Istvan Akos, Nic Oatridge

This week, Joel talked to Istvan Akos, founding partner of Unser Bier. We learned about Unser's history and how it fits into Basel's tradition of brewing and breweries. Learn more about Unser Bier HERE, and of course, visit their brewery for a tour or a pint and a round with friends!

Our skiing expert Nic Oatridge recommended Saas Fee for a weekend break. One of the great Alpine resorts, Saas-Fee is high, the slopes are north-facing and there is a glacier so there is skiing almost all year-round and a long peak season. Ecologically it is rated the best resort in the Alps, it is car-free, has a lively night life and is very scenic. The runs are good, not as good or anything like as extensive as nearby Zermatt, but lots of excellent piste for intermediates and very few flats.

Our music theme this week brought together bands with the word "band" in their name, so we played everyone from the Steve Miller Band to Band of Horses to The Beta Band. Eclectic? Yes!

Swissgerman Phrase of the Week

This week's words are Fasnacht-themed: you've got "Blaggedde", which is the Fasnacht badge that you can buy all around town at the moment; "Waggis", one of the figures of the carnival whose mask has a huge mouth with large teeth, an enormous nose, and a big shock of hair. And finally "Clique", the groups of fifers and drummers that dominate the Fasnacht landscape.