Exploring more of Switzerland
The Swiss are different from the rest of us – even their dogs don’t bark as much! I was so surprised to hear a dog bark twice this morning! The Swiss are quieter folks – not rowdy on the 2:00 a.m. train to Basel for Fasnacht’s 4:00 a.m. parade of lanterns Monday February 26. The 2:00 a.m. fairly full train from Zurich and the crowd were fairly quiet as well. There are broken, empty bottles on the streets, but not a great deal of noise at the parade. Basel’s official Fasnacht website includes general etiquette rules. Basel celebrates Fasnacht the week after Ash Wednesday as the liturgical calendar wasn’t adopted because it was set by the Pope. Have I mentioned before that the Jesuits were expelled from Switzerland and not permitted to return until 1973 – around the time women were given the right to vote.

Last Friday we went to Luzern, a lovely city on a lake and river ringed by the Alps a 45 minute train ride from Zurich. The weather was hazy but rain was predicted for Saturday so Larry traded a Friday play day for a Saturday work day. We enjoyed the somewhat hokey, but scientifically interesting Glacier Gardens, an operation started in the 19th c when Amreins, the land/villa owner digging to build a wine cellar, unearthed huge potholes. I was impressed that he recognized the importance of his find. The museum began the following year and now includes the Amrein’s Villa, a Hall of Mirrors, a tower walk and more. We also saw a 19th century panorama about the Swiss care of French refugees during the Franco-Prussian War. It was one of the Red Cross’ early involvements and the panorama expresses the Swiss anti-war sentiment. There are only 27 panoramas left in the world.