Strasbourg, France…A Very Pretty City

(I didn’t go back to Strasbourg–I did realize I had not published this post)

I had to take 4 trains to go from Cologne, Germany to Strasbourg. They were not hard to figure out— biggest issue was that smaller stations don’t have escalators and I have to carry my suitcase up and down stairs. I saved my lunch till the last train. I packed a sandwich with salami, cheese, tomato and fresh basil. (I can’t quit “toting”). I saw a lot of grape vines, corn and a pumpkin field along the way. During one stretch of towns the locals would decorate their stations (really no bigger than a bus stop). There were rabbits, frogs, goose and these: I am truly amazed that I found my apartment. I had to figure out what tram to take, where to buy tickets and where to get off. I didn’t know you had to validate your ticket before getting on tram– upon realizing my mistake I got off, put my ticket into the little machine and got on the next tram. The French don’t check often but when they do it’s $$$ if you don’t do it right. One time in Paris five of the six of us had thrown our tickets away and we had to pay on the spot 125 euro.

After finding this darling little apartment (I have my own courtyard, a washing machine and a tv that speaks French) I found a grocery store just around the corner. I think that one of the things I am enjoying is exploring the local culture thru shopping for food. I stocked up for the three days that I will be here. Got back to my little French “pad” and had dinner and did my laundry.

I got up early on Sunday to take the tram to the center to go to mass at the Cathedral. It’s a very beautiful church but that one in Cologne will spoil anyone. Mass was enjoyable…..a choir, three priests and a lot of candles. I didn’t understand a word but mass is mass. We even give each other the peace handshake. I couldn’t get a very good picture of the Cathedral.

I rented an audio tour from the tourist office and walked about the city center. It is lovely. Strasbourg center is an island surrounded by a river and canal. It is sort of like a “baby Paris” with the French type apartment buildings but right next door will be medieval buildings like this: The waterways are wider than in Amsterdam and Bruges. After that nice long walk I needed lunch—-a local specialty pork and sauerkraut: It was delicious–not too sour, just right.