After we figured out the Visa issues, and landed in Strasbourg via a properly booked plane, we were able to relax into the idea of travel a bit. Our vacation rental was very comfortable, with lots of amenities as compared to Versailles (toilet paper included?! A luxury!).
We all slept very well that night, and got a fairly late start the next day. The kids racked up about 12 hours of sleep, and JG and I went out in the morning to do some sightseeing and grocery shopping.
Old Strasbourg is a serious gorgeous place. The architecture with French and German influences, the carved wood and stone, the colours that coat the walls of the old town, oh my goodness! It is a marvellous place that we would love to visit again. Petit France had a true Alsatian vibe of its own, and we made a point of checking out as much as we could on a rainy, windy day in a few short hours.
Sadly we missed one of the things I was hoping to do, which is the procession of carved saints and people at various stages of life that emerge from a 600-some year old clock at 12:30 everyday. I was sorry to miss this event, but we did get a small peek at 4:30, and we were able to watch a man aged carving parade past death as death tolled a bell,
Isaac was disappointed that we were unable to visit Germany, so Strasbourg was a great compromise. Not only does it have a strong German history, but it is also right across the river from Kehl, Germany. So, we decided to Tran to the Jardins de Deux Rives and walk across the footbridge to Germany!
Germany welcomed us graciously with parting skies after very heavy rain, and a glorious double rainbow. now that’s a great way to enter a country!
After a stop for a beverage, it was time to head back to Strasbourg (knowing our luck of late, we’d miss the last Tram), where we split a traditional Alsatian meal of Choucroutte (basically sauerkraut boiled with various spices and a bunch of different meats – sausage, sausage, pork belly, ham and something that resembled an ice cream scoop of pate). It was surprisingly delicious and so, so filling. By the time we got home to our planned charcuterie board and veggies, I was stuffed!
In London, we had also noticed a bunch of fun pixel-art images affixed to building walls. There were at least a dozen of them. At the time, we thought nothing of it, but then saw many more in Paris too! Taking a deep dove, we have discovered that it’s an art invasion developed by a secretive artist who wants to bring art to the common man. We have noticed a few now in Strasbourg, and hope to see others on our travels (none in Kehl. Here’s a link to the story:
Waking up this morning to driving rain, we headed straight to the train station to get our train to Basel, then on to Chur. First and foremost, aside from finding them quite confusing to book, they are a truly amazing way to travel. We knocked off four hours of travel in what felt like an hour; not stress, no chaos, and we all got to enjoy the sites along the way.
The route from Zurich to Chur (pronounce Coor – like Coors but without the s) was breathtaking. Astounding verdant fields in the mingled with mountains and autumn trees, crystal blue lakes and streams; this place is spectacular. We all agreed that Switzerland is a place we would like to live for sure, but sadly we are only here for the night.
We went out for fondue tonight, and ate a regional specialty that was kind of like perogies, and a bit like mezza luna pasta. both were delicious, and filling enough given we shared one dish of each between four of us (we have found that Europe serves reasonable portions, so we rarely count on having too much).
This evening we are sleeping in the Bogentrakt hostel. A former maximum security prison, they have retained many of the features, though cleaned and brought to today’s standards. Yet to be seen how we sleep, but a pretty interesting experience for certain! Everything echos down the concrete halls!
Tomorrow we have an early morning with an 8am departure on the Bernina Express, then onwards to Milan and then Venice, it’ll be a 12 hour travel day, but the Bernia should be incredibly beautiful, with the two other legs taking us through varied country in Italy. the only problem is … seems like we have a typoon on the horizon for tomorrow. At least we’re in trains, but it may make the Bernia views a bit less impressive. I guess we’ll just see what happens next?
A twenty year adventure and more 
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