http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34443 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34443 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34414 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34414 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33281 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33281 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32279 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32279 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31572 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31572 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29601 I lived in Basel some years ago and have never forgotten the magic of their carnival.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29601 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29542 Continue the celebration of a different carnival, maybe less cheerful but wonderfully spooky and impressive, at precisely 4am on Monday after Ash Wednesday. Experience a city coming to life in the dark, as all street-lights are switched off to fully appreciate the groups of Fasnächtler meandering through the crowded streets of Basel, carrying beautifully hand-crafted lanterns on their heads and in their hands. Accompanied by drums and piccolo flutes, the lanterns wander through the city displaying current issues of interest in politics, world and local, usually in a mocking and sarcastic way. The Fasnächtler are disguised wearing the Larve (traditional mask), which are usually rather ugly and scary – so be prepared to jump if one of these comes up from behind in a dark city backstreet, as there are no fixed routes and a group can turn up anywhere you walk. Finish this early morning experience in a Beize (pub) with a traditional meal of Mehlsuppe (flour soup), Chäsweihe (delicious Swiss cheese quiche) or Zwiebelkuchen (onion quiche), and watch all the locals wandering off to work.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29542 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29540 The prosecco is cheaper than anything in Zermatt and the pannini excellent.
Most of all the juxtaposition of the order in Switzerland with the chaotic scramble and shouting is a laugh riot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29540 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29533 On the way down from a hard day's riding, pop into the Gletschergrotte. It's a small restaurant/ bar on the way down. They serve well priced drinks and nice but not budget priced meals. I would recommend getting a nice beer or gluewine or two, before riding down to the village.
Just be careful of pisters as the runs may have closed while you have been enjoying your beer!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29533 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29505 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29139 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29139 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28961 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28961 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28419 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28419 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27880 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27880 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27291 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27291 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25304
Alpine Walks Zermatt do custom holidays for groups as small as four people. Either stay in a luxury hotel with a spa (as we did) or they will lead walks from mountain hut to mountain hut. Perfect for a family or a couple of couples.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25304 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25177 The Piz Gloria restaurant sits at the top, revolving gently through 360 degrees, so your mouthfuls of rosti, buttery pastries and coffee are interrupted by gasps and gulps as the gleaming peaks of two hundred mountains are rolled out before you.
If you're there early enough, you can even have a 007 buffet breakfast - this was the baddie's lair in the film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25177 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24939 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24939 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24793 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24793