juxtaposed

About 30 minutes drive from us is Basel, Switzerland - a pretty old city. At least it seems to be from my limited knowledge and American perspective. Anyway, every fall they have this big festival (essentially a harvest festival) at the end of October/beginning of November. This year's was the 540th annual Herbst Messe. (yep - 540 years) We're guessing they didn't have Ferris Wheels and Eddie Murphy pictures in the early years.



So look at this contrast - old city and cathedral with this huge Ferris wheel. I don't think it bothers anyone around here, but somehow it was just really striking to me to stand in these beautiful old city squares and be surrounded by State Fair rides, music and lights.


All this to say, that I think we are feeling the constrasts of our own worlds, trying to fit pieces together in a new place. We'll figure it out eventually - or at least enough to be at home.


(the Rhine river and part of old city Basel)

And John just looked over my shoulder and asked what the salad had to do with anything... pretty much nothing. :) It's just a local seasonal favorite that we'd never had before - Feldsalat (field salad). We highly recommend it.

FYI, our shipment comes from the US this week - Tuesday or Wednesday. Woohoo! If we can figure out how to get it all up the narrow little stairwell to our apartment, we'll actually have something besides us IN the apartment!