Worktrip to Strasbourg!
Oct. 8th, 2023 05:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejTwo weeks ago I went on another international businesstrip; this time I had a week of day long meetings in Strasbourg, France! I had one day to wander around town and for group activity we went on a boattrip:) There were two days when the meetings lasted until 7 p.m., but on the final day I did have some time to check out the inside of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Besides work and those sightseeing moments, we spent quite some time eating; for each lunch our host had picked a different restaurant and another local dish to experience. So much food! Sadly the meeting chair denied our request for naps before continuing our meetings in the afternoons;-) Nevertheless, it was a very succesful week. Enjoy the picspam.
Saturday Sept 23, 2023: travel to Strasbourg
Trainday!
Very proud of the extension strap I made the morning of my departure; now my trusty, thirty year old backpack fits securely around my belly again:)
Took the citybus to the station, got on the train to Utrecht where I caught the ICE to Frankfurt, Germany (together with my co-workers T. and R., but we had separate seats on the trains). Had a fifteen minuted delay, but we did make our connecting TGV to Strasbourg.
Traveling first class, bb! Arrived in Strasbourg with a 40 minute delay, so it was getting dark.
The digital tram/metro ticket on my phone didn't work, so I ended up buying a paper ticket from the machine. We all stayed in different hotels, so T. walked and R. took another tram. My tramstop was only a short walk from my hotel, where a nice lady told me I had gotten an upgrade to a supreme room (which is bigger than the standard I had booked:). Pretty!
Had a nice desk too and enough sockets to connect all my stuff. Huge bathroom with good light and a square toilet! No bath...
... but a rainshower and a big detachable showerhead.
Was an adult and found a place to eat dinner; accidently ordered a cold dish, but this Beef Tataki with sesame and soysauce was tasty and the fries were hot, so it totally counted as a real meal. Also: Orangina!
On my way back to the hotel I could see the Notre-Dame Cathedral was still lit, so I walked there for a closer look: gorgeous.
Sunday Sept. 24, 2023: exploring Strasbourg
A day off!
The hotel buffet was amazing! Fresh bread and patries from a local bakery, including Alsacion specialties! There were also pancakes and maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausages (without pork) plus all kinds of fresh yoghurts (I chose Apricot today). My favorite were the small squishy pretzels, perfectly salty with a soft texture, delicious.
On the front steps of my hotel I see the Saint Thomas church on my right (on that side is also the Rue du Miroir/Spiejelgässel alleyway where the meeting location is:) and the Notre-Dame Cathedral on my left.
I turn left to the Gutenberg square (with a statue of Johannes Gutenberg (~1406-1468) was a German inventor and craftsman who introduced letterpress printing to Europe with his movable-type printing press)
From there I walk to Cathedral square. There are so many beautifully sculpted details along the way.
I really enjoy walking around the Notre-Dame Cathedral and taking in all the decorations.
On the corner of the square is the also impressive Maison Kammerzell (1467), an merchants house that was converted to Renaissance style in 1589. The wooden carvings have both secular and religious themes. It is now a hotel and restaurant (we'll have a hosted dinner here on Tuesday:)
I found a tranquil little square at Place du Temple Neuf, where I sat down with a book for a while, before I continued to the enormous Kléber Square, where I sit for a bit to do some people watching.
Then I returned via Place du Temple Neuf to Rue des Grandes Arcades; this commerce building (no12-26) dates back to 1901 and was designed by architect Emile Widmann (fils).
I walked towards the river Ill (a tributary of the Rhine) in the background you can see Le Pont du Corbeau (bridge). I have Flammeküche Gratinée (in German on the menu: Gratinierte Flammenküchen) for lunch (conveniently cut into pieces) at riverside restaurant L'Ancienne Douane; I have a lovely seat on the balcony.
