Ok just one castle but I couldn’t resist.

It’s been a very full day. Jet lag provided another opportunity for a very early morning, in a place where breakfast and coffee isn’t available until 8am. We made due with the thermos Dani gave us last night but it was gone fast.

We went out for a walk about 7 but didn’t go very far. Part tired, part cold. It was only 55 but the breeze in the open land made it seem colder.

We noticed the front of the house we stayed in for the first time on the way back. Very cute. That red square by the door is the Michelin plaque. With the knife encased at the entrance to the restaurant.

Breakfast was simple and fresh – breads, cheeses, granola, yogurt, soft boiled eggs. We packed up and left around 9am, only to turn around 11 miles into it when I realized I left something in the room. What is that with me on this trip?

Every time we cross a country border our car gives us a message about that with speed limit info. We got these 4 times today because we had already crossed into France when we went back to Germany. Then France again when we really got on our way, and Germany again in the afternoon b

We got to our first destination after 11am. Colmar is a cute French town just across the Rhine and the France border. It is sometimes called Little Venice for reasons that will become apparent shortly.

We made a coffee / snack / restroom stop at La Petite Colmarienne.

Colmar is filled with cute medieval and Renaissance buildings like this. I won’t use every pic but probably won’t explain much when I do use them.

Collegial Saint-Martin, built between 1235 – 1365. We did a quick walk through but didn’t take any pics since I knew what was coming later in the day.

Postcard perfect? Now you get the Venice reference.

This is probably my favorite from Colmar. Love the reflection on the water.

We stopped at Island Pole for lunch, below. Light and tasty.

From there we went to Strasbourg, about an hour north along the Rhine. I had heard years ago that there was an amazing gothic cathedral there so I was excited we were close enough to check it out.

We parked near St. Thomas bridge. There are records of this bridge dating back to 1197, but the current version was built in 1841. That’s Ash on the bridge on the far right waving.

The River is Ill – that’s the name, it’s not sick – a major tributary of what now? The Rhine.

More of St. Thomas bridge with St, Thomas Church in the background. It’s Protestant, specifically Lutheran, sometimes referred to as the Protestant Cathedral of Alsace, which is this region of France.

We did go inside. I was surprised to see an actual crucifix on the altar which is unusual for a Protestant church.

This interesting sculpture was in the very back of the knave.

Ash is excited we made it to the main square. Notice the carousel in the background.

The first siting of the reason we came. Built between 1015 and 1439, the Strasbourg Cathedral (also a Notre Dame) was the tallest building in the world until 1874. It is considered one of the finest examples of gothic architecture, along with the Cologne Cathedral which we will get to at the end of the week.

Selfie in the front.

The full side view. Mostly.

Closeup of Mary and baby Jesus statue high over the entrance.

Cute streets in all directions.

We started with a bang and took the 330 steps to the top.

One of the views from the top. The red circle is St. Thomas.

The outside area is at the front of the cathedral. This is looking back over the rest of the church. The dome is where the altar is.

Narrow staircase on the way down.

The main area reminds me a lot of Cologne. Will always blow my mind to think about when they built this. And it’s still standing.

Above and below: the rose window.

One of the many incredible stained glass windows.

An astronomical clock that’s been working since the 1600s. We didn’t stay for the figurines presenting the 4 seasons. (In Prague, its apostles.)

That huge organ has got to weigh tons. Just hanging there like that. Makes me not want to walk under it.

Check that box. We were quick but I was thrilled we stopped. Onto the next, another hour away and back over the Rhine again.

For the next two nights we are at Schloss Eberstein, a castle dating back to 1272, with the current version completed around 1804. Now it is a boutique hotel and restaurant. We got here after 5:30 and much of the grounds were closed already. Plus this is already very long so I will just drop a few pictures.

What we can see from the street.

The village in the valley it overlooks.

Our room above and below, and the bathroom below that.

With a shower that needs an instruction manual.

Dining room where we had dinner.

Ash had tomato soup.

I had a summer salad with ratatouille on the bottom (interesting).

Salmon and risotto for Ash.

I had veal schnitzel with mustard potatoes and cranberries. These were American sized portions of food. Neither of us finished them. Because I wanted dessert.

We split a “when in Rome” dessert: Black Forest ice cream, which was terrific. More on that tomorrow. (The forest, not the ice cream…)

We sat a bit outside before going to our room. I love the moon rising on the right and the globe light on the left.

Was that enough for one day? Ash is already asleep and I’m heading there soon. Tomorrow we are going into the Black Forest and I’m looking forward to that.