Kandern and Basel

We have arrived in Kandern, the residence of our grandparents!  Today, we explored Basel, Switzerland.  First, we trotted around "Augusta Raurica", a Roman ruins.  It was founded in 44 B. C., the year of Caesar's death, and thrived until 600 A. D.  We tramped up the ruins of an amphitheater, over the remains a temple, around what used to be a forum, by the foundations a bath-house, and into a well-house.  I have a question for any Roman historians out there, "What is the point of a well-house?"  It is an underground room with a well, but the well itself is uncovered.

The view from the top of the amphitheater.  The amphitheater is missing the top third of what it used to have!

The amphitheater as seen from the temple.

On top of the temple.  This is just the core building.  The actually temple was much bigger.  We could see the foundations of the out side wall of the temple.

After lunch, we rolled into Basel, and, after a literal treasure-hunt for a parking space, we finally began our walk.  Hoping to beat the rain, we began with the "Basler Münster", a famed cathedral in Basel, Switzerland.  It encloses the body of Erasmus of Rotterdam under its floor.  Erasmus of Rotterdam, a Catholic priest, lived at the same time as Martin Luther and introduced many of the reforming ideas, but did not leave the Catholic church, though he worked at reforming it from the inside.  In addition, he translated the New Testament into Greek and Latin.  He died in 1536.

"Basler Münster"

We are settling down and resting up right now.  Today, we packed some history into our vacation!

-Soren