Black and Sunny

The Black Forest conjures up images of Hansel and Gretal lost in the woods. Or maybe the Big Bad Wolf. Or better yet, a slice of tasty Black Forest cake. Yet the forest is anything but black when you ride the Schauinslandbahn tram to the top. Today was bright and clear, with just a slight chill on the air.

Egyptian Garden Gnomes

I've loved Egyptians artifacts since I was a kid. I've seen the gamut - mummies, jewelry, fifty foot tall statues, and even a mummified cat. But I have never seen anything like this. The placard was in German, so I have no idea what this really is. But it looks so like the garden gnomes at my local nursery that I have to wonder.

Antiquities Museum, Basel

Spring Salad in Winter

My friend in Switzerland told me about her sister's exotic vacation to America. She asked where they should eat in Monterey. I told her Black Bear Diner, of course. They serve hearty portions of great food, including breakfast all day. I'm a frequent visitor all over California.

This visit I enjoyed a Sweet Garden Harvest Salad with dried fruits and pecans, tossed in a tangy dijon dressing and topped with fresh strawberries on top. The sharp, spicy tang of the dressing complements the sweetness of the fruit. The pecans add a crunchy treat.

Rock Hounds in the Bathroom

I hate to admit it now, but Earth Sciences was the most boring science class I took in high school. And I flubbed the practical exam where the instructor asked us to identify a bunch of rocks. Hey, they were just rocks, right?

Since then my love of geology has never approached the level of professional excellence like my professional friends at Falcon Geodetic  or the scientific expertise at Geology.com. But I know a pretty rock when I see one. And this museum had cases and cases of pretty rocks from all over. Marble, malachite, quartz, and many beautiful varieties of each.

And what thought comes to mind when faces with so many pretty tiles? Why, a custom tiled bathroom, of course.

 

Antiquities Museum, Basel

The Well Dressed Egyptian Woman

I love diamonds when the jewelry store shines their special lights and make them sparkle. But for daily wear semiprecious stones like jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, amber and turquoise have the power to brighten up the wardrobe. Just like me, the Egyptian women found this jewelry essential for a well dressed afterlife.

Antiquities Museum, Basel

Egyptian Common Jewelry

Not all Egyptian jewelry was made of gold. This necklace, though made of common materials, has a certain elegance in the way the beads are strung. It could also provide protection from the hot Egyptian sun. 

Antiquities Museum, Basel

Nyummy Gnocci Time

I enjoyed gnocci (pronounced na-yoe-kee) twice in Switzerland. Each dish was delightfully different from the other. Gnocci are small potato balls boiled and drenched in a delightful sauce. This dish was a mild curry with a saffron accent.