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| Mühlebrücke/Mill Bridge local government building |
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| Chestnut tree allée |
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| Former Landsitz Rockhall/Manor Rock Hall (1692-94) |
Along the main roads in
Biel, there are small gazebos at intersections where police officers direct
traffic. I headed to Zentralstrasse/Central Street to Zentralplatz/Central Square.
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| Swiss Bank Corporation |
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| Dog restroom |
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| Kongresshaus/Convention Center (1961-66, designed by Max Schlup) |
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| Convention Center indoor swimming pool |
Followed
Silbergasse/Silver Lane to the
Bahnhofstrasse/Train Station Street.
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| Bahnhof/Train Station (1923 by Moser & Schürch) |
Continued towards Bielersee/Lake Biel.
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| Reclaimed land on Bielersee |
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| Mail box |
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| Bielersee Strandboden/Lake Biel Beach |
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| Wind surfers |
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| Schwäne/Swans |
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| Lakefront |
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| Bridge with rescue hook |
I met Helen and Hosson at 12:30 at the excursion boat dock. Helen bought our tickets
(14 CHF/$7 each) at a booth on the boat that also served as a post office. Our boat tour left at 13:00. Since it was sunny and warm, we sat on benches in the open area of the boat. We headed southwest past the Nidau beach (which appeared to have some sand at its edge), and rounded past another beach into the Aare River. The Aare is like a wide canal and private boats were tied up along the banks in Nidau. Farther along the banks were covered with trees, including weeping willows. The stops at small towns were at gangplank docks.
We were traveling with the flow of the Aare, and in Port we entered a lock that lowered us about 2m/6+ feet.
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| Lock closed |
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| Lock open |
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| Water flowing over a weir |
Some passengers apparently bike or hike along parts of the Aare then continue or return by boat. A couple passengers had Eurail Passes.
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| House in Brügg |
There were a few hills to the south, but most of the trip was through a flat rural area. Saw a young boy (8 years old?) driving a tractor. Along the river people were hiking or biking, or sunbathing or picnicking, or paddling inflatable rafts, canoes, kayaks, or rowboats.
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| View down river to Büren an der Aare |
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| Büren an der Aare Holzbrücke/Wooden bridge |
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| Holzbrücke/Wooden bridge (1821) |
Someone just missed getting hit by bird droppings when we disturbed the gulls resting on the bridge.
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| Nice homes (Helen and Hosson) |
Noticed a mountain ridge to the north as it began to get cool and breezy. Saw several small planes, including one pulling a glider. We saw a plane with a guide-line land (Grenchen).
The town of Altreu had a bigger t-shaped dock. This town is known for storks where people build special platforms for the nests.
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| That's a stork on the chimney |
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| Stork nest |
Now the river banks were no longer lined by rocks, but had trees growing right out of the water. Many people were camping along the river.
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| Approaching Solothurn |
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| Solothurn and Krummturm/Crooked Tower (completed 1462-63) on the right |
On the excursion boat they offered liquid refreshment served by a waitress. The back edges of the benches had ledges to hold the drinks. But one had to be careful since the benches were not attached to the floor. It was easy to bump or pull on the bench enough to upset the drinks.
Our trip ended in Solothurn at 15:25, where we walked to the house of Helen's friend, Veronika. She was an Evangelical Reformed Church minister and had worked in Jerusalem for 6 months, where she met Hosson. So this was a reunion.
After iced tea and a plum tart, and a conversation about how few people take the national holiday seriously; now it is just a commercial holiday, we went our separate ways. Hosson took a nap, Helen and Veronika went to a prayer meeting, and I went sightseeing. Veronika loaned me a guidebook and map. I almost felt guilty being Catholic and being so interested in Solothurn as the bishop's seat!
I followed the outside of the old town wall to enter at
Bieltor/Biel Gate.
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| Bieltor/Biel Gate |
Walked down Gurzelngasse, known for the house where Polish freedom fighter
Tadeusz Kościuszko died. Everything was closed today; there were just a few kids setting off firecrackers.