On my way back I pass the lovely green Passage Hans Haug and I get to the cathedral just when the afternoon sun hits it. *chinhands*
I walk by my hotel to continue to Saint Thomas church in the Petit France neighbourhood
From there I find the Saint-Thomas bridge, which dates back to 1197. It was reconstructed in 1841 by the Établissements de Dietrich; it is supported by a single cast-iron arch with a span of 31.10 metres, formed of four arch ribs connected to the deck by rings of decreasing diameter.
On my way back to find food I run into co-worker T and we chat for a while before I return to L'Ancienne Douane for dinner: Bouchée à la Reine + Spätzle (or in German: Königinpasteten + Spätzle) which turned out the be a veal pie with pasta:). It was delicious but a LOT. Also: Orangina!
Monday Sept. 25, 2023: Meeting Day 1
First workday in Strasbourg!
Sorry no photos of the conference room (there's one later this week) but look at my scrumptious breakfast with Citron yoghurt.
On the right the lovely stained glass roof of our lunch restaurant Brasserie Floderer.
Starter: Tartar of Provencal Vegetables with Basil and Olive Oil
Main Course: Braised Beef Chuck with Pinot Noir, plus Spätzle
Dessert: Cheese Cake
After lunch we returned to the conference room, and I did my presentation on Waterbodies.
For Dinner I joined a group to Mama Bubbele for Flammenküche/Tart Flambée as it's supposed to be eaten: shared with everyone (that's why it's served cut into pieces) and a constant supply of different flavours/coverings. The original does not have cheese, but there's a lot of variety of different cheeses, my favorite being the speciality of Strasbourg: Munster cheese.
For dessert there is a sweet variety; covered with apple slices and doused in Calvados (French brandy) which is set to fire! It's spectacular and scrumptious.
I really liked the design of this restaurant:)
Tuesday Sept. 26, 2023: Meeting Day 2 + Boattrip
Second workday in Strasbourg.
I learned from the big lunch yesterday and have a smaller breakfast;) with Raspberry yoghurt this time.
Fun fact about the conference room: those windows are right across from my hotelroom :-D
Lunch at Brasserie Au Dauphin
Starter: Leek Quiche
Main Course: Fleischnaka (an Alsatian dish made from cooked meat stuffing, eggs, onions, parsley, salt, pepper rolled in a fresh egg pasta.)
Dessert: Black Forest Cake
On the walk back to the conference room I notice this pretty corner of Rue des Grandes Arcades:)
Another cool detail on the columns in Rue des Grandes Arcades.
Protest poster in a corner of Gutenberg Place.
After another afternoon of technical discussions, we had a group outing and all met up at the riverside for a touristy cruise around Strasbourg.
(Y'all already know how much I love bridges, right?)
My favorite bit was going throught the lock into Petit France, I was very excited about experiencing the rise of the waterlevel!
Ponts Couverts is a set of 3 bridges and 4 towers built during the 13th century, very cool.
That wild water is right next to us after going through the second lock, back to the low part of Canal de Faux-Rempart.
View from the boat on Reformation Church Saint-Paul, a Neo-Gothic church dating from the 1890s, with 2 slender spires & ornate stained-glass windows.
The north part of Strasbourg houses the European Parliament: they have their own Ponton!
The official seat of the European Parliament (completed in 1999).
Final view from the water and then we disembark where we started and walk back to the cathedral. On this close up of the Tympanum on the central west front you can see a Blosarsch (Alsatian for "ass blowing"), wrapped around the foot of the cauldron on the left, at the foot of the cauldron, with an open anus in the shape of a star. - A detailed image and the full story in French can be found in Le Point magazine: La Gueule de l'Enfer;)
More fascinating details on the front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral:)
We have an hosted dinner at Maison Kammerzell, that you may remember from my stroll on Sunday. There's a spiral staircase to the restaurant.
Host A. has set me at the Head Table with a fancy name sign, what is my life? (He also hands me a present as a thank you for our succesful collaboration in the past months, how sweet is that? It's a book about Maison Kammerzell<3).
