately where you need to go and how to get you there!!!!!!!!
7. Can't believe I am writing this, but..........so much smoking over here....and even cabbie's smoke in their vehicles!!!!!!! can't believe I am asking Michael to sit us inside of a restaurant, rather than outside where the air is so thick! Can' believe that I find the whole thing so distasteful......but I DO!!!!!!!!

In conclusion, we have now completed the first week of our adventure and we have experienced so many wonderful things and have shared many a laugh, mostly directed at us, as we try to get people to understand us. It is truly something that I have always taken for granted - being understood- and it is somewhat discomforting to comprehend that WE are the foreigners here! At the same time the primary, universal and most helpful tool I am so glad I packed is the SMILE - it works a treat, especially when you use it freely as you attempt to speak the lingo!

Anyways, time for bed......big day 2morrow, as we join our Rhine River Cruise for the next 7 days - traveling from Basel to Amsterdam. Soooooooo looking forward to this part of the trip.

Finally, have been thinking of home a bit today......not that I want to come home or anything, but I am certainly missing lots of you. Jac, I know I am not meant to stew over things, but wonder if you could do a couple of things for me????
1. I know that Wen is keeping Nanny up to date with news from the blog, but could you give her a call for me to find out how Uncle Laurie is traveling. I have been thinking of him a lot these past couple of days.
2. Could you ring Maisie Wee for me, and let her know that Nicey-Niecey and Michael are both safe and well?



Love to all"......"......

Jul's and Spike xxxxx



This put a glazed look in blueeyes @ 11:15am!!!!!!

Location:Basel, Switzerland