We Made It!

After a long day of travel, we are safe and sound in Basel.  It's 8:15 Basel time (2:15 pm EST) and the kids are sound asleep.  They were such troopers during the whole journey, however they were up really late on the plane (Josh didn't nod off until almost 1 a.m.!) and up around 5 a.m., so it's no wonder they are zonked! From Zurich we hopped right on a train to Basel.  A coworker of Chris's nicely took time out of her day to pick us up at the train station.  Technically, she picked up me and the luggage.  Chris took the kids on the tram.  After settling in we set out to find a Migros or Coop, the two main grocery stores.  We picked up a few essentials and discovered that while some things are different here (you have to weigh your produce prior to check out...oops), there are other things that are exactly the same (you know those kids' bubble bottles that you're supposed to squeeze to make the wand pop up?....yeah, they are crap here, too!).

The apartment is in Klein Basel, on the other side of the Rhein from the main part of the city.  The neighborhood doesn't offer a ton of go-to spots, but there is a nice courtyard with some playground equipment and another playground just around the corner.  We could sense Layla's disappointment when she was trying to get in with the other kids.  First she didn't get a window seat on the plane and now she can't talk to the kids!  I think she'll deal, though!  We haven't spotted them yet, but I know we are a walk or a short ride away from the Lange Erlen Animal Park and also a public pool.  Guess I need to figure out which bus/tram pass I'm getting!

Here are some pics of the apartment, as well as a couple of exhausted children!


                                 Kitchen, sans just about everything you need to actually use a kitchen!

                                                                 Balcony off the kitchen

                                                    View of courtyard from the balcony.

                                                                       Living space

                                                                     Kids' room

                                                                          Master
                                      

                                                              One of two bathrooms

                                                               8:15 Basel time.  Time for bed!