Starter: Kammerzell Duck Foie Gras, Gewurztraminer Jelly and Brioche
Main Course: Three Fish Sauerkraut (Created by Guy-Pierre Baumann)
A. explains how to eat this traditional dish: you start with the plain white fish and then work your way up to more flavours with the salmon in the middle and the very salty fish at the end. To my surprise I love it!
Dessert: Homemade Iced Kouglof with Marc d'Alsace on Eglantine Coulis
What a treat. On my way out I pass this misserable looking figure, ahw.
Wednesday Sept. 26, 2023: Meeting Day 3
On this third day I introduced a lot of items for forum discussions in the morning and I did a national briefing on transport barriers in the afternoon. There is also food;)
A sweet breakfast (with yet another yoghurt flavor: coconut!), it's quiet in the breakfast room.
Lunch is at L'Ancienne Douance (where I ate on Sunday). Thanks to the large serving staff it's the first time we manage to finish within an hour and a half this week...
Starter: Salmon Terrine with Sorrel
Main Course: Duck Leg on Sauerkraut (with potatoes:)
Dessert: Iced Nougat with Red Fruit Coulis.
On the way back I spot these mosaics in Rue des Tonneliers (Kiefergass) > Barrel makers or Coopers, which in Dutch is my family name.
After the official meeting in the afternoon, we have a long session with a small group of nations in preparation of discussions on Thursday, we finish at 19:00 and I have just time to go to the supermarket for a croissant, some orange juice and a chocolate dessert to take to my room.
I spent the evening in my hotel, as I have a virtual meeting with P. at the office back home.
Thursday Sept. 27, 2023: Meeting Day 4
The fourth day was another long one. I give a presentation on DIY AI in the morning. In the afternoon the schedule has been stretched, we continue with a custodian sesson after five o'clock and finish around seven. Lot of scrumptious food before and after though:)
I did get a little sleep in, because I don't have to be at the first session. Can't resist the pancakes at breakfast (I have a pink yoghurt: Myrtille = Blueberry)
Lunch is once again at Brasserie Floderer (just like Monday), a different menu of course...
Starter: Mimosa Egg
Main Course: Roast Cod, Wok of Vegetables, White Butter Sauce
Dessert: Passion-Coconut Entremet
We go straight from the meeting room to dinner (since my hotel is next-door, I have time to put away my heavy laptop and do a quick change into loose clothes;) and are fortunate to find eight seats on the terrace of Bastardo
I have a Diabolo Violette (purple cordial with bubbles:) and Pasta Carbonara La Verita (Tagliatelle with Guanciale (ham of pork's cheek!) & Pancetta, shallot, parmesan, egg and black pepper).
I have to try the Red Pavlova dessert and it does not dissapoint!
After dinner we have a short stroll and sit down for a drink at Brasserie Boëhm; I had a mocktail Le Tir Au Flan (purée de groseille (redcurrant), citron vert, limonade, jus de pomme). Fancy.
Friday Sept. 28, 2023: Meeting Day 5
On the final day we got stuck in a discussion in the morning session and the chair ordered the disagreeing nations to settle the subject during lunch. A great idea: we find a satisfying solution in between the starter and the main course. We propose to change next time's schedule to one hour of meeting and seven hours of lunch;)
Today's breakfast yoghurt flavour is Fraise d'Alsace (local strawberries).
Lunch is in a dungeon like cellar from the 14th centure, it has impressive stone arches. Ssadly my indoors pictures all failed, so I can only show you the funky logo of Le Gürtlerhoft.
I was so eager to start the discussion, I forgot to take a photo of the Starter, which was a Feuilleté of Fresh Mushrooms with Cream. I loved the design of the plates, very Strasbourgy;)
Main Course was an enormous Baeckeoffe Strasbourgeous, a typical French peasants oven dish with carrots, potatoes and very well done beef. Omnomnom.
