Eguisheim, France

South of Colmar, about 15 minutes is the cute town of Eguishem where everything is out of a storybook.  The houses are painted bright colors, the flower boxes are filled with every type of flower imaginable, and storks are flying high in the air.

The charming streets that encircle the center of town was once a moat; I could definitely walk in circles all day looking at the half-timbered charm.  

Again, nothing but winding streets, but I don't care I could walk this cobble stone all day!

This was my favorite street, which way do we go?  Either way is a pretty street!

Such beautifully colored homes, I got a little snap happy and took lots of pictures of them, and of Jordan.

I want one of these houses! They are characterized by their stone ground floors that are good for supporting a timber frame.  Up until the 16th century the half-timbered houses were soberly colored, and in the 17th century windows were enlarged, wooden carved embellishments added, and the wealthiest owners had pastel colored fronts.

Windows with so much charm...it hurts!

 I want to order some of these for our future home, flowers, hearts and all.

We were in search to see one of the 20 "tithe" courtyards.  They were farms or courtyards that belonged to the nobility richly endowed with vineyards and land.  They were a place for sales, barter and exchange, weights and measures, taxation and management of production. Looks like a pretty place to do business if you ask me.

This was my favorite house of the day, where Belle lived from Beauty and the Beast.

And this is probably where her neighbors lived...

One of the popular figures of the region is the stork.  They were everywhere, on magnets, postcards, dolls, and if you look close enough you can even spot some in real life.  Perched up on top of the peaked roofs are HUGE nests with real storks in them!  The nest on the right had some little babies in it.

In the center of the town square is a mini-castle and 13th century Neo-Romanesque style chapel. Can you spot two storks? 

You can't go into the castle, because someone actually live in it (how cool) but we went up to the chapel where we were surprised to see the most gorgeous flowers being protected by the old wall. 

 Had to stop and smell them...

St. Leo IX, the Alsatian pope from Eguisheim is in the center of the square, decorating the fountain. 

Please tell me you see the resemblance here between Disney and real life?!?

We did a little hike up to castle ruins to help us work up our appetites for dinner. We passed by homes with their own private wineries.

Beautiful flowers, I wonder why she is chasing the geese...Maybe to make some of America's most controversial food: Foie Gras?!

Alas, we summit the old ruins Les Trois Chateaux du Haut Eguisheim

We came back down for dinner at a wonderful restaurant for classical Alastian cuisine.  Auberge du Rempart is the type of restaurant where after you take the first bite of anything you say, wow that is so good. 

As we sat down for dinner I thought: "Never stop dating your spouse", especially when they let you eat whatever you like off the menu!

For a starter we had Foie Gras.  We had to get it since it is illegal in California because it is considered "animal cruelty" but it was SO delicious, sweet and homemade. 

 ...mmmm look at that duck liver with marmalade

I am seriously SO happy in this moment

For dinner we had:

Baeckeoffe: A pork roast in sliced potatoes slow cooked all day in a Riesling white wine sauce

 Jambone chouroute: A sauerkraut and bacon quiche in the most delicious flakey crust.

...and for dessert, well warm chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream of course!

Okay Eguisheim, I loved visiting you for all you had to offer, now that we are in a food coma we gotta go rest it off until tomorrow!

Strasbourg, France

Alas, our last town of the weekend full of French fun ends in Strasbourg (if you wonder where we have been this weekend see posts on: Colmar, Eguisheim and the Alsatian Wine Route).  We ended at Strasbourg, the official seat of the European Parliament garnished in Franco-German culture, design and feel.   We scored a pretty "pretty" parking spot along the waters edge, what a lovely day!

I love these homes along the river banks, they remind me of Amsterdam

and the carousels, think they let big kids ride?

These were our favorite things to see in Strasbourg:

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1. Cathédrale Notre Dame

The Cathédrale Notre Dame is the city's main landmark.   It was built between the 12th and 15th century from a beautiful pink sandstone, and in a classic Gothic style.  We could see it's single spire driving into the town and it can actually be seen all throughout the town-it's a great landmark.

The inside is pretty beautiful too!

The organ is so high, it must make for some pretty good acoustics

Amazing stain glass, it was taken down during WW2 by the Nazis and hidden in a salt mine, later to be rescued by the Monuments Men. 

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2. Strasbourg Anatomical Clock

Okay clock lovers this is amazing, and even if you aren't a clock lover, it is still amazing.  The clock dates back to 1843 and has so many features.  Besides the automata, there is a perpetual calendar, an orrery (planetary dial), a display of the real position of the Sun and the Moon, and the solar and lunar eclipses.

The main attraction is the procession of Christ and the Apostles figurines, which happens every day at 12:30PM. 

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3. La Petite France

La Petite France is a charming quarter, it was where Strasbourg's tradespeople (tanners, millers, and fishermen) once lived.  It's a charming area laced with canals, crowned with half-timbered homes, carpeted with cobblestones, and has lots of cafes to sit and enjoy a treat. 

 !Totally digging this piece of art!

We sat at a cafe and enjoyed a tarte flambee and people watched

What a wonderful weekend, a touch of France was just what we needed!

Alsatian Wine Route, France

If you like hiking, or even walking, you'll enjoy Route d'Vins d'Alsance.  It's a beautiful walk from one medieval village to the next, along lush Riesling wine vineyards.  We went to three different towns Riquewihr, Hunawihr, and Ribeauville, and let me tell you they are charming!

We started in the town of Riquewihr, and you enter into a townscape of winding roads and fabled houses.

Since we arrived in the early morning, we stopped for breakfast, and we found some wonderful buttery croissants, just out of the oven and they practically melt in your mouth.  

I love the storefronts, they remind me of all the classic children's book, yeah? 

You find so much character around every corner

The rolling plains and hilltop castles above the town make me ready to explore, let's get to walking!

 Blossoms of popcorn popping!

Miles and miles of grapes...makes for a pretty walk

50% of the grapes are for Riesling wine, and the other half is for a Gewurztraminer wine; I'm sure they taste delicious, too bad it's so early in the season and none of the grapes are ready to eat!

Even the weeds are beautiful here

 I spy town number 2: Hunawihr and their famous fortified church!

The town is pretty tiny, not too much to see, but still a beautiful walk

...and we march onwards to the third town

Jordan showing me how to blow the dandelions, "watch and learn Morg, watch and learn"

Ribeauville, was just as quaint as the other towns, with a fortified wall and window dressings of more nursery rhymes.

 Adorable

From here we headed 3 miles back, and when we got back to Riquewihr of course we had to reward ourselves with french macaroons from Gilg, which we have come to the conclusion have been the best macaroons in France that we have yet to have. After eating them we decided, we could probably eat a few more...

The Alsatian Wine Route makes for a great 1/2 day of exercise and sight seeing, check it out!