Strasbourg - tourists, day trippers, locals, out-of-town workers, and people who like this place.

Seriously we have happened upon a crowded time here. Local schools are now on holiday, university students are still here, this is a tourist destination and has been for a long time. No surprise the Romans built a city here, then at some point it became an independent city-state even minting its own currency. Apparently there were a lot of city-states across central and northern Europe at one time in the Middle Ages before the development of some of the European nations after the collapse of Rome and the chaos of its downfall.

This is one town that has not suffered too much damage from recent wars. On the various package or self guided tours, the recording always mentions the "customs building is not original as it was destroyed in 1944 by American bombs and rebuilt exactly as it was".

This crowded picture is somewhat but not universally accurate. It is in front of our hotel, yes that hotel sign is the Rohan and the opening down the street is the square where the gigantic and famous cathedral stands. Patt has been fabulous at picking locations for our hotels.

One more good thing about the hotel, while here we got to FaceTime with Stephen and Laura and Matt and family as Stephen is visiting Matt and Laura while on a business trip to Asia. We FaceTimed with Jen and Raleigh too, Clinton was sleeping.

The City is on the Ill River, not pronounced like ill sick, but Ill something else French sounding. And the river actually comes together here and there are many tributaries, canals, locks and such.

Yes, we took the boat tour, where do you think I learned about American bombs?

And it is still dissapointly cold, although yesterday was the first day we could unzip our jackets for a couple of hours in the afternoon. In the shade, a little breeze, sun goes down and dissappointly cold turns just cold. We and everyone else dress for it. French and apparently most of the visitors to Strasbourg wear scarves. We do too and are glad to have them.

Some of these houses are from the 1600 and 1700s. Famous people lived in these or other houses we went by.  Like philosopher Goethe and Mozart performed concerts here.

Albert Schweitzer preached for 10 years at this church, St. Nicolas, and played the organ at the nearby St. Thomas and other churches in the area. Yes, that Albert Schweitzer. He taught at the university here too. Had a strong faculty I reckon.

If you don't recognize Johannes Gutenburg, that's ok, he spent 10 years in exile here working on his movable type printing press. That's him in the center of Gutenberg Square and speaking of results of his printing the Bible, Martin Luther came here too to post his 95 thesis as part of the reformation, the beginning of protestantism.

Just down from our hotel, out into the square, and viola!, or walla!, or something like that and there is one more Notre Dame Cathedral. Intricate? You have not seen intricate.

Imposing on the outside and just fills up the the approach on the streets leading to the square. The bell tower is well endowed and the bell player absolutely loves his job, quarter hour, half hour, hour and just for the heck of it. Bells play, and play loudly too.

Inside is impressive, no surprise here, windows that no photograph can capture, stories of the saints, Mary, Jesus, disciples, popes, crusaders, you name it - awesome windows. Started building one thousand years ago so this building is getting some years on it.

A few of the paintings are looking a bit faded but still glorious and inside on one of the transepts there is a seven layer astronomical clock with moving parts.

Strasbourg visitor, regulars, and natives I guess, eat outside. In the cold, some restaurants even provide lap blankets. Outside they also smoke. Not everyone, but a fair number.

We eat inside, it is warm, and the food, have we mentioned we like the food?  This was the small, L'Epicerie restaurant that specialized in open faced sandwiches, tartines, with a limited array of toppings. I went with a ham pate and vegetable soup. Patt had an eggplant, cheese and marinara tartine. Washed it down with a half bottle of medoc wine. We have also had Alsatian, French, German and Italian food here. Eaten very very well.

As an added bonus while here we got to visit with the daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters of friends of ours (Diane and Dave) from Raleigh.

They gave us great advice on dining, sights to see and future destinations. Though our trip has had a rough outline it has involved a fair amount of making it up as we have gone along and they helped us finalize some of the last days before Paris.

So tomorrow we turn west towards Paris. Not far but taking 3 days to wander in that direction. Looking forward to it.