Day 5 - 24 February 2015

   We were in no rush today, so we decided to sleep in till 10 am and get a late start on the day instead. We headed downstairs at 11 am and ate some complimentary breakfast. After eating breakfast at the hostel, we headed out to continue exploring Basel and the festival at 12 pm. The second day of the carnival is one of the more relaxed days, so it isn't so hectic as the first and last days. To kill some time before the afternoon festivities, we wandered around the city, exploring the city and exposing ourselves to their culture. At 1 pm, we headed into a local cafe and found some food to eat. After grabbing lunch, we explored some more and before we knew it, it was already the evening and we watched as the Guggemuusige, or masked musicians, filled the streets of the city with their improvised cacophony. They were decedent in their costumes, and although their music was improvised, they came together to form a beautiful harmony with all their instruments. 

Indigenous Meal:

   For a late dinner at 9 PM, after watching and following the parade of the Guggemuusige, we went to a local restaurant and ordered a cheese and chocolate platter to share. The Swiss are well known for their cheese and chocolate, so decided to take this opportunity to try it for ourselves. The sample plate consisted of different types of cheeses and chocolates, all of varying consistency, texture and taste.  The food was exquisite, and we were able to see why they are so well known for their chocolate and cheese. After our spectacular supper, we headed back to our hostel at 11 pm to retire for the night.