Christmas Markets, 15 December 2023

Calais

Really, I suppose, we should have gone home today, and we would have done except that it is the Swan Whisperer's 73rd birthday and it seemed a shame not to stay one last night and eat out! 

We started the day (after breakfast) with a leg-stretch along the canal and back, but we didn't have far to drive, only about 2 hours, so we didn't stop en route, except to buy birthday patisseries and half a baguette. 

We parked up at the Cité Europe and had lunch, only I forgot that I'd bought the French equivalent of gala pie slices, which is annoying, but they will keep until Sunday, I hope. Then after a rest, we both went to Carrefour to do a Last Shop in France. I was annoyed - I could see that I hadn't spent quite €50, which is the contactless limit in France, so I thought I'd call it a shop, even though I hadn't got tinned peas or Comté cheese (which one can get at home) but I discovered, as soon as the shopping had all loaded on to the computer, that I had forgotten something vitally important. The woman who was checking my shopping was so nice - she told me to run and get it, and she'd add it to my bill when I got back. So I did, but, of course, it tipped it just over the €50 limit! I could have got other things while I was at it, but there won't be time in the morning. 

We drove round Calais, enjoying their Christmas lights, which, okay, are not Strasbourg standard (but then, what is?), but are extremely enjoyable in their own right, and then headed up to the motorhome aire for the night, and then out to the nearby restaurant, which was really well reviewed. But, alas, although it is supposed to open on a Friday evening, there were no signs of life anywhere, and they didn't answer their phone. I suppose they've gone bust.... 

So, anyway, we went a little further to see if a nearby hotel-restaurant was open and would do us a meal and it was and it did and it was delicious. Including champagne (because it was his birthday), foie gras (I know, but once a year!), steak for him and "ris de veau" (calf sweetbreads) for me. Delicious, but rather too much and rather too rich! Himself had a glass of wine, too, and we shared a bottle of fizzy water. 

And so back to the WoMo for the last night this year. I was so cross when I put my coat back on - I realised it did have an inside pocket, after all, where our passports and my credit cards could have lived, so I have been carrying my handbag round quite unnecessarily all holiday! Grrrmph! Oh well... I don't have to carry it once I'm home. 

Christmas Markets, 14 December 2023

Riqueval Bellicourt.

The Swan Whisperer went for a run this morning, and then, after we had digested our breakfasts, we made our way to the Thermapolis, and spent a blissful hour there swimming round the lazy river and being massaged by the various jets.

We then drove down to the local Lidl and parked up in its car park to have lunch, after which I did some shopping and redeemed a great many coupons on things I wanted, or that we will use.

The Swan Whisperer had decided we would spend the night at Riqueval, by the canal tunnel, so he drove there while I dozed most of the afternoon. It was already past 6 when we arrived, so he heated us up some mulled wine, and after that I got supper for us both. We don't have electricity here, and it has got a lot colder, so we will probably both go to bed very soon and read or watch videos.

I haven't taken any photos today, so here is one from earlier in the holidays: 

Christmas Markets, 13 December 2023

Amnéville, Lorraine

You know, I quite thought Bitche, where we spent last night, was in Alsace, but it turns out to be just over the border, in Lorraine. So I've corrected yesterday's post. But it really means we were already on our way home!

The Swan Whisperer volunteered to go and get bread this morning, and all I can say is that if I lived in Bitche, I wouldn't patronise that bakery! It really wasn't very nice, really chewy and tough. And the croissants weren't  flaky as they should have been. Oh well!

After breakfast we went for a walk round the Citadelle, which was lovely,

but it is a very steep pull up to the place, and my silly lungs didn't like it. They kept on informing me that they hadn't liked it for an unnecessarily long time afterwards! 

Meanwhile, we drove to the nearest supermarket - an Intermarché, I think, and I shopped. We won't need to get any more actual food this trip, only bits for Cbristmas, and stuff to take home. I want to go to Lidl tomorrow as they have some good coupons. And then a Last Shop in France on Friday.

