Strasbourg

 We left Colmar at 9:30ish and the train had us to Strasbourg by 10ish.  After dropping the bags off at the hotel (unfortunately, no room was available yet, but they offered to hold our bags) we walked to the city center.  

We first visited the big cathedral, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, which was made of red sandstone, which was different.  

After getting inside right before it closed for the afternoon, 

The astronomical clock (sadly under scaffolding) is from the 1800s and replaces two earlier clocks.

(Different characters parade in front of the skeleton death to show the passage of life)

(Emperor window, c. 1210-1270)

(I might have just liked this weird tree monster thing to the right)

After exploring inside, we headed around the corner to start the 330 stair climb to the top!  We soon decided we are both out of shape...  

(looking down on the Palais Rohan)

(This picture does a good job of showing the pink in the stone walls)

After coming back out, we stumbled across the place (square) to a creperie!  

I enjoyed a banana nutella crepe for brunch, so I got my french crepe fix.  

We next backtracked a bit to see some of what had had missed into the rush to the cathedral, 

(Place Kléber)

before doubling back and heading to the history museum at the river.  It told the history of Strasbourg and the Alsace region and how it has past between French and German control several times since 1681 until WWII.  I found the propoganda pre and post war particularly interesting. 

After that we walked a bit along the L'Ill River.  

until we reached the street heading to St. Thomas Church (a protestant church), well known for its acoustics.

We enjoyed a bit of an organ concert as we took the opportunity to sit and rest a bit in the church.

Next on to Petite France, a quarter in the city with half timbered homes. 

(antique carousel with cars!)

 Since we just came from Colmar and the villages with many more of them, we were a bit disappointed.  It was still pretty though!  

We stopped there along the River and had apertifs (I had Kir again--this time with sparkling Alsacian wine and mixed with bure liquier (Blackberry).  

Very good!  We rounded off our afternoon snack with ice cream.

We wandered next down to Barrage Vauban 

where we climbed just a few steps to the top (just a couple of flights, not anything crazy) for views.  

After sitting in a park with the locals for awhile, 

we headed back towards the cathedral up the Grand Rue   

(A quick stop to sample teas in Dammann Frères)

eventually coming to the Place Gutenberg.

(second antique carousel!)

(Stork spotted!)

From here it was back up to Place de la Cathedrale to hope for better lighting--it had been too bright to take good pictures when we were there the first time.

(Palais Rohan)

Dinner tonight was my potentially last chance to get my favorite of the Alsace wines I'd tried, gewurztraminer (the lady's wine).  I had jambonneau, very tender ham on the bone served with potatoes in a Munster cheese sauce...delish! 

By now it was dark, so back up to the cathedral for night pics 

(Stork street art!)

(with some music, a singer cranking a street organ) 

before heading back to the hotel--a 15 minute walk back towards the gare.  Sadly, it is au revoir to France--we headed back to Germany the next day.