The City as a lover

Today was a gorgeous day in Basel. It didn't start out that way, but turned into it. A friend and I took a tram and bus to Ikea which is a big outing here. I know what you're thinking, the last time I was at Ikea (or somewhere Ikea like) I was setting up my first apartment about 15 years ago. But as they say "when in Rome". All of the ex-pats here buy stuff for their flats at Ikea, especially since there is no such thing as a built in closet here, so you have to buy wardrobes. Plus I will have a second bedroom in the new apartment. I will see it again on Monday and then (hopefully) sign the lease.

It's about two blocks from where I live now. It's in a very multicultural up and coming area, although also considered to be the "upscale" part of town. It's right near a really nice part, decent restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

It's been a nice weekend so far. This past week was wrought with jet lag and deeply missing NYC and people left behind, special people left behind. And this week is going to be insane with the potential for two approvals, one issue, and a partridge in a pear tree. Then I got to thinking about the City even more as I stared at the numerous photos I have around the apartment (I brought a piece of NYC over in my air shipment) it made me think about how NYC is like an intensely passionate lover. It can provide some of the greatest moments of your life and then break your heart in a million ways (over and over again), but you would never have it any other way.

Incidentally it doesn't get dark here in Basel until about 9.30 at night which is pretty neat. I remember the first time I was in Edmonton (an hour and a half north of Saskatchewan(sp?) and I was at the hotel and looked at the clock and it was 10.30 and the sun was just setting. I had to call the front desk to make sure it was really 10.30.