We are at Amnéville yet again and I'm looking forward to the Thermapolis tomorrow morning. As we were here quite early, the SW, who had brought his skates with him, went skating for half an hour or so. He said he was at least double the age of the next oldest skater! 

Christmas Markets, 12 December 2023

Bitche, Lorraine

I should have known better than to suggest we walk to the bus stop after dinner last night! It was not far, probably less than a kilometre, and we took it easily. We had done the same walk last Christmas Day, but then the cruise director had set such a fast pace that I got badly out of breath and felt really rotten! No such unpleasantness last night, but the walk, combined with all the other exercise is talked, made me overtired and, as a result, I slept badly.

I should really have showered and dressed and not gone back to bed again after making myself comfortable this morning, as while the Swan Whisperer was dressing, I fell fast asleep again and didn't stir until nearly 09:30.   Fortunately, we were in no rush to get anywhere, as we had until noon to leave the campsite. And it was raining! 

We used the services, but there was a long queue to do so, and then headed back into Kehl so that I could shop at the ReWe there, and so that we could get diesel at German prices rather than French (only a few cents difference, but still). We then drove along the little stream beside the Rhine that we went along earlier this year, but there were not nearly as many birds today, only a few swans. 

We stopped for lunch in a lay-by along that road, and it was as well we did, as the heavens really opened! It was like someone pouring buckets of water over the WoMo, and it would not have been safe to drive! By the time we had finished eating, the rain was away and I dozed while the SW drove us to the aire in Bitche we had promised ourselves to visit last time. He has gone for a walk, and I have got undressed to save having to do it later! 

No photos today, so here is one of the city centre church in Kehl that I took yesterday.

Christmas Markets, 11 December 2023

Today was a day of two halves. The Swan Whisperer went for a run first thing, but took really rather longer than I'd hoped, so we were later setting off than I'd wanted.

Then we were just about to set off when  realised I couldn't find my motorhome keys anywhere, and we spent what felt like an hour but in reality was probably only about 10 minutes looking for them. I finally found them where I thought I'd looked three times already! 

We finally set off for Kehl, in Germany, which is just at the end of the tram line. Ciymapper does work here, but has its blind spots, and we hadn't realised that the quickest way to go would be to take the bus to Étoile Bourse and then change there for the tram. As it was, we took the bus to Montagne Verte, then two trams. And the second tram turfed us all off before the end of the route as someone had been taken ill and they were waiting for the emergency services, but it set off again very quickly, leaving its passengers standing indignantly on the platform! 

However, we did get there in the end! 

We walked down the main shopping drag, calling in at DM and Muller, only I couldn't spend as long as I liked as the SW does so hate shopping, poor man. And Muller didn't have any 4711 shower gel. I know one can get it in the UK, but it's twice the price! Oh well, just have to keep my rapidly-decreasing stash for Sundays! 

Then we went to Edeka and I did some shopping, although I couldn't get the herb blend I wanted. And it was incredibly hot in there, so I didn't even look for mulled wine (which we have loads of at home, anyway) or that lovely elderflower iced tea I like. I had left the SW having coffee, and had an Apfelshorle when I joined him. 

We went back to the motor home in time for a late lunch and a long nap, and then finally pulled ourselves together and headed back into town, although I have a feeling we were both too tired to really enjoy it. We walked back down through the Kléber market to the one outside the Cathedral, and after looking round we treated ourselves to tartes flambées and a drink, followed by pudding. Then we walked back to Étoile Bourse and caught the bus back to the campsite, and just too late to order bread for the morning. Oh well! 

And I am not long for my bed, I can tell you! Probably won't do any walking tomorrow, only a bit of shopping. 

Christmas Markets, 10 December 2023

Strasbourg, Alsace.

It was a very wet and windy night, and the Swan Whisperer decided not to go for a run this morning. Indeed, had we been at home, it was the kind of day that I would have eaten my breakfast before washing and dressing (except not, as it's Sunday and I would probably have been preaching, so wouldn't have been able to lounge around in night clothes all morning!).

