We may be getting boring, but somehow it just doesn't feel right if we don't get back to France in the fall. And, there's nowhere in the world outside Canada that I feel more at home than in the Alsace.
So, accompanied by friends Carole and Claude Zorzi, we flew from Toronto to Amsterdam after some time in the Air France/KLM lounge (free booze and food) on September 16 with KLM and then on to Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace with Air France's commuter line IHOP.
We took off in the rain, travelled in the rain and landed in the pouring rain. We now know why this line is called Hop, because the plane pretty much lurched and hopped all the way to the Alsace. No serious losses of bodily fluids, but uncomfortable none the less.
When we landed and collected luggage, our Renault car representative was waiting for us - no phone calls required - and before we knew it, we were loaded up and off to our apartment in Andlau. Slick! Our GPS acted as it should and found the first destination with no blips. We've got the same Renault Kangoo as last year, but this time in steel grey. The apartment we're in is part of a townhouse unit on the valley end of the town. We found it very clean and well ordered, but a little light on cooking essentials - actually no condiments at all.
The rain continued as we unloaded in Andlau and we quickly got back in the car and went on a quest for groceries. We weren't sure where to go, but headed towards Obernai, remembering the grocery stores there from the past. We found a small Carrefour in Barr, a slight 10 minutes from Andlau and stocked up on the essentials, after a little drive along the Route du Vin to Obernai - as beautiful as always.
By the time our shopping was complete and we were back in Andlau, we were all pretty much in the bag, having had minimal or no sleep since Canada. So a mandatory weak spell was instituted and as heads hit the pillows, the lights went out. We had agreed not to sleep past 6:00, but we all actually awoke earlier, showered and discovered, much to our delight, that the rain had departed and the sun had taken its place.
Due to improved weather conditions, we took a walk about in Andlau and thoroughly enjoyed this small unspoiled village.
As we walked, we checked out the restaurants and eventually settled on Relais de la Poste for dinner. This restaurant is adjacent to the famous drinking bear sculpture that has been a landmark in Andlau for years. We were attracted to the menu here that advertised wild boar.
We soon discovered, however that they also had venison, disguised by typical French flowery language. We all shared both wild menus and shared a tart tatin as well, not the mention a couple of fabulous Alsace whites - a pinot blanc from Kreydenweiss in town and an amazing 2007 grand cru reisling from the Kastelberg hills bordering Andlau. This was 155 euro meal and a marvellous way to start the holiday.
We walked back to our apartment enjoying the smell of wood fires and the sound of the surging stream running from the mountains through town. Day one done!
So, accompanied by friends Carole and Claude Zorzi, we flew from Toronto to Amsterdam after some time in the Air France/KLM lounge (free booze and food) on September 16 with KLM and then on to Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace with Air France's commuter line IHOP.
We took off in the rain, travelled in the rain and landed in the pouring rain. We now know why this line is called Hop, because the plane pretty much lurched and hopped all the way to the Alsace. No serious losses of bodily fluids, but uncomfortable none the less.
When we landed and collected luggage, our Renault car representative was waiting for us - no phone calls required - and before we knew it, we were loaded up and off to our apartment in Andlau. Slick! Our GPS acted as it should and found the first destination with no blips. We've got the same Renault Kangoo as last year, but this time in steel grey. The apartment we're in is part of a townhouse unit on the valley end of the town. We found it very clean and well ordered, but a little light on cooking essentials - actually no condiments at all.
The rain continued as we unloaded in Andlau and we quickly got back in the car and went on a quest for groceries. We weren't sure where to go, but headed towards Obernai, remembering the grocery stores there from the past. We found a small Carrefour in Barr, a slight 10 minutes from Andlau and stocked up on the essentials, after a little drive along the Route du Vin to Obernai - as beautiful as always.
By the time our shopping was complete and we were back in Andlau, we were all pretty much in the bag, having had minimal or no sleep since Canada. So a mandatory weak spell was instituted and as heads hit the pillows, the lights went out. We had agreed not to sleep past 6:00, but we all actually awoke earlier, showered and discovered, much to our delight, that the rain had departed and the sun had taken its place.
Due to improved weather conditions, we took a walk about in Andlau and thoroughly enjoyed this small unspoiled village.
As we walked, we checked out the restaurants and eventually settled on Relais de la Poste for dinner. This restaurant is adjacent to the famous drinking bear sculpture that has been a landmark in Andlau for years. We were attracted to the menu here that advertised wild boar.
We soon discovered, however that they also had venison, disguised by typical French flowery language. We all shared both wild menus and shared a tart tatin as well, not the mention a couple of fabulous Alsace whites - a pinot blanc from Kreydenweiss in town and an amazing 2007 grand cru reisling from the Kastelberg hills bordering Andlau. This was 155 euro meal and a marvellous way to start the holiday.
We walked back to our apartment enjoying the smell of wood fires and the sound of the surging stream running from the mountains through town. Day one done!
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