Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Alsace at Christmas


I'm a little late writing this post as the last week before leaving has been a little hectic (!) with extra working hours, 'Christmas' meals and very last-minute packing.
We rearranged Friday's lessons to leave Lyon at 5pm. After a few hours' delay, down snowy roads impassable by coach, we arrived in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines at some ungodly hour in the morning. Through the dark, rain and sleep-deprivation we didn't quite get to appreciate our location, but waiting for us in the morning was a kind of Winter Wonderland:





After a deservedly lazy morning we made our way to Strasbourg, but with only 1½ hours to spend there we sped around the city taking in the main sights: a typical Alsatian meal, the Cathedral, 'la Petite France', and the Christmas market:

 


Later in the evening we went to Obernai, a small historical town with a traditional, artisan market. The evening light wasn't great for photos, but the place was fabulously festive, with tiny, winding streets, old-fashioned houses and a really authentic market.

After a long day we were treated to a traditional 'raclette' dinner: four different types of melted raclette cheese (including 'white wine' and 'smoked' varities), dried cured meats, potatoes, bread and lettuce.



In the morning we went to Colmar, a town taken over by six separate Christmas markets spread across the streets. This wasn't all Colmar had to offer, though. It was a lovely small town with a 'petite Venise' rather like the 'petite France' of Strasbourg, but on a canal.


Far too soon we returned to Lyon, to arrive before the last metro. Unfortunately, by this hour, our train back to Bourg en Bresse had long gone so we had to stay in Lyon for the night in an unusually clean hostel. I'd easily recommend Cool&Beds to anyone looking to stay in Lyon - three of us stayed in a private room for four, which worked out cheaper than the dorms at €20 each.

In spite of the delays, all thanks goes to Erasmus-Lyon for a festive weekend, and for taking us to places we'd never have thought to visit ourselves.

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