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I travelled to Basel running the risk of not having a hotel room booked. I failed to secure accommodation online but I decided to go to Basel anyway. I felt at that time I could always return to Zurich if I really had no place to stay.
Seeking help from the tourist information counter, I was directed to check with a hotel but I ended up taking the wrong tram to another place. Doing my best not to panic, I searched around and found this Hotel Palazzo nearby.
Trying my luck, the hotel manager was so kind to give me a room despite the hotel being fully booked. Though above my budget slightly, the room was cozy and friendly to my wheelchair. For just one night, at least I would be warm in bed after a nice shower.
I was given a pass to travel on buses and trams for free too and with that, I tried to follow the wheelchair-friendly path indicated on the official city map. (The path is marked brown on my map on the right.)
But alas, the city map did not advise on going by which direction is less strenuous and I ended up having to wheel uphill most of the time. I did my best to follow the path but had to change my route near the end when I simply ran out of energy. I turned to the nearest tram station, transferred from tram to bus at Claraplatz and returned to my hotel room for a nice shower and an early sleep.
12th Oct:
My hope for another night's stay at the hotel was dashed as the hotel manager told me that the hotel was fully-booked. As there was a major conference being held in Basel, all other hotels were experiencing full occupancy as well.
The hotel manager, Mr. Ernesto Romer, and his staff really went beyond the most helpful gesture anyone can ever have to help me. The receptionist tried with internet searches and phone calls to secure accommodation at a youth hostel. Mr. Romer then drove me to the hostel after my breakfast so I didn't have to struggle with my luggage.
After having checked into the hostel, I took a walk towards the river and along its bank. I passed by The Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing. Unfortunately, it wasn't opening hours yet.
The fifth kind soul I met for the day was more than an angel! I met Mr. Wirz while waiting for the tram to the stadium. He accompanied me to the stadium and told me to wait for him after the match. He wheeled me back to the hostel, taking the small roads and slopes. I felt really bad for an old gentleman to push me for that distance.
What a day! I even got a hot cup of tea from the hostel staff Martina before going to bed! Basel is a lovely city with some of the nicest people I have ever met. It's definitely in my top 3 cities of Switzerland.
I went along the river bank, reaching a lookout point (marked by a camera icon on the map) before doubling back a little. This was when I realised I needed to go up an impossibly steep slope.
A lady named Cartia came by and answered my call for help. She pushed me up to the top before returning for her bicycle. She even gave me directions as to how to go to the football stadium to get my ticket.
At the stadium, I encountered the third angel of the day! I was asking about a ticket for the Switzerland-Wales match which was priced at 60-80 francs when the ticketing lady gave me one for the handicapped for free! She then showed me the elevator for me to enter the stadium.
I spent the rest of the afternoon looking for the Basel Library, the largest I was told. It was tucked in an old building away from the main road, hence it took me a long while to find it. Then I had tea at the nearby cafe.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Basel is handicapped-friendly not because of its facilities but its people. Basel must have the kindest people in the world. They made up for the difficulties I had negotiating with the public transport and multitudes of gradients. I had to book a cab to go to the train station upon leaving Basel as I couldn't manage with my luggage then.
One thing to note: Visitors to Basel are given complimentary rides on trams and buses throughout their stay. The hotels and hostels will give their guests dated cards for conductors to verify.
Back at the hostel for a rest before the Switzerland-Wales football match, I noticed that my left wheel had gotten loose, causing me to exert more energy to get around. Samuel, the guy manning the hostel, managed to find the right tools to tighten it for me.
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