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Zeitglockenturm/Clock tower (12th century)
on Marktplatz/Market Square |
Took
Barfüssergasse/Barefoot Lane to
Weberngasse/Weavers Lane to
St Urbangasse: left to
Kapelle/Chapel St Urban, then right to
Franziskanerkirche/Franciscan Church. I later learned I saw only the back of the
Rathaus/City Hall.
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| Rathaus/City Hall |
Over to
Zeughausplatz/Arsenal Square.
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| St Mauritiusbrunnen/St Mauritius Fountain |
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| Zeughaus/Arsenal (1609-14) |
Left the old town through
Baseltor/Basel Gate.
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| Baseltor/Basel Gate with the St Ursen Cathedral steeple |
In the park just outside Baseltor, there were children's activities including races using hoppity balls, rocker boards over inflatable swimming pools, and hoops. A scooter course over a zigzag path. Kids could row boats in the fountain or ride a pony. Bal
loons and würstli/little sausages for all.
Returned into the old town.
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| Hotel Krone/Crown |
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| St Ursenkathedrale/St Ursus Cathedral (1762-73) |
Continued along Hauptgasse/Main Lane, passing the Jesuitenkirche/Jesuit Church (1680-89).
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Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen/Justice Fountain
and oriel window |
Headed south out of the old town and crossed the
Wengibrücke/Bridge.
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View of old town from Wengibrücke/Bridge
with the landing house where boats transporting wine would stop |
I was now being followed by two harassers who had first said "Salü/Hi" back at Hotel Krone. I crossed the bridge, took a left turn after the Spitalkirche zum Heiligen Geist/Hospital Church of the Holy Spirit (part of the old hospital and orphanage) then a right turn past the old prison! They were still following, so I did the old sudden u-turn trick and walked towards them, seemingly much to their surprise. I crossed back over the bridge into the old town, and saw I had lost my followers. We had left Veronika's place at about 17:00 and it was only now 18:00!
Since I had run out of film, I entered the cathedral where a Mass had begun. I stayed through the homily.
Left the old town on Kronengasse/Crown Lane, passing the Palais Besenval that was the seat of the bishop. Crossed the Aare on a pedestrian bridge that led to Bahnhofstrasse/Train Station Street. Went underground through a shopping arcade at the station. Met Helen and Hosson at 19:00 for the 19:09 local train to Biel. The train ticket was part of the boat excursion ticket. Back in Biel at 19:45.
We walked back toward the docks.Black-jacketed youths going our way were setting off firecrackers with some kind of gun that shot them up and away. The firecrackers were upsetting for Hosson. Helen asked a police officer for advice on the best place to watch the fireworks. It was too late to go up to Magglingen, so he recommended going up towards Vingelz on a road that would wind up high enough to see and would be far away from the crowds and noise.
After a late dinner of salad plates at the Strandbad/Swim Beach Restaurant, we had to push through the crowds, with Roman candles sprouting up to the right and left. Lots of color and noise with fireworks and firecrackers. Many people and children carried paper lanterns that held lighted candles, and the flickering created a pretty scene when seen on hillsides, in the crowd at the lake, and on the boats anchored out on the lake. Helen pulled out a Swiss flag and we were part of the festivities! We finally broke through the crowd and headed up a main road. When Hosson got too tired, we stopped at a wall overlooking a drydock area and the lake. We had an unobstructed view of the barge from which they set off the fireworks. Helen then pulled out two round red paper lanterns with white crosses. Now we were really celebrating! Across the lake, lightbulbs formed a Swiss flag. There were bonfires up behind us at Vingelz and across the lake directly opposite, a better symbol of the meaning of the day. At 22:00, suddenly everything went dark and you could feel the anticipation. A spectacular fireworks display that seemed like having 4-5 grand finales! It ended in less than a half hour, with about 10 bombs. But what a show!
Helen and Hosson took the bus home and I walked, enjoying the festive feeling. Back in my room I kept the slatted shade open to watch fireworks still going off across the horizon.
Happy Swiss National Day!
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