Blogs from Strasbourg, Alsace, France, Europe - page 19

My original plan for December 30 was to get up early and go to Colmar if we hadn’t been able to get there the day before. Otherwise, I would have spent the morning in Strasbourg’s Christmas Market and showing Gen, Tyler and Grandma Phoebe the world-renowned mechanical clock inside the Cathedral. After that I had hoped to get on the road by early afternoon and perhaps take a detour by way of Luxembourg on our way to Trier, Germany. However, just a week before we left on our trip, one of my sisters e-mailed me asking if she, my other sister and my cousin could meet us in Strasbourg. They were spending Christmas in Paris but were willing to take the train to Strasbourg for the day. I told them they were nuts but my sister ... read more

My second last evening in Niedermorschwihr was an enjoyable occasion. Bernard (Jean & Beatrice’s friend), his wife Eliane, daughter Miriam (plus her boyfriend, who’s name escapes me - could be Franz?), joined Jean, Beatrice, Ella-Pauline, Nellie and myself for dinner. It was good to share a meal and drinks with them before I departed Niedermorschwihr as they have all been so friendly to Lorenza and me on our two visits to Alsace. Miriam is the president of the local organization responsible for raising funds to maintain and restore the church tower. She is very passionate about her role and cause. She spoke for sometime about the different fund raising projects they had and were trying. It is good to see that someone young is interested in maintaining the history of her birthplace. Bernard got scolded a ... read more

Today we drove from Holzgerlingen, Germany to Strasbourg, France. We drove through the beautiful Black Forest, famous for cuckoo clocks and Hansel and Gretel. Every February the small Catholic towns surrounding the Black Forest celebrates German Carnaval. The men in every town dress in traditional costumes and the women dress as witches to 'chase away the ghost of winter´. At the end of the festival a scarecrow is burned in the townsquare to symbolize the end of winter and the beginning of summer season. Because of the tradition, the Black Forest is commonly associated with witches--hence the creation of the famous fairytale: Hansel and Gretel! In Strasbourg we visited the Alsace Historical Museaum, La Petit France, the famous Notre Dame cathedral, the European Parlament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights. ... read more

115km south west of Heidelberg is Strasbourg, located in the Alsatian region of France. It’s considered to be the capital or Europe and it’s where the European Parliament and Council of Europe meet. Upon arrival we headed straight for lunch at La Cloche A Fromage (“The Cheese Cover” or “The Cheese Bell” depending on how you translate it). Virtually everything on the menu contains cheese. I indulged in the Lentil Soup, a cheese place containing 7 cheeses and a soufflé containing munster and plums. Delicious! After lunch we visited the Strasbourg cathedral. The cathedral was complete in 1439. Inside is an Astronomical clock. This was the first I’d ever seen. Then it was off for a bit of shopping and walking around the city. ... read more