This past weekend we took a quick trip north to Strasbourg, France, which sits on the border with Germany on the river Rhine. While Strasbourg is a decent sized city, the village center is small and charming and has lots of old world character. Strasbourg lies in the northeast section of France, in the heart of the "Alsace" region, which is an area of France that is a unique blend of French and German cultures. So when you walk through the village the buildings are an interesting mix of Bavarian and Parisian. Also, both languages are commonly shared. As I mentioned, the Rhine flows through the city and branches off in a few channels, so the village center is surrounded by water. So there are all these channels of water everywhere.
We explored the city center, did some shopping and snacking, and had a few meals. The area is known for their "sauerkraut," served with meat, as well as a "beef & potato" stew, and "Tarte Flambe," which is like a small pizza with onions. We tried some of the local cuisine, but I'll be honest it wasn't our best meal in Europe. Anyway, there were plenty of pretzels, crepes, and "beignets" to keep us full. We also walked through a section of town called "Petite Paris," which is an area filled with old French-style buildings right on the water. The main attraction in the old town is the "Notre Dame Cathedral." The structure towers over the city, and I struggled constantly to get a full picture of it. The front face of the building looks very similar to the Notre Dames we've seen in Rheims, and Paris, but the main difference here is there is a huge spire on top of the left tower. The building is amazing to behold and it's incredibly imposing. We have this tradition of lighting a candle inside a cathedral we happen to visit. Usually we light a candle in memory of my Grandmother, who passed away last year. This time around Megan added another candle to the tradition...this time for our late dog Glacier. She came up with it all on her own. It was cool to see.
Anyway, we really enjoyed Strasbourg. It's an easy village to navigate, and it's small enough that it's not going to stress you out, like let's say Paris. There were some areas of town that reminded me of Rheims, France. Then there were other areas that reminded me of Munich or Zurich. So it was really interesting to see the mix of both cultures in one town.
One of the fun things about exploring these European cities and villages is stumbling across things that are totally unexpected. For example, when we first set foot in Strasbourg we were expecting to see a charming village square. Instead, we were surprised to see a large "ping pong" tournament going on with a few hundred people, complete with video screens and event tents. Like I said...totally unexpected, but interesting nonetheless.
On a personal note - typically my photos tend to lean toward landscapes and architecture. You've probably noticed by now almost all my photos feature old buildings and sprawling landscapes. Those are typically the first two features I look for when I'm photographing. Lately I've been trying to show the culture as well. The people and their lifestyles. That sort of thing. Anyway, it's something I'm trying to be more conscious of. I'm getting better at it, but I still get distracted by the old buildings and beautiful landscapes. Anyway, it's just a personal goal I guess.
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