Frolicking in Strasbourg

Hi everyone. I spent the weekend in Strasbourg, France (which has gone in between Germany and France for YEARS, but is currently a part of France). It's in the Alsace region (just search for this online, and you'll recognize right away some of the famous characters, clothing, etc). Strasbourg, as well as the smaller towns and villages nearby felt like entering into a 'land' in Disneyland, NO JOKE. It was great. Every year there is a big Marche de Noel (Chrstimas market) in the Alsace region, a few in every town. It is overwhelming. The whole town is decorated for Christmas starting around Thanksgiving time, so I had great timing. Lights and Santas and wreaths are everywhere, and the markets are filled for blocks with vendors selling gingerbread, other breads, cookies, (and i mean A LOT, LIKE COSTCO STYLE STOCK UP FOR THE WINTER/GIFTS), ornaments, holiday decorations, jewelery, gifts. It is also known for its 'choucroute' (sauerkraut), and 'vin chaud' (hot wine). The hot wine was great. I even bought some postcards w/the vin chaud recipe on it. The market I was at most was right underneat the Notre Dame cathedral in Strasbourg. It was a gorgeous cathedral, and one day I ascented to the top (VERY HIGH)...I lost my breath climbing it and also got dizzy on the top (fear of heights) but was there long enough to see the great view and take pics of the city. There is also an astronomical clock inside that rings every day at 12:30 and the apostles circle the crucifix, etc. I went and saw that Sunday (and took video of it, and pics). While in the city I walked A LOT, and saw the Alsace museum, Le Petit France (a great little neighborhood), went on the boat tour around the canals (similar to the Seine, but the Ill and Rhine Rivers), and just learned a lot about the history of the area. The architecture is AMAZING and so adorable, some buildings dating back to the 14th century. I even went inside a prison and saw a bridge where people were tortured (mainly women for being prostitutes). I took TONS of pictures of the city, and also video. So much of the city was built to accomodate for war conditions.

The best part of the weekend was the private, all inclusive bus tour I took just outside the city through the wine route, small villages and up to the chateau Haut-Koenigsbourg. I decided since I was alone and the weather wasn't ideal to wander around the city all day, I'd take this tour. It was just myself and 2 other women from New York in a small bus/van with the French driver. He was really friendly and spoke in both languages. We went to some of the small villages and saw towns that weren't destroyed during the wars, some houses still standing from the 14th and 15th centuries! We drove through the wine route and saw the vineyards just alongside the car. They went forever, and even up into the hills! It was really great. From the car we saw several chateaus (castles) up in the hills, it was spectacular. They were built ages ago to protect the valleys below and 'guard' the valleys during the wars. The weather wasn't ideal for great views or pictures, but I did my best and got a few good ones. I also took video during the drive and up in the chateau. I could see the MASSIVE Koenigsbourg from down below, then we made the ascent up the mountain (approx 6,000 feet above), like going to the ski hills. When we got there the driver gave us our admission tickets and the 3 of us took the 45 minute walk through the castle. I took video while one of the women read the guide and led us through. It was crazy, this castle was very mid-evil almost...NOT luxurious like Versailles. Clearly designed by men, we didn't think women even lived here. It was also kind of cold, with windows almost facing walls so sunlight wouldn't have been optimal. There were stoves throughout the castle though. So much of it was just walls, so a fortress for the war. Looking out the windows were hills and cliffs and terrain, I could IMAGINE a war occuring here, and why they built the castles at the very top, to see everything going on below. The only 'luxurious' room was the dining room. Throughout each room there were religious tones (even the 'host' as ornaments on the trees), crosses, a chapel, and then also lots of hunting tones too. We meandered through each room, and walked carefully up all the winding staircases. It was really cool to at least go there. Looking at pictures of the chateau I can see that the 'best' photo is taken from an aerial view from the helicopter, as it's almost impossible to get a great picture because it's soooo big and so high.