In honor of the weekly photo challenge entitled, “Atop,” we have chosen a lovely view from a ridge – line hike from Chlingenstock past Fronalpstock. This is one of our favorite areas of Switzerland for the layered mountains, the stunning lake perched far below and the views that literally take your breath away. To read more about this particular hike, please visit, Why I Love the Push.
This post is part of the Weekly Photo Challenge.
Today, we provide a brief walking tour of the city of Porto, Portugal. With under 250,000 inhabitants and a checkered past, the city is gritty, photographically unique and doing what it can to revitalize. More on Porto and the surrounding areas to come.
East of Porto, Portugal lays the Douro Valley and the Rua do Vinho, and many more meandering roads through a network of terraced vineyards which grow the world’s best port wines. The roads, which ever you choose, show captivating landscapes. Right now, the rains are nurturing the valley soon to bring the start of the 2017 season.
This post is part of the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: The Road Taken
Basel will celebrate Fasnacht on Monday, March 6 at 4:00 am with Morgenstreich through Wednesday, March 8, 2017. And this year, we as a family might just participate in Morgenstreich, as our children have never witnessed the magic of a dark city while Piccolos and drums fill the streets with their remarkable sounds. Nor have they ever witnessed the soft glow of the lights that fill the city as Fasnacht quietly gets underway.
What is Fasnacht you might ask? Fasnacht always takes place the week after Ash Wednesday and for exactly 72 hours, Basel lets her hair down and embraces Fasnacht a.k.a. carnival, where the people relax, parties are everywhere and floats and noise line the city streets.
What you need to know to celebrate Faschnact in Basel.
Morgenstreich starts at 4:00a.m, yes, that is right, that is not a typo. The start of Fasnacht is early, dark and memorable. You will wake in the pre-dawn light, where the streets in Basel will be packed with people, noise and processions from Fasnacht cliques.
The official parade will take place on Monday and on Wednesday and will start at 13:30. The masked participants will take to the streets of Basel playing drums, piccolos and tossing confetti, roses and confetti from their wagons to the enthusiastic onlookers. The streets will be covered in colorful confetti and sweeties.
Lantern Exhibit – All of the beautifully created lanterns will be on display on Münsterplatz on Monday evening through Wednesday morning. For those who have never seen this, it is worth a trip to take in these lovely pieces of artwork.
Carnival of the Children – Tuesday is always dedicated to the children. Dress up your children in costumes, give them a sack to carry for collecting sweets, oranges and flowers and take them to the streets. Please keep a close watch on your children, as the wagons are not able to see small people and can be very dangerous.
Practical Advice
The best way to travel to Basel for Fasnacht is not by car, but rather by train. If you reside in the city, consider walking to the event. Trams are on special routes during carnival.
Purchase a carnival badge or Plakette at many public spaces in and around the city. The Banhoff always has
Bring your camera – the colors, the confetti, the cliques all make for beautifully vivid images that you will want to capture.
Watch your children! Though stated before, safety at Fasnacht is key. With thousands of people, it is easy to lose a little one in the crowds. Also, the wagons are huge and often times do not have clear visibility. Keep your children at arms reach.
Have fun!
We’ve had two days of consecutive sunshine; the penetrating warmth we have missed for months now. The sky has been an incredible hue of blue and we linger each night under a starry, denim blue heaven anticipating what the next day will bring.
The signs of spring are among us and with each observation of green emerging from a once frozen earth, the sound of birds chirping in the distance and tiny buds appearing on once dormant trees, we are reminded of what is yet to come.
We can hardly contain ourselves with the thought of breaking free of the full-length winter coats, shed the gloves and hats, push aside the blankets and get outside. “Come, it whispers, come and walk my fields, dance in my meadows, push yourself up my mountains.” We must heed the calling.
We have set some pretty lofty goals this year for our family and ourselves. One of our goals is to hike as much as humanly possible with our two little ones at our sides, track those walks and calculate how many kilometers we are covering. An experiment of sorts and an educational experience for all. So far, we are off to a slow start. But now, with that bit of sun reminding us that in the days and months to come the earth will take on a green glow, we are slowing ramping up our kilometers and getting ready. Our first mountain stay has been booked, and we plan to dust off the hiking poles, pack our sacks and make our way back on the trail this weekend.
The simple pleasure of stepping into nature after a long winter is intoxicating. The thought of discovering what has been hiding among the dark earth and feeling alive again are just within our grasp and you’d better believe we are going to take it!
