When we arrived in Colmar, there was not much going on that early in the morning. We started walking away from the train station to find a cafe but everything was closed. I had spotted a Best Western Hotel right across the street from the train station and we decided if all else failed, we would eat there . . . but we wanted something with more atmosphere! Just about the time I was ready to turn around in defeat, David spotted the perfect French cafe! Two women were setting up an ice cream stand outdoors and when we walked into the cafe, there before us was the most beautiful display of bread and pastries ever!!! We picked out our pastries and sat down and were served coffee for me and hot chocolate for David. It looked like a few local people were having breakfast and reading the paper.
A very interesting man walked in and sat at a table beside us in the corner. There were many other tables available so we think that was "his" table. He placed a few coins on the table and soon it seemed his regular order was delivered to his table. He glanced at the newspaper a few times and muttered to himself. David said he was fascinated by my iPhone and kept staring at me using it. He was certainly a character!
While we were eating a young man kept bringing trays of the most beautiful pastries upstairs from, I'm assuming, the bakery. I wish I could have taken pictures of all of them! David couldn't see them but we stopped and looked at all of the full display cases before we left. OMG!
Anyway, we walked back towards the office where we had to meet our tour guide and I had to tinkle very badly! We could not find a bathroom and the only bathroom in the train station was closed for cleaning! We resorted to walking into the Best Western Hotel and while David waited politely at the desk to ask permission to use their bathrooms, I followed the signs to the ladies room very quickly. When I went back to the desk to meet David he had been told the restrooms were for guests only! Oh well, my bad.
We met our tour guide, Jean-Claude and the other tour members. He instantly told us not to confuse him with Jean-Claude Van Damme! Not a problem. With us were a nice, retired couple from Ohio (who also own a condo in Chicago -- more about that later) and two women from Spain.
First Jean-Claude drove us to chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg -- a huge castle built in the 12th century. The castle fell into disrepair during the 30 years' war. After Germany took control of the Alsace region from 1871 to 1918, the German Emperor Wilhelm II decided to renovate the castle. This took about 8 years but was very important in that it gave the local people good jobs and restored the castle to its former glory. We spent about an hour there and it was amazing.
Next we visited the little town of Ribeauville. It was a very cute, French town, typical of the area with gingerbread-type houses with exposed timbers and stucco in between. In addition, the houses had flower boxes below each of their windows and scalloped eaves. There were many shops of meats and cheeses, trinkets, clothing and eye glasses. We could have spent a few hours here, however, we had just 30 minutes to go from one end of the main street to the other. We had to move on because our first wine tasting awaited.
Jean-Claude then drove us to the town of Riquewihr. The two women from Spain were leaving the tour at this point and not going to the wine tasting. Jean-Claude took the couple from Ohio and David and me to the winery of Dopff de Irion where we were surprised to learn that Jean-Claude is a licensed sommelier and he conducted the wine tasting.
Continued on next page.
We met our tour guide, Jean-Claude and the other tour members. He instantly told us not to confuse him with Jean-Claude Van Damme! Not a problem. With us were a nice, retired couple from Ohio (who also own a condo in Chicago -- more about that later) and two women from Spain.
First Jean-Claude drove us to chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg -- a huge castle built in the 12th century. The castle fell into disrepair during the 30 years' war. After Germany took control of the Alsace region from 1871 to 1918, the German Emperor Wilhelm II decided to renovate the castle. This took about 8 years but was very important in that it gave the local people good jobs and restored the castle to its former glory. We spent about an hour there and it was amazing.
Next we visited the little town of Ribeauville. It was a very cute, French town, typical of the area with gingerbread-type houses with exposed timbers and stucco in between. In addition, the houses had flower boxes below each of their windows and scalloped eaves. There were many shops of meats and cheeses, trinkets, clothing and eye glasses. We could have spent a few hours here, however, we had just 30 minutes to go from one end of the main street to the other. We had to move on because our first wine tasting awaited.
Jean-Claude then drove us to the town of Riquewihr. The two women from Spain were leaving the tour at this point and not going to the wine tasting. Jean-Claude took the couple from Ohio and David and me to the winery of Dopff de Irion where we were surprised to learn that Jean-Claude is a licensed sommelier and he conducted the wine tasting.
Continued on next page.
Julia & David,
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how excited I get reading your blog about all your adventures. It makes me feel like I'm right there, with all your good descriptions. I write down all the places you go, then google them to see photos of them. I didn't realize how many vowels they use in their words. So glad you're having an awesome time. I looked up the places in the Paris jigsaw puzzle that I have. They are real places although look much more contemporary than in the puzzle.
Love you guys!
Dianna