We didn't have to leave the campsite until noon, so the SW did go for a bit of a walk; I stayed in and did puzzles and knitted. We did try to use the services before we left, but there was no water, and although I think we could have got a token from reception, we decided to leave it until we arrived here in Strasbourg. We did empty the grey, though. 

The SW had wanted to park up by a lake about halfway to Strasbourg, but in fact, it it didn't really allow cars to go to its shores, never mind motor homes. So we parked up in a nearby supermarket car park, fully expecting it to be empty as French supermarkets close at noon on Sundays, if they open at all. But it seems to have stayed open - I believe they are allowed to be open all day on a few Sundays a year, most of which they save up for the Sundays in Advent. Not that we needed anything, so I didn't go shopping. After we had listened to our church service - not all of it audible, I have to say - we had lunch and then the SW went for a short walk down to the lake. 

Then we drove to this camp in Strasbourg, checked in and used the services, and then found our designated site. After a cup of tea, during which we researched public transport options (Citymapper works here, so useful!), and what to do about tickets. There was an app to download for them, and after some discussion, we each bought a 3-day travelcard. We are only here for two days, but we may want to do a last dash in to Strasbourg on Tuesday morning, you never know! 

It is very easy to get into the town centre; there is a bus stop about 400 metres away (and, of course, Citymapper could tell us how long we would have to wait), and then you change on to a tram one stop up the road. 

It was not raining, and was fairly mild. We had a lovely walk round the Broglie market - the oldest, and, I believe, the first in Europe - which was, of course, very crowded. We then walked down to Kleber, and the giant Christmas tree

there. That was even more crowded, and we decided that maybe it, and the market round the Cathedral, would be best kept until tomorrow when it will, hopefully, be less crowded. 

We then walked down to Petite France, which the Swan Whisperer likes, and saw the illuminations there.

By this time, I had rather had enough, so we walked up to the tram stop, and one came along in a very few minutes. We should probably have walked back to the campsite rather than waiting 10 minutes for a bus, but it was worth it, especially as we got a bit lost trying to find the WoMo! 

But we found it in the end, and settled down to choucroute for supper, and watching Countryfile on my tablet. 

Christmas Markets, 9 December 2023

Obernai, Alsace 

As we were in no rush this morning, the Swan Whisperer went and bought croissants and a baguette before breakfast, and after it he went for a long walk. Which he didn't enjoy as much as the earlier one he had done, as there was a shooting-party going on, with guns stationed all down the path he wanted to go down, so he had to go to another chateau instead, which he said wasn't so nice.

Once he was back, we used he services and then headed on to a very nice Super U which not only had the supermarket and "Drive" (Click and Collect), but also dedicated motorhome parking, services and launderette, and the petrol station sold gas, which was perfect as we ran out over lunch! So the SW was able to walk over there with the empty cube and return with a full one.

But when we arrived at the campsite, we discovered, to our horror, that I had accidentally booked us in for tomorrow, not tonight! But the extremely nice woman in reception said not to worry, she would fit us in somehow, and to be sure to double-check our booking for Strasbourg as she knew it was full! I did double check, and it's fine! 

We parked up and had a cup of tea, and then went to avail ourselves of the free shuttle into the Christmas markets there. Which were okay - rather smaller than I was expecting, but all the usual things. And the local restaurants were all open and doing a roaring trade, even though it was only about 5:00 pm. We treated ourselves to a mulled wine from a stall, and had a good walk round, getting slightly lost on the way back. 

However, we  found the church that was our landmark, and went in there to see the advertised exhibition of Christmas cribs, to find that we had also come in for the end of a free concert by a local choir. They included a song called "Christmas in Jerusalem", which the choir mistress said had been chosen before 7 October, but felt it was appropriate to include it as it was about three people from different religious traditions celebrating together in joy and peace.  After which, we looked at the cribs before getting the free shuttle back to the campsite. 

Strasbourg tomorrow, for two nights, and then we start for home.