KIDS Flea Markets!

I hit the jackpot yesterday- riiiiiiinggggg! As I was waiting for a my sweetie pie to finish up her super 6 hour adaptation session at preschool I ran into a HUGE kinder flea market at Kannenfeldpark! SCORE! Toys, clothes, shoes, trikes, trailers, high chairs, anything and everything!

So, how does this do you any good if it's already over?? Well, it's not over... September in Basel is the month for flohmarkts. Yes!

Below is a schedule for some up and coming kid's flea markets:

Schuetzenmattpark, Basel:

Wedneday, September 26
13:30 to 17:00

There is even a web site where you can find all the "Kinderkleiderbörse" and beyond in and around Basel:

http://www.nachbarnetz.ch


BCT at Gundeli Familienzentrum:

Saturday, Nov. 17th
8:30 to 12:00

*This flea market tends to focus more on baby/young toddler items. The Nov. market is the second installment in a series of two since there was a high demand for table space on the 8th.
www.baselchildrenstrust.ch

FRENCH BUS SERVICE UPDATES!!

Update: Sunday bus service is on its way! Buses go later! Prices have gone up, but deals still remain! 

Distribus! It's the local french bus system that delivers you to and from Basel and hits all the little towns and villages on the french side of the border. The most popular bus # 604 goes through Saint-Louis and takes you right to the heart of old Basel leaving you at Shifflande. It runs every 15 minutes and it is also simply known as the #4. You can check out the links below for the routes and time tables for all the buses, including the bus from Gare de Saint-Louis to Bale/Mulhouse Airport (#11)!

http://www.distribus.com/fr/horaires.htm  Just click on the line that looks interesting.

I find that french web sites are rather difficult to navigate (and not just because of the French language), so I would like to let you in on all the special tariffs that at first glance are not at all evident.

Normal tarif, one way: 1.10€ 1.30

Normal tarif, one way, "aeroport navette": 1€ 1.30

NEW* Round trip, good all day: 2.20 

Bus and tram combined, purchased on bus, good one-way for 2 hours: 2.50€ 3.00, (a two zone swiss ticket works to transfer to the french bus as well, but that runs 3.40€ or 4 CHF last I checked ).

With blue card (not person specific):

one way: 0.90€ 0.83

one way, "aeroport navette": 0.90€ 0.83

* Rechargeable on the bus: 9€ 10 for 12 voyages or 18€ 20 for 24, no photo needed.

Monthly "DistriPass Adulte" (person specific): 25€ 28

This is a good option for commuters or daily travelers

Yearly "DistriPass Adulte" (person specific): 250€ 280

AND THE MOST EXCITING NEWS! 

**Line 604 will start hourly Sunday service from May 14th. Be ready to go at 8h and ride back as late as 19h30! 
**Also, the buses running Friday and Saturday will go until 00h30 so no need to hurry! (Monday to Thursday service ends around 20h30).


Hey Basel Friends! Come visit us in Saint-Louis and stay for dinner too!  

Also available is a one time pass available for 24 hours with a smaller and larger range including access to Mulhouse. See this link: http://www.distribus.com/fr/formules-et-tarifs-triregio.htm

The bus card and passes are available at the Distribus office in Saint-Louis (14 rue de Ballon, Saint-Louis, 68300). It's not far from the grocery store Géant. **A photo booth picture of yourself is necessary for obtaining a pass. Oh, and make sure to avoid the hours of 12-2pm because they are closed for lunch.  : 8h15 ndredi : 8h15 à 12h00 - 14h00 à 17h15

Samedi : 8h30 à 10h

There is also a bus and tram combined pass that is available and payable through the swiss system. But that's a whole other pot of worms.

Oh gosh, I know that's a lot of information all at once! Take a bite of it now and ponder for a bit. Feel free to come back and check out this post when you're planning some time in french TriRhena.

And a bunch of love to the man in the photo for helping me out with all the details!

Diaper Exchange

Are you thinking about using cloth diapers, but don't want to make the investment before testing them out?!

