Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Alsace Interlude


I am back following a most delightful few days spent in Alsace, Eastern France. It might have started as an excursion to see a Leonard Cohen concert - which, as I mentioned in my last post, was cancelled when the Sainted One fell off his exercise treadmill - but it finished up as a most successful exercise in cramming as much pleasure into five days as possible. There was a day spent in London which was evenly balanced between visits to public galleries (The Courtauld and the Tate Modern) and galleried pubs (the splendid George Inn in Southwark and several others to make up the set). There was a delightful day and a half spent in the small town of Ribeauville where we stayed at the almost unbelievable Inn pictured above, from where I climbed high into the hills to the even more unbelievable ruined castle pictured below. And there was a further delightful day and a half spent in the magnificent city of Strasbourg with its massive cathedral, ancient buildings and specially organised picturesque snowfall.


Many, many great memories and a few half-decent photographs. Thanks to Tim and Will for being such  amusing, eloquent and intelligent hosts and, of course, to Chrissy for being such a delightful travelling companion. There will, I am sure, be other chances to see and hear Leonard, but I wouldn't have missed my trip to Alsace for the half the perfect world.

12 comments:

  1. And so much tortured history from 1870 to WW1.

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  2. I have to agree with you John, which is why - despite the well documented duplications and costs vis a vis Brussels - I am rather fond of the European Parliament being located there.

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  3. I love the photo, gives me that rush of "wish I was a knight" feeling. I was in the Loire last year, Saumur particularly, and spent the entire time wishing I was a knight.

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  4. The photos look better than 'half decent' to me! Beautiful! Glad you had a wonderful time! Looks like the weather was wonderful, too...look at that sky!

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  5. Gorgeous pic, Alan. Welcome back! I hope you'll tell us more about your visit to the Tate!

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  6. Ah, hello - missed you - glad you had such a full and enjoyable time. I must say that area would not have been top of my list to visit, but it looks and sounds beautiful.

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  7. I wondered where you'd disappeared to. Don't they have the internet there?

    I'm seeing Jethro Tull on Thursday evening!

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  8. Marvelous trip, it sounds like, Alan. To climb up a hill and find myself in a ruined castle...it is a dream.

    Welcome back!
    Jen

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  9. Sounds like a fabulous trip, Alan! The pictures are beautiful.
    Did I tell you Kevin and I saw Leonard at the nearby arts venue when he was on tour? It was arguably the finest concert I've ever seen (and I've seen a few, albeit, mostly post-punk/alternative bands in the 80s with a smattering of really good stuff like the Chieftains and Emmylou Harris). I do hope you get another chance to catch him. I didn't know he'd had an accident on a treadmill.

    Glad you're back though.

    Kat

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  10. Glad to hear that you had an enjoyable trip. That is some castle you've photographed.

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  11. So sorry you missed Leonard Cohen. I love him, too. But you sure made the best of the trip. It sounds wonderful.

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  12. Alan please give me some tips. We have two weeks to pootle around France after our week in Paris and a Week in Florence . . I have no idea how to fill them. Really looking forward to the pics (can't believe the silly man is using a treadmill at his age!)

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