Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Strasbourg |
Finally, though, we were exiting Germany and crossing the Rhine River. It was already dark and we could only see the vague moonlight and street lamps shimmering on the great expanse of water below. The Rhine was one of the most strategic rivers in Europe, holding a range of fortresses since the Roman times, protecting (or not) civilization from Germans in one century or another. Now it’s a peaceful and scenic place, lined with vineyards, forests, and foothills on either side.
circles...
Strasbourg cathedral square |
When I first visited Strasbourg, it was after a visit to Paris. I had spent a week in Paris trying to fit everything I could, knowing that I probably would never return. And to be honest, I haven’t looked back since. The city drained me dry of money as though I were a drunk on the Reeperbahn. But after that long week, I had taken the high-speed train to the European capital and looked at France with a new-found respect and wonder. I was happy to go back a second time and this time with my wife, getting to relive the beauties of all the scenes again through her wide-eyed amazement.
We were staying at the City Residence, one of the cheaper places in town that was near the train station and a 10-minute walk to the Grand Ile. The hotel was clean enough and each room had a refrigerator and a sink, but we had to unplug the refrigerator due to the noise it made, which sounded like a freight truck was driving through the flat at three in the morning - not an overly pleasant experience after an evening of drinking cheap wine while sitting on the canal. The neighborhood seemed safe enough and had a few Turkish pizza/kebab restaurants to make for cheap eating. I found some of the best pide in my life in that area, hands down better than anything in Turkey.
A short walking tour
Place du Marche Gayot |
The next site we saw was the Place du Marche Gayot, a ridiculously beautiful square surrounded by half-timbered houses and filled with outdoor cafes. This is a good place for lunch, dinner, and drinks and the drinks were surprisingly in the normal price range, not like the areas in directly in front of the cathedral, though this was an infinitely more beautiful and peaceful spot. We came back later that night to visit the tiny bar l’Alchimiste, featuring a tree in the middle of the bar and large cocktails lit with glowsticks. The place could have been better had they been playing more appropriate music than 80s hip-hop, but we all fall short somewhere.
the Lycee International des Pontonniers |
Le Petite France |
Ponts Couverts |
The value of art |
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