After Dessert, Poached Pear with Muscat d'Alsace and Cinnamon Ice Cream, we and our full stomachs crawled back to the meeting room to finish the final discussions and form a List of Actions for next time.
The chair managed to close the meeting right at five o'clock, giving us time to sprint to the cathedral for a look inside:)
The cirle window is impressive on the inside too!
Outside and inside of the windows near Chappelle Ste Catherine.
So many gorgeous stained windows.
The cathedral closes at 17:45. (and before that they already start closing certain sections, that's why I missed the astronomical clock, oh well, for a next visit?)
I like the outside of the cathedral best anyway: so many awesome details *stares and giggles*
Before joining the group for dinner, I attempted to recharge my paper tram ticket. The machine kept saying my card didn't work. Managed to buy a new paper ticket with my credit card. (At home I found out, the machine did make me pay for two of the four failed attempts, hrmpf)
After that we all walked to the Petit France neighbourhood.
J. had made reservations at La Corde à Linge, but our group was slightly larger than he had anticipated. Fortunately they were able to add an extra table for T. and me, so we could all eat together, yay!
I ordered a Le Hansi burger (with melted Munster cheese)
Dessert: Verrine de Crémeux Citron & Basilic, Petite Meringue.
Back at the hotel I reorganised my backpack before bed.
Saturday Sept. 29, 2023: Traveling Home
Goodbye to Strasbourg!
Backpack all ready (my laptop fit in there too, woohoo) and one final breakfast, yoghurt was a mystery flavour Quetsche, which turned out to be Alsac prunes:)
Walked to the nearby tramstop, almost forgot to activate my ticket, so I missed the first tram, but the second came only 3 minutes later, pfew.
No idea yet what platform the TGV to Frankfurt is going to leave from, but I made it to the station with time to spare.
The train was traditionally late (only a few minutes though)
We still had time to make our connection to the Netherlands.
Started and finished Rutger Hauer's autobiography (English title is All Those Moments.
Was supposed to catch the train home from Arnhem, but there was a broken train blocking the tracks and we had to wait for an hour and a half until trains were going again.
What a trip!
Had a few days extra off to recuperate. My brother and his family were over from Australia and on Monday I took my nephew to the Efteling themepark: see photos on Instagram:) Now it's back to work and regular life again.
J.
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/582505.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)
Saturday Sept 23, 2023: travel to Strasbourg
Trainday!
Very proud of the extension strap I made the morning of my departure; now my trusty, thirty year old backpack fits securely around my belly again:)
Took the citybus to the station, got on the train to Utrecht where I caught the ICE to Frankfurt, Germany (together with my co-workers T. and R., but we had separate seats on the trains). Had a fifteen minuted delay, but we did make our connecting TGV to Strasbourg.
Traveling first class, bb! Arrived in Strasbourg with a 40 minute delay, so it was getting dark.
The digital tram/metro ticket on my phone didn't work, so I ended up buying a paper ticket from the machine. We all stayed in different hotels, so T. walked and R. took another tram. My tramstop was only a short walk from my hotel, where a nice lady told me I had gotten an upgrade to a supreme room (which is bigger than the standard I had booked:). Pretty!
Had a nice desk too and enough sockets to connect all my stuff. Huge bathroom with good light and a square toilet! No bath...
... but a rainshower and a big detachable showerhead.
Was an adult and found a place to eat dinner; accidently ordered a cold dish, but this Beef Tataki with sesame and soysauce was tasty and the fries were hot, so it totally counted as a real meal. Also: Orangina!
On my way back to the hotel I could see the Notre-Dame Cathedral was still lit, so I walked there for a closer look: gorgeous.
Sunday Sept. 24, 2023: exploring Strasbourg
A day off!
The hotel buffet was amazing! Fresh bread and patries from a local bakery, including Alsacion specialties! There were also pancakes and maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausages (without pork) plus all kinds of fresh yoghurts (I chose Apricot today). My favorite were the small squishy pretzels, perfectly salty with a soft texture, delicious.
