Day 15
Woke up to a light drizzle that subsided by the time we hit the streets around 9. Actually, we resumed the weird weather of bright sun mixed with clouds and occasional rain. You never know what it will be like from one minute to the next.
Colmar
Walked around Colmar and took photos before the busses unloaded. The town is large, but not a lot of hotels or restaurants. The “Little Venice” area was particularly interesting. Old half-timbered houses overlooking a canal. Saw some Bertholdi statues – it’s his hometown – he sculpted the Status of Liberty, and almost all of his statues have a raised arm!
Went into a patisserie for breakfast and then into Monoprix for some food oriented souvenirs. Then hit the road.
Stopped in 3 Alsatian towns – all surrounded by vines (including the front and back yards of “suburban” houses), and the center of town is all the old half-timbered look. Stopped in Riquewihr, Hunnawihr, and Ribeauville. All along the Route de Vin. Had a cheese coated pretzel, and Jill bought enough grapes to make a case of wine for 10F. Much more picturesque than I expected for Alsace. Very nice.
Then headed towards the Rhine River, which divides France and Germany. Had our last picnic on a levee overlooking the river.
Headed up to Strasbourg and crossed the border without even slowing down. Changed our remaining Francs to D-marks and hit the autobahn towards Frankfurt.
The plan was to stay just north of Heidelberg in a country area we stayed in last time. But someone whose name begins with “J” decided that wasn’t good enough, so we headed closer to Frankfurt.
Couldn’t find a decent hotel, so ended up at the $180 airport hotel, paying $20 to park. What a ripoff. However, they had a restaurant in a separate building with a very Black Forest atmosphere. We had a couple of beers and I had wild boar medallions (very good), Jill had veal stuffed with ham (very good).
Day 16 >>>
Went into a patisserie for breakfast and then into Monoprix for some food oriented souvenirs. Then hit the road.
Stopped in 3 Alsatian towns – all surrounded by vines (including the front and back yards of “suburban” houses), and the center of town is all the old half-timbered look. Stopped in Riquewihr, Hunnawihr, and Ribeauville. All along the Route de Vin. Had a cheese coated pretzel, and Jill bought enough grapes to make a case of wine for 10F. Much more picturesque than I expected for Alsace. Very nice.
Then headed towards the Rhine River, which divides France and Germany. Had our last picnic on a levee overlooking the river.
Headed up to Strasbourg and crossed the border without even slowing down. Changed our remaining Francs to D-marks and hit the autobahn towards Frankfurt.
The plan was to stay just north of Heidelberg in a country area we stayed in last time. But someone whose name begins with “J” decided that wasn’t good enough, so we headed closer to Frankfurt.
Couldn’t find a decent hotel, so ended up at the $180 airport hotel, paying $20 to park. What a ripoff. However, they had a restaurant in a separate building with a very Black Forest atmosphere. We had a couple of beers and I had wild boar medallions (very good), Jill had veal stuffed with ham (very good).
Day 16 >>>
