Rue de Vins

Today was our Alsace day! The heat disapated around 2 a.m. last night (the rigged-up swamp cooler did not do anything other than make it more humid in our stubl so we put the clothes outside and instead put the fan in front of the window. Around 3 a.m. it was nice and cool, so the 8 a.m. alarm came quickly. We knew we had our only full day in Alsace today so while we could have slept in the nice lower temperature for another few hours, it was up-and-at 'em. 

Michélé, our host, brought us le petit jeneuve, or my misspelling of French breakfast (only have German keyboard turned on) which was beautiful and posted in the last post.

Then, our laundry still drying, it was off to Colmar to see that beautiful city. It's quaint and charming. Touristy but incredibly clean and well-run. I only saw a single of the "standing still so you can pay me" acts but none of the fake illusionary balancing acts. So, it might be on its way to jumping the Rick Steves shark or on it away back from having jumped and then worked to pull things back, but we thoroughly enjoyed the town.

Little Venice

Trade routes are the theme of this trip as well as visiting towns that stood up to neighboring crooked Archbishops trying to overtake them. Each visit we learn and relearn more about Imperial Free Cities, those that had immunity, how the inability for most to read (and the fact that merchants and lords had the money and didn't want them to read) would let the Catholic church run the show as much as they could. I totally get the Martin Luther thing. You visit enough major cathedrals and it's right there in the face but takes only a few to stand up and shake things back from corruption and greedy power.

A beer outside a church

At high noon it was time to sit and enjoy watching people walk by and a Paulaner. We've got the people watching thing down. I reflected how sometimes it seemed rude to sit and watch people walk by but when you don't have a lot to say in a moment, it's ok to just watch the world pass by and do a little light judging/commentating. 

After a few baked goods and an eclair, we finally went to the supermarket and bought some water (enough for the rest of the trip possibly since it's not so hot) and headed out back to Ribeausville. Time for a wine tasting.

 Scott at Trimbach Winery

One of the wines that's easier to get in Austin is Trimbach, so we went for a visit. It's not a busy time for winemakers as it's a few weeks prior to harvest and most people are on holiday. Quite a number of restaurants and stores say they'll be back by the first week of September because they're out vacationing just like we are out vacationing. Luckily, a nice lady was there to turn on the lights and do a tasting. We tried a number and bought a Pinot Gris, our staple on this trip. Then off to Louis Sipp where we tried a few more, including some Plum Brandy (!!!Yum!!!) and bought a Grand Crus Gewurstraminer vintage 2009 for Ryan's birthday evening tomorrow.

Trying wines

Bottle of Trimbach on the ledge in front of our courtyard

It's 18:00hrs which is a little after 6 and time for relaxing, reflecting, maybe a nap, and a glass of wine (from the batch we brought from the Mosel Valley) before we have dinner. 

Mosel Wine being tasted in the Alsatian Air!

May go down the street, may go a city over, who knows but we'll have a nice time!

Tschüß!!

Tsc