Into Each Life a Little Rain Must Fall

🐐THE GAMBOL

October 17, 2026 • 📍Basel, Switzerland • 🚢 Rhine & Main Explorer +

🎶 TODAY’S TUNE

It’s raining its pouring the old man is not snoring…

📇 THE STORY

So let’s pick up where we left off! We have arrived in Basel. We left the airport taking the Line 50 Bus to the SBB, which is the train station. From the train station we picked up the Tram which took us right outside our hotel, the East-West. Amazing that our room was ready. We took the elevator up, took a few photos, then went in search of coffee… We needed coffee… George (Chatgpt) gave us directions to Manora Restaurant. Manora Restaurant is actually a restaurant in the upstairs of a department store. It reminded me of Morrison’s cafeteria, but upscaled, but there was coffee. Didn’t know how to order decaf so we went for leaded. Then that chocolate deliciousness jumped into my hand. The locals have a name for it which apparently was not very nice, but now it is called a chocolate kiss. It is chocolate covered 7 minute icing. Yep, not a marshmallow, 7 minute icing. It was very good, but so much SUUUUUGARRRRR and the tums were in the room.

Not sure if I posted this.. we made it to Basel.

It is raining, good for the river, bad for the the hair 🤣. Walking through the mizzle, it was decided that we would walk over to the Basel Paper Museum. The whole reason we flew in on Saturday was to make sure we could see this museum. Now we have the Basel Card which allows us to ride the public transport system for free. Now, no one has checked our ticket or reservation on the way to the hotel, but we have the card and walked anyway.

If you ever get to Basel make sure you go visit the Paper Museum. It not only has old printing presses, the history of printing and writing (yes more Sumerian/Mesopotamian artifacts, but also interactive exhibits for making wax seals, making the stamps for the seal, coloring paper, making watermarked paper. It is as much fun for children as well as adults. I was “giddy as a school girl.” Enjoy the pictures of the walk and the printing museum. Of course, when we arrived in the museum, we had to check out the facilities. So far, no squatty potties and we haven’t paid yet for a bathroom. Outside of the bathrooms on the walls are all the ways toilet paper is made and how Americans use toilet paper and make toilet paper to how the Germans/Swiss use and make toilet paper. Let me tell you, I may be giving toilet paper as presents. I wonder if I could ship a case home… This toilet paper is the bomb! – Thick and soft!

We spent 2 hours in the Paper Museum and now I am hungry, almost to the point of being hangry. George says there is a restaurant, Elsbethenstübli. It should have melty warm cheese and cold beer… it is not open til 5:30. After walking in the cold and the rain, it is only 5:10… I am not waiting around so off we trot to find something else. George sends us the Küchlin. It is a little more fancy than what I wanted, at this point however, beggars can’t be choosers. All the restaurants here have outdoor patio seating. At least in the downtown area where there are myriad restaurants to choose from. We opted for indoor seating. They had plenty of room, placed us next to the window which was a reserved table, and even took our coats. I had a local wine, ordered a double since I knew I would drink 2 glasses. Jim had a local beer called Ueli. Ueli is the name of the Jester who is very popular during Fasnacht – the festival after Ash Wednesday. Here is a little blurb about Ueli if you want to read about him. I ordered the vegetable plate. The waitress was telling me how the plate was vegan, but they could give me some housemade beef gravy to dip my vegetables in. You know I took that! There was red cabbage, brussel sprouts, chestnuts, pan fried spätzle, and an apple on top. Jim ordered steak escargot. The steak and the gravy yumminess and melty cheese yumminess cooked in an escargot dish. Jim only ordered 6 pcs, but there was an option to order 12 pcs. Jim was nice enough to share with me!