[Reading level: B2 – Upper Intermediate]
Visiting Basel, the third most populous city in Switzerland in the summer, Ella Foote, a Norwegian travel blogger, had the opportunity to experience one of the most “unique” things here.
It is the scene of people returning home after work by swimming in the Rhine. This type of movement helps them both relax and relieve stress, as well as a form of exercise after a long day of work.
To keep their belongings from getting wet, they often put their personal items in a large waterproof bag called “Wickelfisch” and then jump into the river and relax. Bags in the shape of colorful fish, sold throughout the city, help keep your belongings dry during the trip “floating” on the surface of the Rhine.
“I try to observe the people swimming around. Most of them are office workers. Before entering the water, all take off their clothes, fold them into Wickelfisch bags and laptops. Tourists like me too follow along,” Ella said.
According to this visitor, most people would swim between the Schwarzwald and Johanniter bridges and then let the current take them downstream. A map display sign for swimmers was installed in 1984 marking safe swimming areas.
The Rhine is the second longest river in Europe, originating in the Alps. The river divides the city of Basel into two parts, with one side being the old town area with a long-standing commercial center, while the other side focuses on modern architecture with many bars and restaurants very crowded with tourists.
“It may be hard to believe, but in this city, many people choose to go home from work by river. They use the water as a means of transporting themselves home. They take advantage of the river to exercise as well as enjoy life,” Nick, a social network user shares information in a video that has been viewed many times. Meanwhile, many first-time visitors to Basel are surprised when witnessing this “unique” scene.
In order to serve swimmers, the local government has arranged small cabins near the river as changing rooms. This area also has public bathrooms or toilets located along the route.
According to the introduction of Ella, the Swiss people are the leaders in the field of “swimming in the city”. Many large municipalities such as Basel, Berne, Zurich and Geneva are designed to make rivers accessible and safe for swimmers. Since the 1980s, the city has built a wastewater treatment facility and diverted domestic wastewater out of the river, as well as designing concrete steps up and down, and a safety map for swimmers.
Although this experience is quite new, many travel bloggers also note that the Rhine is a large river with fast-flowing water, so visitors need to be very careful when trying participating for the first time.
“This is one of the most interesting things here. You should swim on the right side of the river because water vehicles often use the left side. Remember absolutely do not swim if your health does not allow and when you are drunk,” noted Desiree, a travel blogger.
Source: https://vietnam.postsen.com/world/159021/A-place-where-people-like-to-swim-home-from-work-making-visitors-eyes-wide-open.html
WORD BANK:
populous /ˈpɒp.jə.ləs/ (adj – formal): đông dân
belongings /bɪˈlɒŋ.ɪŋz/ [B2] (n): đồ đạc
waterproof /ˈwɔː.tə.pruːf/ [B2] (adj): không thấm nước
fold /fəʊld/ [B1] (v): gấp
follow along (v): làm theo
current /ˈkʌr.ənt/ [B2] (n): dòng nước
downstream /ˌdaʊnˈstriːm/ (n): hạ nguồn
long-standing /ˌlɒŋˈstæn.dɪŋ/ (adj): lâu đời,
route /ruːt/ [B1] (n): tuyến đường
municipality /mjuːˌnɪs.ɪˈpæl.ə.ti/ (n): thành phố
wastewater /ˈweɪstˌwɔ.t̬·ər/ (n): nước thải
treatment facility /ˈtriːt.mənt fəˈsɪl.ə.ti/ (n): cơ sở xử lý
divert /daɪˈvɜːt/ [C2] (v): đổi hướng
domestic wastewater /dəˈmes.tɪk ˈweɪstˌwɔ.t̬·ər/ (n): nước thải sinh hoạt
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