L.L. Diamond

I’m back! Sorry for the interruption in posts but it’s been crazy around here.

After Heidelberg, we drove into France, stopping at a small hotel just outside of Strasbourg. I would’ve loved to stay closer to the town center but finding a place with parking wasn’t possible and we learned why when we walked into the town center that evening.

Now, I’ve studied French but my speaking is weak compared to reading and I had several different reactions to my attempts at trying to speak. The first was when we checked in to the hotel at 3:00 in the afternoon and I said, “Bonjour” only to receive a crabby “Bonsoir!” in return. Fortunately, most of my attempts were more politely taken 🙂

Once we were settled in, we walked out to the Tram station just in front of our hotel, bought tickets, and boarded when the next train came to the platform. A nice gentleman pointed us in the right direction when we reached the town center and we followed his directions. We knew we’d headed in the correct direction when we came to security posted around the middle of town.

Strasbourg had been the site of the terrorist attack this past Christmas and we had to let them look in our purses/handbags as well as open our coats before we were allowed past.

I do feel that Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets we visited. The atmosphere around the various markets, the Baccarat crystal chandeliers hanging down the middle of one of the streets, and the cathedral all make the place rather magical. It’s just a neat place. I’d love to go again just to take in the ambience of the town. I think the only thing that could’ve made it better was snow!

Unfortunately, my attempts at photos of the chandeliers didn’t come out well at all. If you’d like to see what it’s like, they have some great photos online and here.

We walked around the stalls and ate sauerkraut with sausage and potatoes and drank the different variations of mulled wine. We enjoyed chocolate covered fruit. I had fraise (strawberries) with dark chocolate (noir) and my daughters had strawberries with milk chocolate (lait). This was one of those markets where we grumbled at being celiac because of the amazing bread with melted cheese at some of the booths. It looked amazing. Before the evening was over, I added another Santa to my collection. He had a face not hidden beneath his hat but he was too cute to pass up.

Our only confusion was trying to find where to catch the return tram to the hotel.

 

Next up . . . Reims!