Silhouette along the Rhine River in Basel

You could have missed Basel if not walking along the Rhine River... Any great city has its soul if it also has a river accompanying her. Paris is not Paris without Seine, neither London without Thames, nor NewYork without Hudson. The river defines the characteristics of the city; its people in turn redefine the river.

There is nothing more relaxing after an intellectual meeting than a carefree walk. Andrew, Itay, Wei, and I have the next-day flight, back to routine and busy world. The few hours break thus becomes so precious before a new journey. Under Anastasia's guide, we rambled through the old town and came to the Münsterplatz.

Walking down along the staircase, we took a ferry across the Rhine river. In this way we are getting closer to feel the river, its current gently up and down and soon bringing us to the other bank.

(the sculler) 

Basel is live in the summer with a special event called "The Rhine Swim". Only those that have ventured into the Rhine can truly understand the soul of the city.  Drifting on the current, and let your cares floating away with the water. 

(sparse people floating in the Rhine)

In the riverbank, there are culture exhibitions worth a stop even for the local people.

And more people choose to sit in the stairs of the riverbank, composing a live movie which has brought so much pleasure for an observer like me. What else could be more interesting to watch the lives of other people? Indeed, this is one of the strong motivations keeping me traveling all these years. I am full of curiosity for the external world. We are borne to see the world, to listen to the world, to touch the world, and to taste and feel the world, aren't we?

River seems for me to be a forever theme.  It is the Way in Lao-tze's Tao Te Jing , which I admire and aim to achieve throughout my life. 

上善若水。 

The highest goodness resembles water.

水善利萬物而不爭，處衆人之所惡，故幾於道。居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，動善時。 

Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention. It stays in places that people dislike.Therefore it is similar to the Way (Tao), dwelling with the right location, feeling with great depth, giving with great kindness, speaking with great integrity, governing with great administration, handling with great capability, and moving with great timing.

夫唯不爭，故無尤。 

Because it does not contend, it is therefore beyond reproach.

Photographed by Jennie Bai
Copyright ©Jennie Bai. All Rights Reserved.