Travelin

In the last week we have spent time in Frankfurt, attended the Friedricksberg (maybe it was Friedricksdorf, I get them confused) Christmas market (Weihnachtsmarkt) and the Strasbourg Christmas market (marche de Noel). As is typical, I was too busy keeping track of little ones to take many pictures, but we had so much fun exploring the cities I am sure we will repeat the trips.


Strasbourg is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Christmas market in Europe. Our morning began with H1N1 shots courtesy of the Army with our friends the Fords. They are our friends because they also have six kids. After trading children around so the girls could ride together we headed off under the guidance of our GPS. I think our GPS has been taking lessons from my father, because it was back roads nearly the entire way. Beautiful! But, knowing we were going to have bad weather on the return trip we were worried. Plus, back roads means kids prone to carsickness. Cleaning up puke is never fun, but it is especially not fun when you are out in the middle of the French countryside with no gas stations within 30K. Because we were bundled for the winter we were able to find a new change of clothes for Miquia, even if he looked a bit strange wearing Ben's sweatshirt.

The city is old, with a center full of twisty alleyways and shops around corners you wouldn't expect. Most of the center is closed to traffic, but is full of pedestrians and bikes. The cathedral is beautiful,

and under reconstruction, which seems to be true of just about everywhere we visit. The kids were most impressed with the huge nativity scene--Noah's favorite being the elephants.


At one point we found ourselves in a neighborhood along the Ill which looked like it had been transplanted from Shakespearean times. White timbered walls, window boxes, vendors stalls selling confits and wine.

The drive home was even more horrific than we feared, but we made it home and helped a few stranded travelers make it to the train station in Bitche due to our trusty chains. I am going to stop complaining about how lackadaisical Germans are about plowing roads, because the French don't seem to bother with plowing at ALL.