Rhine River Cycling: Day 1-Basel, Switzerland

Day 1:  Basel

Arrived this morning in Basel, Switzerland, on the southern border of Germany. Icelandic Air cancelled our flight from Reyjavik to Zurich, but rebooked us on a direct flight from Boston to Zurich last night which was infinitely better.  Got in a couple of hours early, just in the nick of time to join the other ten members of our group for a guided city tour.  Walking outside in brilliant blue sunshine is the best cure for potential jet-lag (more about that tomorrow).

Basel is located in northwest Switzerland and abuts both Germany and France.  Earliest settlement of the area was in the 5th century B.C.E.  In 1019, construction of the cathedral of Basel (Baselmünster) was begun.

In 1225 the 1st bridge (and only for several centuries) from Lake Constance (the headwater of the Rhine) to the sea was built across the Rhine.  On the far side of the bridge, the ruling Bishop of the time built a new portion of Basel, suburb, known as Lesser Basel, to help protect the bridge.

Ferry using only river current and an angled boat to cross the Rhine