Strasbourg

We absolutely loved Strasbourg.  it is a very grown up and sophisticated city.  It is clean, its cosmopolitan, its easy to get around and it is the French home of Christmas!  the Old parts of the city bordering the canals and housing the old tanners wooden framed homes are beautiful.  The houses are such vivd colours and beautifully maintained.  They were setting up for christmas all over the city - its taken very seriously in Strasbourg - even physically trimming and shaping the huge christmas tree growing in the main square, and Galleries La Fayette erected a giant Swarovski crystal trimmed christmas tree outside the store.

We caught a train from Ernstein where we were staying about 22 kms south of Strasbourg into the city, took about 15 mins and cost 10 euros for the 4 of us, excellent value and no parking hassles, just bought a day trip for the trams and getting about the city was easy really.  Also visited the Museum of Modern Art which was awesome - actually a better display than the Guggenheim!  They have Picassos, a Monet, a heap of Kandinskys a Renior and Rodin's The Thinker - really awesome works of art as well as some really modern funky stuff worthy of a berth at MONA!  Lily was in her element - absolutely loved  it!

In the city itself we ate German sausages from a street vendor washed down with Gluhwein (for me anyway), fresh gingerbread and ate roasted chestnuts from the street vendors as well.

I would absolutely recommend Strasbourg for a visit - it is really worthwhile - just one of those cities we felt an instant attraction to - like Melbourne, or Edinburgh - it just has a great vibe.

Also visited the market in a local town of Benfeld and tasted the local Alsace appellation wines - particularly the Riesling, Sylvaner and Guwertztraminer - magic!!

Market day at Benfeld