On the front steps of my hotel I see the Saint Thomas church on my right (on that side is also the Rue du Miroir/Spiejelgässel alleyway where the meeting location is:) and the Notre-Dame Cathedral on my left.
I turn left to the Gutenberg square (with a statue of Johannes Gutenberg (~1406-1468) was a German inventor and craftsman who introduced letterpress printing to Europe with his movable-type printing press)
From there I walk to Cathedral square. There are so many beautifully sculpted details along the way.
I really enjoy walking around the Notre-Dame Cathedral and taking in all the decorations.
On the corner of the square is the also impressive Maison Kammerzell (1467), an merchants house that was converted to Renaissance style in 1589. The wooden carvings have both secular and religious themes. It is now a hotel and restaurant (we'll have a hosted dinner here on Tuesday:)
I found a tranquil little square at Place du Temple Neuf, where I sat down with a book for a while, before I continued to the enormous Kléber Square, where I sit for a bit to do some people watching.
Then I returned via Place du Temple Neuf to Rue des Grandes Arcades; this commerce building (no12-26) dates back to 1901 and was designed by architect Emile Widmann (fils).
I walked towards the river Ill (a tributary of the Rhine) in the background you can see Le Pont du Corbeau (bridge). I have Flammeküche Gratinée (in German on the menu: Gratinierte Flammenküchen) for lunch (conveniently cut into pieces) at riverside restaurant L'Ancienne Douane; I have a lovely seat on the balcony.
On my way back I pass the lovely green Passage Hans Haug and I get to the cathedral just when the afternoon sun hits it. *chinhands*
I walk by my hotel to continue to Saint Thomas church in the Petit France neighbourhood
From there I find the Saint-Thomas bridge, which dates back to 1197. It was reconstructed in 1841 by the Établissements de Dietrich; it is supported by a single cast-iron arch with a span of 31.10 metres, formed of four arch ribs connected to the deck by rings of decreasing diameter.
On my way back to find food I run into co-worker T and we chat for a while before I return to L'Ancienne Douane for dinner: Bouchée à la Reine + Spätzle (or in German: Königinpasteten + Spätzle) which turned out the be a veal pie with pasta:). It was delicious but a LOT. Also: Orangina!
Monday Sept. 25, 2023: Meeting Day 1
First workday in Strasbourg!
Sorry no photos of the conference room (there's one later this week) but look at my scrumptious breakfast with Citron yoghurt.
On the right the lovely stained glass roof of our lunch restaurant Brasserie Floderer.
Starter: Tartar of Provencal Vegetables with Basil and Olive Oil
Main Course: Braised Beef Chuck with Pinot Noir, plus Spätzle
Dessert: Cheese Cake
After lunch we returned to the conference room, and I did my presentation on Waterbodies.
For Dinner I joined a group to Mama Bubbele for Flammenküche/Tart Flambée as it's supposed to be eaten: shared with everyone (that's why it's served cut into pieces) and a constant supply of different flavours/coverings. The original does not have cheese, but there's a lot of variety of different cheeses, my favorite being the speciality of Strasbourg: Munster cheese.
For dessert there is a sweet variety; covered with apple slices and doused in Calvados (French brandy) which is set to fire! It's spectacular and scrumptious.
I really liked the design of this restaurant:)
Tuesday Sept. 26, 2023: Meeting Day 2 + Boattrip
Second workday in Strasbourg.
I learned from the big lunch yesterday and have a smaller breakfast;) with Raspberry yoghurt this time.
Fun fact about the conference room: those windows are right across from my hotelroom :-D
Lunch at Brasserie Au Dauphin
Starter: Leek Quiche
Main Course: Fleischnaka (an Alsatian dish made from cooked meat stuffing, eggs, onions, parsley, salt, pepper rolled in a fresh egg pasta.)
Dessert: Black Forest Cake
On the walk back to the conference room I notice this pretty corner of Rue des Grandes Arcades:)
Another cool detail on the columns in Rue des Grandes Arcades.
