Wednesday, July 1
 |
| Colmar, France |
What a difference 45 minutes by train can make. We left Basel Switzerland early on Monday, and arrived in Colmar, in the Alsace Region of France. It really does feel like a different country!
 |
The "Little Venice" of France
|
We met our friends Bill and Sandy from Broomfield, Colorado and spent the day together, enjoying the sites, a fabulous lunch, and two museums.
 |
| Bartholdi Sculptue |
Auguste Bartholdi, the designer of the Statute of Liberty and many other famous works, hails from this town and we enjoyed the museum in his former residence which included mock-ups of his finished works.
The 12th Century art in a couple of Gothic churches were rather creepy, and they made us feel glad to be alive in the 21st Century.
 |
| Our home for two nights |
When our other friends Ron and Barb from Spokane arrived later in the afternoon, we were taken to our stay in Trois Epis, high above the Rhine Valley floor. What a delight!
Bertrand, our guide, grew up in this village and he and his American wife, Laura, treated us to a delightful meal at his mother's home.
 |
| The Gang of Six |
The first day of any bike tour always gets off to a slow start, getting the bikes adjusted and the pedals installed. But once we finally got on the road for our 23-mile ride, it was worth the wait. We rode mostly uphill through forests that reminded us of Oregon. We came upon WWI cemeteries and battlefields. We tend to forget about WWI, the Great War, the War to End All Wars.
 |
| German Cemetery--Note Jewish headstone |
 |
| WWI Trench |
However, walking through the trenches and viewing vintage film clips taken there during the war reminded us just how horrific, senseless this and other wars are. The French and German soldiers were locked in battle for three years here, and after thousands of deaths ended in a stalemate.
 |
| View from a bunker |
 |
| Lookout post (Darth Vader's?) |
Lunch with a view, then 14 miles down and up hills in 85 degree temperatures.
 |
| Lunch View |
 |
in Niedermorschwihr
|
We enjoyed dinner in the quaint village of Niedermorschwihr, which seemed more German than French.
 |
| "Sorting Hat" Church |
 |
| Our Restaurant |
Today, we're off to another adventure of food, scenery, wine, and hills in even hotter temperatures. Life is good!
Did you see the House of Heads?
ReplyDelete