Arc En Ciel Colmar

We had spent a pleasant morning visiting Christmas Market in the greater Colmar area in the Alsace region of France. One town more pleasant than the next all decked out with lights and tinsle. In general we had a good day and the people were helpful and frendly.

Sadly our day was marred by the unpleasant service I and 3 other ladies received today at the Restaurant Wistub zum Pfifferhüs in Ribeauville. 3 of 4 persons each chose meals from the menu, the 4th person, a ...

... before going to Morroco. We went out to get me some cigarettes and noticed that the City game was on in a bar so we watched that and I drank so Rose which was cheap Ian was on beer and it was nearly 6 euro a pint the most expensive yet.

Ian wanted to go back to the room but I was enjoying the rose so we went just to another pub around the corner with some locals in who bought us shots and ended up getting drunk again, I was ...

... here in France as all the letters and nu,bers are all the wrong way around so if it looks silly I am sorry and I will have to catch up with the rest of the blog another time as it will take me years.

Anyway we found our hotel and we upograded our room to have a kitchen so that could cook and rest and stay in a little before we go off to Morroco. So thats what we did we went to the supermarket ...

Otra vez en Francia. En la rivera del alto Rhin Colmar es un ejemplo de ciudad medieval bien conservada, con casas de entramado estilo alsaciano y canales llenos de vida. Conserva perfectamente el ambiente urbano de las ciudades centroeuropeas que nacieron alrededor de las rutas comerciales.

Arrivée à Mulhouse dans l'après midi après 7h00 de train assez éprouvant, ça fait plaisir de retrouver des amis pas vus depuis longtemps. Visite de la vieille ville de Mulhouse le Samedi, la Ville est Assez industrielle, ce n'est aps encore l'Alsace de Carte ...

... with costumes and masks and bands. Damn near froze standing still for that long, but I had a good vantage point for the pictures so I wasn't going to move for fear of losing my spot. After the parade we got stuck into the gluhwein and some hot food then went back to the hostel for a hot shower, then out for dinner. We went to a local brewery that had a restaurant incorporated and had such a good time that we made it a regular while we were there.

This Morning we drive to Colmar founded in the 9th Century. Colmar reveals its charm: the colors and atmoshoere of streets ancient houses are reflected in the water which passes through the city. Churches, cloisters, half-timbered houses, balconies, facades with ornate wood sculpture, and you will also be charmed by the petite Venice.

... home. There were many fields of corn, sugar beets, and soybeans. There were also vast strawberry fields with many people picking (by the way, the strawberries here are delicious!). We went through some small towns and saw people enjoying the beautiful, sunny day by sitting outside cafes and riding their bikes. I couldn't believe how easy and uneventful it was to enter France. We simply drove across a bridge ...

... look at the second one). Both were small French towns with a strong German influence since both were so close to the border. But Colmar seemed to have that less touristy, small town cozy thing I have been enjoying so much, so the decision for me was easy. We agreed on Colmar, so the following afternoon, after taking the bus to the streetcar to the train station, we arrived in Colmar (three more train connections later). We walked to the old town area and began looking for a place to ...

... some! As many of you know, Chris collects marine chronometers and is especially fond of those made by Ulysse Nardin. So, he arranged to meet the sales director/historian at the factory and have a tour. The factory no longer produces chronometers, but is now focused on very high-end complicated precision wristwatches. We got to go see the rooms where the watchmakers painstakingly put together these intricate hand-made instruments. The building was ...