Protest poster in a corner of Gutenberg Place.
After another afternoon of technical discussions, we had a group outing and all met up at the riverside for a touristy cruise around Strasbourg.
(Y'all already know how much I love bridges, right?)
My favorite bit was going throught the lock into Petit France, I was very excited about experiencing the rise of the waterlevel!
Ponts Couverts is a set of 3 bridges and 4 towers built during the 13th century, very cool.
That wild water is right next to us after going through the second lock, back to the low part of Canal de Faux-Rempart.
View from the boat on Reformation Church Saint-Paul, a Neo-Gothic church dating from the 1890s, with 2 slender spires & ornate stained-glass windows.
The north part of Strasbourg houses the European Parliament: they have their own Ponton!
The official seat of the European Parliament (completed in 1999).
Final view from the water and then we disembark where we started and walk back to the cathedral. On this close up of the Tympanum on the central west front you can see a Blosarsch (Alsatian for "ass blowing"), wrapped around the foot of the cauldron on the left, at the foot of the cauldron, with an open anus in the shape of a star. - A detailed image and the full story in French can be found in Le Point magazine: La Gueule de l'Enfer;)
More fascinating details on the front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral:)
We have an hosted dinner at Maison Kammerzell, that you may remember from my stroll on Sunday. There's a spiral staircase to the restaurant.
Host A. has set me at the Head Table with a fancy name sign, what is my life? (He also hands me a present as a thank you for our succesful collaboration in the past months, how sweet is that? It's a book about Maison Kammerzell<3).
Starter: Kammerzell Duck Foie Gras, Gewurztraminer Jelly and Brioche
Main Course: Three Fish Sauerkraut (Created by Guy-Pierre Baumann)
A. explains how to eat this traditional dish: you start with the plain white fish and then work your way up to more flavours with the salmon in the middle and the very salty fish at the end. To my surprise I love it!
Dessert: Homemade Iced Kouglof with Marc d'Alsace on Eglantine Coulis
What a treat. On my way out I pass this misserable looking figure, ahw.
Wednesday Sept. 26, 2023: Meeting Day 3
On this third day I introduced a lot of items for forum discussions in the morning and I did a national briefing on transport barriers in the afternoon. There is also food;)
A sweet breakfast (with yet another yoghurt flavor: coconut!), it's quiet in the breakfast room.
Lunch is at L'Ancienne Douance (where I ate on Sunday). Thanks to the large serving staff it's the first time we manage to finish within an hour and a half this week...
Starter: Salmon Terrine with Sorrel
Main Course: Duck Leg on Sauerkraut (with potatoes:)
Dessert: Iced Nougat with Red Fruit Coulis.
On the way back I spot these mosaics in Rue des Tonneliers (Kiefergass) > Barrel makers or Coopers, which in Dutch is my family name.
After the official meeting in the afternoon, we have a long session with a small group of nations in preparation of discussions on Thursday, we finish at 19:00 and I have just time to go to the supermarket for a croissant, some orange juice and a chocolate dessert to take to my room.
I spent the evening in my hotel, as I have a virtual meeting with P. at the office back home.
Thursday Sept. 27, 2023: Meeting Day 4
The fourth day was another long one. I give a presentation on DIY AI in the morning. In the afternoon the schedule has been stretched, we continue with a custodian sesson after five o'clock and finish around seven. Lot of scrumptious food before and after though:)
I did get a little sleep in, because I don't have to be at the first session. Can't resist the pancakes at breakfast (I have a pink yoghurt: Myrtille = Blueberry)
Lunch is once again at Brasserie Floderer (just like Monday), a different menu of course...
