Day 16-17: Strasbourg

On Monday, we got a bit of a late start to the journey to Strasbourg as Sharon wasn't feeling well and had to go to the doctor (she had lots of kind things to say about the French medical system!). That delay meant we boys were home for the delivery of four tons of gravel, which we all spent a few hours spreading over the driveway! Thierry promises it was a pure coincidence that the gravel was delivered just as his three boys were home...

Anyway, we arrived at our hotel in Strasbourg just before midnight (having gotten hopelessly lost in downtown Strasbourg). We've been at the Petite Regent, which has turned out to be fantastic. Strasbourg has some special meaning to me as it's the town where I spent the first few years of my life.

We started off today with a walk towards the ancient Cathedral de Strasbourg, which dates back prior to the year 1400 (!). Here's the view from our room, first:







Walking over the "Pont de Spitzmvhle" (loosely, "bridge of Spitz, windmill owner").



Talk about an old restaurant -- this one dates to 1572!


Here's the Chamber of Commerce, where my grandfather Lucien worked.


And the next-door beer bars that he frequented!


We stopped to have some croissants and coffee...


















This restaurant dates back centuries as well, right on the Cathedral square.


And here's the Cathedral in all its splendor:





















Mom and Dylan by a terrace cafe...


Proof that the bridge is our namesake!


We then went to Weitbruch, the small village on the outskirts of Strasbourg where my grandparents still live (and where I spent many early days in the garden). We visited my grandmother Janine, who has suffered from Alzheimer's for nearly two decades, and Jean-Luc (her husband, a published author, poet, priest, and veritable saint who cares for her 24 hours per day) and my uncle Philippe, who put together an incredible meal for us. We also saw Isabelle and her children Jonas and Zoe who have grown so quickly!


Here's the house, just as I remembered it. I has been 16 years since my last visit.











Enjoying the garden with Phillipe...















Phillipe prepared an incredible lunch!


Jean warms up to Wyatt! Despite the language barrier, teasing each other crossed generations.


The "cave" below the house was built in 1782 and continues to serve as a storage area for the garden's fruits.


All of us on the front steps...


For dinner, we went to get "tart flambé", possibly my favorite meal. Here, Thierry and Jean enjoy a laugh together.








What a whirlwind tour. Tomorrow, we will stop by Weitbruch to say goodbye to Janine, then head back west to drop off Thierry in Machault and finally into Paris for the last leg of our trip!