Fashnacht (Carnival) is currently underway in Basel. It's one week later here than in most other places in the world. Something about whether or not you include the Sundays in the 40 days of Lent. It's pretty cool.

Last night Derek and I went to Chienbase. I don't know what that literally translates as, but we called it the "Fire Parade". It's absolutely outrageous. It's held every year in a town outside Basel called Liestal. Picture a typical narrow European street lined with buildings. Now picture a parade of men running with huge flaming torches on their shoulders, followed by teams of men (10 or more) pulling burning chariots with flames shooting 40 feet up into the air, and sparks flying out over the crowd.. That pretty much sums it up. What this has to do with Lent or Fasnacht or what it all means I have no idea, but it's quite a spectacle. A fire chief's worst nightmare. The route was actually lined with firemen in case something happens. They also make sure that the guys carrying the torches don't get too hot.

This morning started with Morgestraich. At precisely 4 a.m. all of the streetlights went out, and bands of piccolos and drummers (called "Cliquen"), started marching all over the city. Today was a cortege of these cliquen marching on a defined route, plus some unoffical ones marching all over the place. Tomorrow is Kinder Fasnacht, followed by Gugge bands at night (loud brass bands playing intentionally off-key). Go to http://fasnacht.ch/?pm_1=21&mid=21 if you want the lowdown.

Our apartment is right in the middle of all of the action. There's a couple of restaurants that seem to be centres for some of the cliquen. I'm not entirely sure how much sleep we will get over the next couple of nights! I'll try to do a post or two more this week.