Starter: Mimosa Egg
Main Course: Roast Cod, Wok of Vegetables, White Butter Sauce
Dessert: Passion-Coconut Entremet
We go straight from the meeting room to dinner (since my hotel is next-door, I have time to put away my heavy laptop and do a quick change into loose clothes;) and are fortunate to find eight seats on the terrace of Bastardo
I have a Diabolo Violette (purple cordial with bubbles:) and Pasta Carbonara La Verita (Tagliatelle with Guanciale (ham of pork's cheek!) & Pancetta, shallot, parmesan, egg and black pepper).
I have to try the Red Pavlova dessert and it does not dissapoint!
After dinner we have a short stroll and sit down for a drink at Brasserie Boëhm; I had a mocktail Le Tir Au Flan (purée de groseille (redcurrant), citron vert, limonade, jus de pomme). Fancy.
Friday Sept. 28, 2023: Meeting Day 5
On the final day we got stuck in a discussion in the morning session and the chair ordered the disagreeing nations to settle the subject during lunch. A great idea: we find a satisfying solution in between the starter and the main course. We propose to change next time's schedule to one hour of meeting and seven hours of lunch;)
Today's breakfast yoghurt flavour is Fraise d'Alsace (local strawberries).
Lunch is in a dungeon like cellar from the 14th centure, it has impressive stone arches. Ssadly my indoors pictures all failed, so I can only show you the funky logo of Le Gürtlerhoft.
I was so eager to start the discussion, I forgot to take a photo of the Starter, which was a Feuilleté of Fresh Mushrooms with Cream. I loved the design of the plates, very Strasbourgy;)
Main Course was an enormous Baeckeoffe Strasbourgeous, a typical French peasants oven dish with carrots, potatoes and very well done beef. Omnomnom.
After Dessert, Poached Pear with Muscat d'Alsace and Cinnamon Ice Cream, we and our full stomachs crawled back to the meeting room to finish the final discussions and form a List of Actions for next time.
The chair managed to close the meeting right at five o'clock, giving us time to sprint to the cathedral for a look inside:)
The cirle window is impressive on the inside too!
Outside and inside of the windows near Chappelle Ste Catherine.
So many gorgeous stained windows.
The cathedral closes at 17:45. (and before that they already start closing certain sections, that's why I missed the astronomical clock, oh well, for a next visit?)
I like the outside of the cathedral best anyway: so many awesome details *stares and giggles*
Before joining the group for dinner, I attempted to recharge my paper tram ticket. The machine kept saying my card didn't work. Managed to buy a new paper ticket with my credit card. (At home I found out, the machine did make me pay for two of the four failed attempts, hrmpf)
After that we all walked to the Petit France neighbourhood.
J. had made reservations at La Corde à Linge, but our group was slightly larger than he had anticipated. Fortunately they were able to add an extra table for T. and me, so we could all eat together, yay!
I ordered a Le Hansi burger (with melted Munster cheese)
Dessert: Verrine de Crémeux Citron & Basilic, Petite Meringue.
Back at the hotel I reorganised my backpack before bed.
Saturday Sept. 29, 2023: Traveling Home
Goodbye to Strasbourg!
Backpack all ready (my laptop fit in there too, woohoo) and one final breakfast, yoghurt was a mystery flavour Quetsche, which turned out to be Alsac prunes:)
Walked to the nearby tramstop, almost forgot to activate my ticket, so I missed the first tram, but the second came only 3 minutes later, pfew.
No idea yet what platform the TGV to Frankfurt is going to leave from, but I made it to the station with time to spare.
The train was traditionally late (only a few minutes though)
We still had time to make our connection to the Netherlands.
Started and finished Rutger Hauer's autobiography (English title is All Those Moments.
Was supposed to catch the train home from Arnhem, but there was a broken train blocking the tracks and we had to wait for an hour and a half until trains were going again.
What a trip!
Had a few days extra off to recuperate. My brother and his family were over from Australia and on Monday I took my nephew to the Efteling themepark: see photos on Instagram:) Now it's back to work and regular life again.
J.
X-posted to https://beelikej.livejournal.com/582505.html
Lurk or comment wherever you like:)