They Took the Windows Out Just in Time

It is a sunny and bright day in Strasbourg, the capital of Frances Alsace region. It is also Saturday, so the streets are full of shoppers and the canals full of boats. At the huge Notre Dame cathedral, we learned that in 1941, the city was evacuated; with the advance of the Nazis, everyone fled. The stained glass windows dating back to the 12th century were taken out of the cathedral to be stored safely, lest they fall into German hands. Despite this precaution, they did, and then they were taken over the Rhine to a salt mine in Germany.

The Allies would have bombed the mine but for the foresight of an American GI, who alerted his officers to the hidden treasure, and they were spared. Just before the end of the war, though, a bomb landed in the back of this giant church…and the old glass back there was destroyed.

Our guide Annie spoke her English with a slight German accent. This territory has changed hands more than once, and used to be grouped with Lorraine, but is now its own territory. We sampled the most famous Alsacian dish today, a heavy but delicious combination of sour kraut and fish called choucroute. A baby cried in a carraige beside us; her parents didn,t want to pick her up, as we might have done.

Despite the crying, a strolling guitarist and accordian player created lovely ambience in Cathedral Square as we enjoyed yet another 2 hour lunch.