Alsace Region of France, October 2011

Here is a few stories from our trip to the Alsace Region of France.  

Now it was time to head to Colmar, France.  When we arrived we found parking rather uneventfully next to psychoanalyst's office.   I wondered if he or she would be willing to help two crazy parents wandering aimlessly through Europe with three small children.  Colmar was indeed charming with half timbered colorful businesses, hand painted iron signs,  French bakeries and stained glass windows.  In some ways it seemed we had visited France only to come to see more of Germany.  The local cuisine is definitely German and even includes sauerkraut and sausage.  Luckily the fashion and baked goods are distinctively French.  German baked goods are incredible in their own right, less sweet than American baked goods.  However, French bakeries are always the third hitter in a baseball lineup.  One comes to expect a home run.  

Colmar, France

Eguisheim, France

Mostly out of necessity we decided to eat out and experience some Alsatian food.  First Evan urgently had to go to the bathroom.  True to our usual form child bathroom urgency dictates many of the sights we see. This time Evan and I were in a long que and he was expressing his urgency.  The door to the precious chamber was being slammed in our face by a French women who claimed there was no more room in the bathroom.  After about five minutes in line the same woman who had abruptly turned us away from the bathroom pushed her way forward in the line.  She elbowed her way to the sink. Then pulled out a miniature bottle of pink hairspray and held it for those standing in line to witness.  Two teenager girls waiting in line looked at each other then burst out laughing.  Then the women proceeded to spray her hair proudly and left without using the bathroom.  I understood this cultural message, hair first.  No one wants a bad hair day.  

We love the view from this playground.

Next Evan and I made our way back to our table to join Colin, Neil, Evan, and Ansley.  Our waitress was very kind and took our order immediately.  Literally everyone in the restaurant starred at us like we were a rare dog breed.  Ansley danced around her seat and the couple behind us got up and relocated to another table.  I craned my neck to all corners of the restaurant as we had been sitting at our table for five minutes and still everyone starred.  Finally the stares subsided.  Our children were impeccably well behaved.  That is until Colin started dropping his food on the floor.  The food caught the attention of some local pigeons.  The pigeons swooped down for the feast.  Soon birds were swooping all around the table.