Was that the most boring game you’ve ever seen?

Two great footballing nations: Think Real Madrid and Barcelona; AC Milan and Juventus. And all the rest…

I really feel sorry for the people that paid for tickets. So many games in the EM have been entertaining but that was dire.

I watched the BBC coverage of the game, and the most entertaining part was the irony of the commentary. At half time they showed a feature on the old Orsoin Welles film noir The Third Man. To which Gary Lineker responded: You know the football must be rubbish when we get more worked up about a fifty year-old film…

Exactly.

If you want to get an idea of the match, just look at the photo above, a bunch of men standing around. Now imagine watching it for 90 minutes!

Extra time was more entertaining admittedly, and penalties are always tense. But let’s hope German and Russia manage to play as the did in the quarter finals.

And provide us with some proper entertainment.

Photo: Flickr – Alexollon

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

 Basel is one of the four cities hosting matches for the EM.

And down at Basel zoo, it looks like some of the animals are getting interested too.

Don’t think I’d want to be the one to tell him, or her, that they don’t get to play…

Photo: Flickr – Tambako the Jaguar

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Switzerland is a land of many nations.

There are three main “native” languages, German, French and Italian, and there’s also the 1% of the population over near Davos and St Moritz that speak Romantsch.

The country attracts lots of foreign workers too, and so when we have events like the EM, there’s plenty of opportunity to show some national pride (unless one comes from the United Kingdom of course).

Throughout Zurich, there are flags flying everywhere, and I’m sure it’s the case all over Switzerland, as this shot from Geneva shows.

And we haven’t even started yet…

Photo: Flickr m x b ch r

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I think I mentioned that the Swiss love their cranes.

But this is the first time I’ve seen one in the water, and I have to say I’m impressed.

It’s probably not that unusual, but I’m just surprised it works.

Photo: Geoff

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Well, you’re not going to be hearing about much other than football for the next few weeks I’m afraid.

I’ll try to make it as informative as possible, but that’s the theme you are going to get.

So two things:

Firstly, England did not qualify, and this is the last time I shall mention that they didn’t, and also that they deserved not to because they played like a bunch of amateurs – with all due respect to amateurs who might feel slighted by the comparison.

Secondly, when I say football, I mean the game where you spend most of the time kicking a ball with your foot.

Not American Football. Not Rugby Football. Not Australian Rules Football. Just Football. And please, not “soccer”.

“Soccer” stems from the term Association Football, used to distinguish Football from Rugby. It’s called Association Football because The Football Association (clever, huh?) set down the rules for the game in 1863, which were then later used as a basis by FIFA, the international governing body of the sport.

The word soccer is used in the UK (often negatively) by people who don’t play it, typically upper class people who went to schools where rugby is played, and football is discouraged. Except of course the children play football in the breaks, because that’s what they want to play – “The beautiful game” as it is so often termed.

You’d never hear anyone say “Fancy a game of soccer?”. It’d be “football” or “footie”.

So from now on, at least here, it’s Football. OK?

Extremely witty photo credit: Flickr – Tomas Caspers

And if you need a translation of the photo, it says Quarter finals, Semi finals, Final (Vienna) straight on. England, exit stage right…

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I’m sticking with the motorsport theme here, as there’s an event nearby where one can see loads of old racing cars and bikes.

It’s at Mutschellen, next Sunday, about 50 each of old cars and bikes. My favourites would be the early 1950s F1 cars, like the one above.

See www.mutschellengp.ch for details.

I’m off to Thailand today, so no more updates from me until I’m back on 24th April, hopefully with a slightly more functional arm.

Photo: Flickr juhanson

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

A few years back, I worked in Basel, and each year around the beginning of April, it suddenly became a nightmare to get to the office.

The reason? Quite simple, the jewelry crowd were in town for the biggest exhibition of the lot.

Loads of elegantly dressed people flood from all over the world for this one, and hotels as far away as Zurich get booked out, and very pricey.

So, if you’re aiming to visit Basel, it’s best to check www.baselworld.ch just to check your dates don’t clash.

Of course, if it’s diamonds and watches you’re after, then this is the time to come.

Apparently over 100,000 retailers and wholesalers visit the show to get an idea of what’s on offer.

Baselworld is easy to reach, loads of trams go to:

Messeplatz
CH-4005 Basel
Switzerland

Show dates:
April 3 to April 10, 2008
March 26 to April 2, 2009

Opening times:
Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Last day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Admission fee:

Day ticket: CHF   45.-
Multiple-day Ticket: CHF 120.-

Children under 12 accompanied by an adult: Free

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

From March 20 until Monday 24th (over Easter) there’s a tango festival at the Volkshaus in Basel.

It appears to do pretty much what it says on the tin: colour, music and dancing.

Exciting orchestra, dance performances as wel as films and workshops.

So it’s your choice; participate or just watch and enjoy. 

Volkshaus, Tangoschule Basel, Clarahofweg 23, Basel

www.tangobasel.ch

Photo: Flickr: szpyreczka

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

This might be a bit of an obvious post, but it’s still worthwhile.

The Geneva Motor Show is THE motor show, and everybody that’s interested in cars should visit at least once in their lives.

Manufacturers often introduce new models there, and the facilities are excellent.

It’s a great opportunity to see Ferraris and Lamborghinis up close, and collect sales brochures on all manner of cars and accessories.

There are many concept cars there, as well as racing cars and chassis, engines etc.

It’s also a great opportunity for photos, both of cars, and people.

It’s Switzerland, so regular fast trains take you to the door. 15mins from Geneva or just under 3 hours from Zurich. Combined train and entry tickets offer the best value.

For example; combined travel and entry from anywhere east of Bern is only 73 CHF (Less if you live closer; 10% off travel and entry) assuming you have a half price rail card.

Like they say: see how inexpensive a motor show visit can be; unless you buy a car.

Who said the Swiss don’t have a sense of humour?

Geneva Palexpo
1218 Le Grand-Saconnex

+41 (0)22 761 11 11

www.salon-auto.ch

photos: lorentey, musoman

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Easter is early this year, and so, therefore, is Fasnacht.

Literally, Night of the Fast, it represents time to go mad (that’s my interpretation) before the fasting period of Lent kicks in.

That’s the theory, except of course it wouldn’t be much fun if all the parties were on the same night – like you have to have at New Year. So the pragmatic Swiss arrange to have their pre-Lent festivals at slightly staggered times.

And it’s a family occasion (thus qualifying for our b5 theme day) so everybody can dress up.

Typically there will be an Umzug, or parade, for children on the Sunday, when the little ones get to paint their faces, dress up in crazy costumes – which have to be warm, this is winter remember, and throw confetti over any adults they pass in the street.

The adults on the other hand, have two approaches to Fasnacht:

One involves being incredibly serious, often with a political context. For example this year there has been a massive outcry about racism and a certain political party, and I wouldn’t mind betting that black and white sheep (because of their advertising campaign) will feature heavily in some parades.

But the Fasnacht that I love tends to happen in the evenings through to the early (or late) morning. Again, wild costumes feature, but these are fun, incredibly detailed and intricate, and worn by people marching through the streets playing drums, pipes and brass instruments.

I would have to use the term music loosely, but Guggemusik is a genre on its own, and has to be heard to be believed. Think  loud, and slightly out of tune – I often think it’s a race to see which member of the band can finish first. After all, there are drinks in the bar at stake.

As you can see, the effort taken is immense. And as the whole of Fasnacht covers most of February, there really is time to involve the whole family.

Ask me if you need dates for a particular region.

Photos: shirasade, kelko, technicolor

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler