Monday, February 2, 2015

Christmas in Alsace

On our travel bucket list was always visiting European Christmas Markets. So for Christmas 2014, we headed to Strasbourg, France in Alsace and ventured on a few side trips to Germany & Switzerland while there.  This gave James the chance to drive on the Autobahn, which I never heard the end of while on this trip.  We followed up with a return trip to Paris. This time bringing Stella along, however it was soooooo cold (colder than the Northeast of Scotland, if you can imagine!), that we kept it low key.

Typically Alsatian in Petite France of Strasbourg





Mont Saint Odile Convent & Monastery in the Alsatian Countryside from the 7th/8th century.
 This was all right after we saw a car slide off a cliff as we were circling for parking.  Needless to say, we kept looking and were darn sure to put our handbrake on!











Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg from the 12th century.





We're too lazy to wait in line in the cold to go in the castle, so we went for a walk on the original castle grounds instead.
Stella loves cold weather walks.

Ruins from the original castle site




Pink is so great for spotting my child in a crowd or in the woods, etc.








CHRISTMAS MARKETS:

Strasbourg, France:

EVERY street does a very different and unique light display, making it seem like an amusement park almost (but in a nice way).

Not to mention, most businesses go all out making some sort of decorative facade for the season.

Burning off some energy at the Village des Infants.
Strasbourg Market-Place Gutenburg
So we're 2 for 3 on Santa pictures so far.  We were pleasantly surprised that she was actually asking us to go see Santa this year.  She was much happier than what she seems in the picture.
Nom Nom!!! LOVED LOVED LOVED these French "hotdogs."  Although honestly, these were so much better than anything back home.  C'mon! It's German sausage on a baguette!!!!
Getting the hang of these carousels.
  

 
 
Christkindelsmarik-Place Broglie



LOVES her pop-pop!

So just a really nice covered bridge that we'd pass each day/night to get to our parking garage.
 
 




Baden-Baden, Germany:
The market in Baden-Baden, although much smaller and only one in total, was probably our favorite.  We weren't expecting much, but the prices were MUCH more reasonable than in Strasbourg and everything was all in one place.  There was a good variety of food, sweets, and crafts.  Plus, the town is just freakishly clean!
Market day in Baden-Baden, Germany. View of the Black Forest in the far background.


Always manages to find herself a slide, no matter where she is in the world.


...and in this case, a sand pit as well.
Her first carousel ride was in Baden-Baden.

Loving it!


Though not sure who loves it best of all!

She has seen quite a bit of the world from those shoulders.
 

 





Part of the live Nativity.
 




Basel, Switzerland:
So Basel (pronounced 'Bahl' or 'Ba-zil' depending on German or French) was interesting.  We took the Autobahn south this time, only to come to what was apparently the Swiss border and a checkpoint of some sort. Having stumbled our way through with French so far, we were out of luck with the German language and Spanish got us nowhere in this part of the world.  Anyway, we didn't know which line to get in and were forced to pay 40 Euro!!! to basically enter Switzerland in order to use what was essentially less than a mile of roadway.  I was starting to miss the days when all it took was 2 quarters to cross into Mexico.  
Needless to say, once we chalked it up to a learning experience, we were still shell-shocked to see incredibly high prices everywhere in town.  Not only was each and every restaurant VERY expensive, not just by American standards, but UK as well, but even the markets were ridiculously priced.  We tried to make the best of it, frugal (ahem) as we are, but we still have a hard time accepting that we paid 40 Euro to have a simple lunch that was well over 100 USD. AND...I didn't even get dessert at that price.  All in all, it was a learning experience.  We learned we probably won't ever go on a ski trip to Switzerland.  Stick to Germany or France-much cheaper.
Basel, Switzerland
One giant Christmas Pyramid---I'm sure Cousin Eddie could still manage to break this one too somehow.
Basel Christmas Markets
 



 
 
Basel, Switzerland

 

 


CHRISTMAS!!




Strasbourg Cathedral right after our Christmas Eve Mass where the deacon sang Feliz Navidad as the closing song.



YAY! I finally found my very own Christmas Pyramid! Love it!
"Santa's coming!"
 
Christmas dinner in our flat with our Euro Store Christmas tree.
Christmas Day!!!
 


 


Waiting for the train to Paris, after trudging a mile in the snow with our luggage, a pregnant lady, and a stroller!

PARIS:
Not much to say on Paris this time around, except it was colder than Aberdeen! (by a long shot).

We managed to find a great hotel that was right between the Arc AND the Eiffel Tower.

Walked out of the hotel and saw this big antenna outside.




Waiting for the hourly light show to begin.

Yay! The twinkly light show!!Doesn't get old, however hideous Parisians may find it.






Such a good little eater.  Loving her french soups!