An Everlasting Love

Well after spending a rather wet weekend (but still fun) near Zürich, Monday I took the train from Feldmeilen to Zürich where I changed to a train headed for Freiberg near the edge of the Black Forest in Germany.  From there, I transferred to a regional train that stopped at 7 villages heading north in the direction of Offenburg before I got off in Orschweier to meet up with my friend, Sue, who lives in Alsace.

For those of you who don't know, the Rhine river in this area forms the border between France and Germany.  On the French side, between the river and the Vosges mountains is the area known as Alsace.  This area has gone back and forth between France and Germany many times and, therefore, the culture, language, food and architecture here are an interesting melange between the two countries.  The first time I came to Europe in 1979, there were only three places I wanted to see:  Lago Maggiore (because of that film, Rome Adventure, I saw in the early 1960s), Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria (because I had done a needlepoint of it and later found out it was a real castle), and Alsace.  I have no idea how I knew about that region of France but, for some reason, I think it might have been a novel I'd read about the Resistance movement there during WWII but I really don't know.  IWhat I do know is that, from the moment I walked around the streets of Strasbourg and later in the same trip set my eyes on Ribeauville (one of the famous wine villages), I fell in love with this part of Europe.  That love has endured now for nearly 40 years and has not wavered.  Of course, it also helps that, on my second visit here with my mother, I discovered there was a Canadian (Sue) living here with whom I had a connection.  It is a bit of a long story but her mother and my father belonged to the same camera club in Victoria so when Mom and I came here, Sue's mother suggested we meet Sue and her husband, Keith.  The rest, as they say, is history.  How blessed was I to become very good friends with two people who live in one of my favourite places in the world!

Okay, back to the "here and now".  The weather woes continue to plague me (I expect I am not getting much sympathy back home about that) but today when Sue and I went into Strasbourg the rain held off and later in the afternoon, the sun even peeked through the clouds.  Strasbourg, as you probably know, is the seat of the European Parliament as well as the major city in this part of France.  We wandered around a new part of the city where a shopping centre has opened.  It was not that different to shopping in other cities:  Mango, Sephora, Gap, etc. were all there.  Then, we crossed the River Ill and walked into the old town.  Strasbourg's gothic cathedral is breathtaking - and very difficult to photo - and the very old La Petite France area with its half-timbered buildings is lovely.  I'm not sure if I am going to get to the Alsace wine villages on this trip but, If I do, there will be more photos later of that. In the meantime, here are a few photos of today's visit to Strasbourg. 

Intricate carvings on the side of the catedral

Looking up at the cathedral - and see that spot of blue sky!

The square in front of the cathedral

In the "La Petite France" part of the city

Which is also known as "The Tanners District"

More of the half-timbered buildings

Another Strasbourg street

I am also very aware that my time over here is fast drawing to a close.  Saturday, I will take the train to Frankfurt airport and stay there overnight before my flight home on Sunday.  Not sure if there will be any more to blog about but I guess that depends on what Sue and I get up to over the next couple of days - and, oh yes, the weather!