Over the past few weeks, we have developed an interest in long-exposure photography. This is where you open the shutter for extended periods of time, and gives pretty great results when shooting moving lights. Luckily for us, the perfect event waltzed into town last week (Herbstmesse) full of flashing, spinning, bouncing lights just begging to be photographed… and so we did!
The Basel Herbstmesse (Autumn festival) is on at the moment, and I love it! This is one of my favourite festivals all year, not because of the rides, but because there is so much happening – there are people everywhere, stalls and rides in all the major squares through Basel, and the overall vibe is really fun. It also means that in less than a month the Christmas Markets will begin :) This is the 540th Herbstmesse in Basel, which means it’s been going since the 15th Century.. a good 300 years before Australia was even colonised. Makes me feel so young and naive haha.
We’ve already been into Basel 3 times this past week, mostly to try out some really funky night-time photography (coming in the next post), but also just to soak up the atmosphere and buy some Mandeln (sugar-coated almonds).. mmm lecker!
For us here in Germany, Summer seems to have only just arrived. We’re finally getting some nice warm weather and sunshine, which is lucky because we’ve just found the perfect way to spend these warm evenings!
City Beach (not to be confused with the surf store in Australia) is someone’s brilliant idea to bring the beach to those of us who live no where near one, but wish we did! I guess it would be classified as a bar, but the emphasis isn’t so much on drinking as just relaxing and enjoying the sun while it lasts. Strangely enough, they have installed it on top of a parking garage in Basel.. and have not only included a bar, but also piles of sand, a pool, volley ball courts, and loads of day-beds/cushions to really get into the spirit. Even on Wednesday night it was busy, and we had to be super sneaky in order nab ourselves a Fatboy hammock the second it was vacant :)
This weekend Switzerland celebrates their National Holiday, and last night it kicked off in Basel with a bunch of festivities (much drinking, boat races, more drinking), and finished with a fireworks display over the Rhine. Dave and I, as well as our two lovely American friends Alex and Ally, decided to brave the crowds in Basel for a beer or two overlooking the Rhine as the sun went down. It really was a beautiful night for it, and considering it’s one of only two nights that the Swiss are legally able to set off their own fireworks (I think – second only to New Years), it was a pretty fun atmosphere.
We decided not to stay in for the fireworks, but instead drove back into Germany and found ourselves a patch of grass on a hill in Lörrach that overlooks Basel. What a great night!