November 2, 2012 - Strasbourg, France
Today was overcast when we awoke. As we looked out our window, there were swans swimming on the Ill River, just off the Rhine. We were docked in the enchanting town of Strasbourg on the French-German border. Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of France, but it is influenced by the culture of both countries.
We started our day with a canal cruise into the city where we learned that Strasbourg is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. We passed the United States Embassy, as well as the embassies of numerous other countries and nations.
From our canal boat, we saw La Petite France is the former tanners' quarter on the River Ill and is a delightful maze of lanes and streets with gorgeous half-timbered houses all along them. We arrived by boat and took a walking tour to the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg. Because of bombing during World War II, many of the Cathedral's best exterior sculptures had had to be replaced by copies. The stained glass windows of this church are magnificent and although some of them were destroyed during the War, they have all been replaced. There is a wall of windows called the "Poor Man's Bible" which tells the story of Christ's life in pictures in the windows. One of the most
incredible sites within the church is their astronomical clock. The clock is set on Greenwich Mean Time, and we were able to see it in action. It was amazing.
Strasbourg is a shopper's paradise with department stores and upscale boutiques all along Place Kleber. Alsatian cuisine blends the subtle flavors of French cooking and the hefty portions you'd expect to fine in neighboring Germany. Pate de foie gras (goose liver) or escargots (snails in garlic butter are some of the delicacies in the cafes and restaurants in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg is also known for its kugelhopf, a circular, small bundt-type, semi-sweet cake, and these can be found in all of the many bakeries. Our sweet delights were honest-to-goodness French beignets with a dark chocolate filling. We brought these back to the ship, got a cup of hot cappucino, retired to our cabin and had a wonderful afternoon treat and nap.
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