SEurope – Days 73-75 to Strasbourg

Day 73 – new city day

To get to Strasbourg, we had to go back to Colmar where there is a train. But first, we wanted food. So, after packing and checkout, we stowed our luggage at our hotel.
We had to fight to find breakfast. (Everything was both expensive and weak.) Hotel breakfast stopped at 1000, checkout was at 1100, our bus was at 1300, and most restaurants weren’t ready for lunch until 1200 (if that) and were European-slow, too.
We also grabbed Cokes on the way back to our hotel to retrieve luggage and then back to the edge of town to the bus stop. It’s all short and close, but it’s a hassle.
The bus to Colmar was great. It was not crowded and was nice and quiet. We were at the train station way too quickly.
After buying our train tickets, we only had to wait about 10 minutes to board. Again, it was not crowded and was nice and quiet. Travel wins!
Once in Strasbourg, we found our hotel just across the street. Our room was ultra warm, but it finally cooled down.
On a busy pedestrian-only street, we found a kebab shop for dinner. Nearby, we found a grocery store to load up some food and drinks. It was a small European miracle: they had his Dr Pepper.

a castle

the funky view from our room

After our brunch, we walked to Petite France to see the canal and take photos. It was pretty, but very hot. We found a restaurant where we could cool off for a while.
We figured out the train system and bought 24hr tickets to ride around the city. We like using public transportation to see as much as we can. We got out at one place for interesting photos and another for drinks before returning to the hotel.
After a siesta, we found a local burger joint that was really nice.
Since it was the weekend, we went to a club. The French smoke as much as the Italians, (just better stuff), so the club had an actual hot box for them inside the club.
After the club, we stopped for one night cap before tramming back. I love late-night trains that are designed for the kind of life people actually lead. The Europeans know that people have lives outside of just work (and commuting hours).

love those turquoise shutters

a grass roof, covered pedestrian bridge with room for boats to pass

love locks

That way to the maternity ward? uh, no thanks.

The tour boat had to go through a lock under a bridge.

US hotels have mini fridges; European hotels do not. So, he walked to a store for food supplies and we ate in our hotel room.
We made some evening plans and rested a little. The heat was really zapping a lot of our energy.
We boarded the C tram and ventured into the Museum of Fine Art, which we both found disappointing (and hot).
We walked over to cafe for drinks. Then, we found a tram stop, got going in the wrong direction, got off next stop, and repeated our view via other tram.
We found some shade and sat on a bench along river near a dog park. Watching the leaves dance in the light was lovely.
We found a fabulous place for dinner. He had schnitzel and I had turkey with cream sauce and mushrooms. We shared a table with Michelle (a world-traveling cat sitter; it’s like house swapping, but for pets) and chatted about travel.
We took a walk through Petite France back to the train.
For the evening, we booked our Paris hotel and planned our last days of this adventure.