Well..... guess what? YOU CAN! The BCT (Basel Children's Trust) antenatal trainer and sling expert, Susie Atkinson, also heads up a cloth diaper borrowing program. You can try them out for a bit and then give them back all washed up.

Great idea, huh?

You can send an inquiry to this link:
http://www.baselchildrenstrust.ch/contact-bct.html
Choose "antenatal" from the scroll down menu and type in your information and message.

Berryland has asparagus?

Most of us, I would guess, don't even know how asparagus grows, right? Well, there's a rumor going around that you might be able to go and u-pick some of your own at Beeriland in Bottmingen, CH!

A friend of mine has been to Beeriland for berries on many occasion and she was told that asparagus season is about to begin. (It could be early this year due to the bizarre weather we are having...). According to www.beeriland.ch/ the season begins mid-April. Check out their website! They also have information on when the different types of berries are in season! Go to "erntezeiten".

Having picked for money/fun as a child I really look forward to checking this place out!

OH! And there's an ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL to boot!! Mark the date: 4-6 May!

http://www.beeriland.ch/

School Benefit, Charity Benefit, You Benefit! UPDATED

Spring is on its way, albeit 6 weeks late according to Puxatony Phil. How about some shopping to benefit others and help you jump into spring mode, not to mention save you a lot on some GREAT items!

A NEW ADDITION! 

The BCT (Basel Children's Trust) Flea Market is now scheduled for May 12th from 9-12! Get more information at their website: www.baselchildrenstrust.ch. 

You can find all kinds of deals on clothes, toys and other useful children's items. Also support the BCT by having some coffee and cake while you're there! 

Enjoy! 

FIRST UP:

A used clothes sale at my neighbor's kids' school here in Saint Louis, France!

What:

Vente vetements d'occasion!

Where:

Ecole Privée Emmanuel

16, rue de La Fontaine

68300 Saint Louis

website: www.ecole-emmanuel.org

When:

Wednesday, March 28th and Saturday, March 31,

9:00- 16:00 both days

HOW MUCH!?

From 0.50 euros per item!!!

**They are also serving drinks and snacks!

ALSO COMING SOON:

A handbag and accessory auction put on by the American Women's Club of Basel (AWC) to benefit this year's charity, Sahara. (Sahara provides workplace support and training for women with special needs. www.sahara-basel.ch.)

You can also make donations! Check out the website below. 

What: 

Accessorize Your Life! Charity Auction and Sale

Where: 

Schmeidenhof Zunftsaal

Rumlinsplatz 4

4001 Basel

www.awcbasel.org

When: 

Saturday April 28th, 13:00 - 15:00

Happy Benefiting to All! 

Wonderful Pictures, Wonderful Gal!

Recently I've seen many posts on the desire for a good photographer and photos. Whether it be for chronicling a pregnancy or celebrating a family gathering, private or professional, we all need good photos, right?

Well, I know this amazing gal and photographer! She has done photos for us on a few occasions and she is just magical. She knows how to connect with her "subjects" and she can use any location to make wonderful memories for years to come.


I've shared a few of our photos from Erin here, but don't just take my word for it, check out her blog: http://www.erineagleman.com/.

Toy library? No way!

Attention all parents and grandparents!! Are you overwhelmed by the extreme abundance of toys in your house? Are most of these aforementioned toys sitting the bench? Rotation is key!

Instead of buying new toys at every single occasion, think about signing up for a toy loan program!!

Here in Saint-Louis we have what's called the Ludothèque - it's a library of toys and games for all ages. All I had to do was sign up and pay a small fee. (A regular membership costs 40 euros). Wonderful!

For more information check out this link:
http://www.saint-louis.fr/index.php/Ludothèque-municipale?idpage=44&afficheMenuContextuel=true

Also new in town (or in the US since the concept has been around the block in Europe and Canada) is online toy borrowing sites. Do an internet search and find one in your area! This, however, costs a LOT more than our local bibliothèque de jeu. Another idea is to start a toy exchange with other parents or grandparents!

I'm sure you will enjoy seeing new, not more, toys around the house too!