Time for Autumn

Autumn is here, and we're trying to enjoy it before winter comes quickly. With the news of snow storms across the east coast of the U.S. last week, we're prepared for similar weather coming this way soon. And I'm trying to avoid Christmas in the stores for just a few more weeks.

Halloween was last week, and the highlight for the kids were shows that their classes put on at school. The students danced to "Thriller", and sang German and English songs about Autumn. No trick-or-treating, although we still had plenty of candy. Willem was a witch in his class (they made witch hats and magic wands), and Landon was a ghost. Other costumes that were seen at school were probably very similar to costumes in the U.S. such as Spider-Man, princesses, ballet dancers and Toy Story characters.

View of Münsterplatz from the Ferris wheel

One of the highlights of Autumn here is the Herbstmesse, which is currently in town for 2 weeks. It's Basel's fall fair with rides and market stalls throughout the city -- the oldest and largest "fun fair" in Switzerland. Traditions of the fair go back 540 years... yes, over five hundred years! I can see that the fair is important for local Baslers, as they are very nostalgic about the event.

We took the kids on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy the games and rides like the Ferris wheel (Riesenrad) and bumper cars. The kids both have also gone as an after-school field trip. I'm surprised at the level of rides that Willem went on with his class! I see that the power of peer pressure is already working, because he just had to go on the "big kid" rides with his friends!

The food that is at the fair is just as much fun as the rides: sausages and Bratwurst (served with a side of bread), roasted chestnuts, crepes and sweet bread called Magenbrot (with cinnamon and nutmeg flavor).

An example of a market stall

I hope that we can visit the fair one more time before it closes this weekend. But alas, we won't have to wait long before the next city happening. The Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) begins November 24th. 'Tis the season!

Tschüss! (Bye!)