I read somewhere that you should go for a run after a long flight across multiple time zones. It helps your body reset and reawaken. I also know from traveling, one of the best ways to see a new city, and cover a lot of ground, is to go for a run. On Tuesday afternoon in Basel, Switzerland I did a 6 miler along the Rhine and both of these theories were true. Many sights, sounds, people, history, and cultural experiences all in an hour jog.
First, this is a bike friendly town just like most of Europe. My path was quite busy with the two-wheeler set. I was especially impressed with how many 60+ and 70+-year-old women were making their daily way on a bike. A route that was clearly a long engrained part of their life now with me included as just another obstacle between them and the baguette for dinner or an afternoon bier with friends.
Second, there was much sunning on the banks of the Rhine this afternoon. Everyone from students reading textbooks to old tan men in Speedos taking a dip in the river. Nice to see all age groups enjoying it and keeping them young and young at heart. The Rhine apparently has similar properties to the fountain of youth. Plus, universal healthcare doesn’t hurt either.
A unique thing witnessed were the people who had these things they would blow up, hold onto, and float down the river. Just chillin and floatin. Then they would deflate them and walk back to wherever they started.
I also passed two men smoking old school curvy tobacco pipes. It occurred to me that i could not remember the last time I saw someone smoking a pipe.
At my turnaround, I was able to see some locs and a ship coming through it as well.
Finally, I was surprised to see no lack of political graffiti. The punk and anarchist lifestyle appear to be a retro trend on the way back.
@oldguywhotris 