Alsace

Medieval Strasbourg was a welcome change from Paris.

 

 

Lots of cute little Winstubs (wine cellars) to choose from.

 

 

A nice cruise on the L'ill river with audio guide and a touch of rain.

 

 

Entering a lock.

 

 

It took a few minutes for the water to rise up to the level needed to continue the journey.

 

 

This bridge swings to the side to let river traffic through.

 

 

Some of the half- timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries.

 

 

Beautiful buildings and parks lined the river.

 

 

The gothic cathedral of Stasbourg is the second most visited in France after Notre-Dame in Paris.

 

 

The cathedral's doorway

 

 

A few guardians of the doorway

 

 

Alsatians like to get creative with their signs.

 

 

Elaborately painted half-timbered building

 

 

We tried Tarte Flambee in this 3 level restaurant. We weren't too impressed with this Alsatian specialty -
thin-crust pizza made with crème fraîche, sliced onions, and bacon.

 

 

We then rented a Citroen and drove along the Route du Vin through some 30 medieval villages between Strasbourg and Colmar.

 

 

We couldn't resist the attraction at bottom.

 

 

We didn't dare enter the Chateau de Hell (actually it was closed)

 

 

Quite a few villages had gate towers like this one.

 

 

Grotesque gothic gargolyes

 

 

 

 

 

Nice little hotel near the village of Obernai.

 

 

Someone planted a Sequoia redwood from California a few hundred years ago. Just
what part of pushing the shutter button halfway down so the camera
can set the exposure and focus do 90% of people not get?

 

 

Lots of flowers on windowsills.

 

If you're not too bored, continue south along the Route du Vin

 

Home | Ethiopia | Guatemala | India | Vietnam | Grand Canyon