We Survived Weekend I

“Back to School, back to school, prove to Dad I’m not a fool. My lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, hope I don’t get in a fight.” –Adam Sandler in Billy Madison

American Song of The Week: The hit song, Summer Lovin’ from Grease. This was played in the ‘Discoteque’ (dance club) in Strasburg on Saturday night.

This Week’s Travel Tip(s):
1) It’s really simple but Plan Ahead: We got to Colmar on Friday and our hostel was a 30 minute bus ride from the small town of Colmar, which we didn’t expect. Travel during the week if possible. On Sundays all places such as the European Union, government buildings, etc. are closed. However, this is the peak day to see a gorgeous Cathedral. There was a jazz festival in Colmar that we couldn't attend because we couldn't get to the town square. Planning ahead would have helped with this!

2) Make sure your travel partners are interested in the same activities and have the same mind set as you. Thank goodness for this our first weekend trip was a success.

I’m glad to here everybody made it out of the storms in Ohio with no damage. As I heard Mamma said, “In my 78 years I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Well classes finally started and three of my classes are some of the best I have ever taken. History class, The Rise and Fall of Hitler, will take us on a five day study tour to Cracow, Poland, Prague, Czech Republic, and Auschwitz. Music class will take us also on a 5 day study tour to Vienna, Austria: The Capital of Classical Music. During a tour of Lux City an area of town was introduced to us that many did not know existed. It is called ‘The Grund’, or the old city. The lifestyle in this area is similar to that of the Short North, German Village, or Victorian Village of Columbus. It is a young and affluent area that is on the uprise. Upscale bars and pubs are scattered throughout this lower city with some of the most incredible scenery

Looking down on The Grund from regular City level

Friday we take off for our first trip. Colmar was a 3 hour train ride to the city center. Going through the first customs check of my life, this was interesting. Thank goodness the two women next to me could speak with them and tell me what to do. We finally catch the bus that’s taking us to our hostel after we find out it is not in the city. We were a 30 minute bus ride from the city staying in Fast Hotel, which was not by anything. We ask the man where we check in if there is anywhere close to eat besides McDonald’s. He points in some direction and says ‘Town 5 minute that way, just walk 5 minute that way.’ Well we walk 5 minute that way, then 5 more minute that way and we stumble upon ghost town, I mean a true authentic ghost town at 9 o’clock at night on a Friday it looks like 3 in the morning. We see a sign for ‘Medieval Tavern’ so we follow the sign. We walk up to a house that has a sign pointing down the gravel driveway towards the medieval tavern. This is the entrance below:

Nobody knows what is going to happen now. We open the door and walk into an authentic German restaurant that was as good as you can get. I definitely had one of the top five meals of my life. We were the only ones in this incredible restaurant in the basement of their home; we could hear the dog barking up the stairs, it was great.

Saturday morning we ride the bus into Colmar, France. This is a great little town. A little more touristy than I expected but very cool indeed. The city has been swapped between Germany and France many times so it has influences of both. Just like many other beautiful cities here it had a cathedral in the middle. Colmar’s greatest piece of history concerning the U.S. is that Frederic-August Bartholdi, the man who created the Statue of Liberty, was born in Colmar, France.

Unable and unwilling to get out of the city on a bike ride on this dreary day we then decided to head off to Strasburg but only after a great Tarte Flambee, a local special. It is like a soft doughed pizza with thin toppings on it. Taste great!

One of The first views as we get into Strasburg.

So we catch the 45 minute train north to Strasburg and find our hostel. To our relief this one was in the city. Everyone’s tired so we decide to find dinner in ‘Little France’. On the south side of the city by Little France there is a large dam. This dam was put in so that the French could open the gates and flood out the city to avoid ever being attacked. We stop at the Academie de la Biere. It had a pub atmosphere but definitely was a french/german feeling. After an excellent sausage, hot dog, potato, ham, and sauerkraut covered meal we sit around for a total of 4 hours and told stories of our experiences so far. We then decided to head off to the Discoteque for a little while. Naturally we were the only Americans there….so we were the only ones who new the words to the three Grease songs that were played, followed by Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n Roll. Luckily for Robert and I we were greatly outnumbered by girls in our group. We have a short stay there and head home, but not before passing this on our way.

Sunday morning we finally have sunshine!! This was a great feeling and everybody was ready to go. Our first stop is the Cathedral which I didn’t get the name. It is listed everywhere as the Cathedral. We catch the very end of mass, which is funny because most stay for the whole thing and avoid the end.

The next block over is the Gutenburg Square. Gutenburg did his work inventing the printing press in Strasburg.

Gutenburg and I, and the Merry-Go-Round

Next we catch the tram to the north side and go to the European Union buildings. Strasburg is one of the three capitals of the E.U. Unfortunately we could only see it from the outside because it’s closed on Sundays. We take some pictures outside, get back on the tram and go into the town square.

Everyone at the E.U. Headquarters

Every village was built around a town square, and as in movie reviews, this one gets two thumbs up. We decide to grab a cheap lunch and eat it in the square under the sunshine. Kids are playing, people are singing, a guy is playing his guitar, people are drinking coffee, and a young couple is kissing; it’s exactly what you imagine in a European Town Square.

Enjoying lunch before the Ride Home

Pretty simple but excellent weekend.

Hello’s go out to….

Karlton: You have 4 months with no pressure to set things up for Christmas break. I have big expectations for the work you’ll get done.
Krzan clan: keep me up to date on the once again dominating Watterson JV field hockey team and let me know when Annie gets called up to the big leagues! Thank you for the inspirational message Mrs. K, I've done very well so far!
Kathy C.: I think even I’ve been to all 57 states now!
Katherine Morgan: Remember the plan for this semester!