Colmar, France and The Route de Vin - The Wine Road

Today I hit 2 countries in one day - Luxembourg and France. I was in Luxembourg for a very short time, then it was off to Colmar. None of the streets in Colmar are straight! It took what seemed like forever to find the TI to get a map, and then the map wasn't any better than the one I already had via Rick Steves. I finally found the hotel and that is a real stretch of the word. I stayed in my first really scuzzy place. It was so bad I refused to take a shower, and I perfected the squat so you don't touch Anything pee! But they had free wifi, so I made the best of it.

Colmar itself is a very cute little town with lots of pedestrian areas and cobbled streets everywhere. I finally just put away the map and accepted the fact that I would get lost. That first evening I wandered just to wander.

I went to an Alastian place recommended by RS and LOVED it! I got the chicken in Reisling sauce with homemade noodles. It reminded me of Grandmommie's homemade chicken and noodles. (I want to get the receipe from her even if I never have time to make the whole thing from scratch.) My best meal so far.

Route de Vin

I started with the very small and quaint village of Riquewihr. The bus from Colmar dropped me off early, like 8 am, it was either that or 11 am, which would not have given me enough time. It was so early the majority of the town wasn't even out and about yet. The stores were all closed, so I just wandered and became acquainted with this really cute village.

I went to my first real wine tasting. What a great experience. The host spoke English, a great plus and suggested some really great wines. I knew the Alsace region was best known for it's white wines and I got to taste why. I am mormally not a white wine person, but I actually found a couple I liked. I bought 2 bottles to take with me and enjoy along the way.

Then I took this incredible walk from Riquewhir to Kaysersberg. Two hours through picturesque vineyards; peaceful, reflective, zen, and absolutely beautiful! I spent a few hours in Kaysersberg before catching the bus back to Colmar. I tried to not let the scuzzy hotel get in the way of my otherwise amazing day.

The next day was cold, dreary, and raining. Blah! So, I hit the museum, a great way to spend a rainy morning.  I was set to travel to Strasbourg in the afternoon and tour the city, pretty hard to do in the rain. I figured I would play it by ear and see what the weather was like when I got there. Low and behold, it stopped raining, for the most part. I decided to chance it and see the cathedral and at least some of the town. On my way, it started raining once again, so I had to buy an umbrella. And mom said I shouldn't pack mine because I wouldn't really need it, think again. :) So now I am carrying around an umbrella and ready for the next time it rains.