Colmar, Home of the Statue of Liberty Artist
Today we woke up in Strasbourg and ended up in Colmar, about 30 minutes south. Alsace, we learned from our guide, is a distinctly proud identity. “People here say they are Alsacien first, then French, or in the years during the wars, German.” This territory has changed hands many times, […]
Walking the Ramparts in Obernai, Alsace
Today we got up early, it was a fitful night’s sleep and these German-style duvets that only cover a single bed leave big gaps where cold air slips in. I glanced at the clock at 4 am, then at 7 got the wake-up call. John Blanchette and I strolled the […]
Tiny Ducks Getting Their Sea Legs
These tiny ducks were following mama on the Ill river in Strasbourg today. It was such a sunny day, everybody was in fine spirits, shopping, strolling and enjoying spring at its finest.
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 […]
Alex Miles Brings Dijon’s Secrets to Life
Alex Miles is a man I won’t soon forget. We met this fascinating, articulate and curious fellow in Dijon, he was with the tourism board rep and took us around the city on our tour. With a short stature, a shaved bald head, and a penchant for details, he was […]
Up In Time to Read the Tribune in Dijon
The other morning I awoke with a shock. I had made the classic gaffe–forgot to ask for a wake-up call, thinking hey, I get up at 7 every morning. But in those high thread count sheets, with the light blocked, and a late night watching French TV, I was jolted […]