Winter in Strasbourg

Two months ago there was a light snow that stuck for about a day, so I went out and took pictures of Strasbourg with snow. A couple of Sundays ago I went and took a bunch of pictures of flowers at Parc de l'Orangerie, five minutes from my house. So here's a little of winter for your enjoyment. Spring when I return!

This is the view from my window. Rue Berlioz across the way. And I, in case I haven't mentioned it before, live on Rue Beethoven. :-)

Um, I believe that's my church, St. Paul's, behind the trees.

This is next to the river, l'Ille, looking in the direction of the cathedral, though you can't see it.

 This is from the same spot, but looking the other way. That church is definitely my church. This is looking back the way I walked from my appartment.

This is much later - I wandered through several streets, not thinking to take pictures, just enjoying the wandering and knowing which direction I still wanted to head. Since I didn't have much of a sense of direction when I got here, that is a huge accomplishment for me.

This is in an area called Petite France, which looks more German than the rest of the city and is fairly touristry. Not many tourists today, though! This is a bridge with a guard tower. One way down the river was industrial and ugly. The other way looked back the way I came. I froze my hands trying to get these shots just the way I wanted them.

This is looking down the river the direction I came from.

A little wandering later into Petite France, this is a typical house from that area. German-looking, isn't it?

Now I am approaching a dam, in a pretty quiet area, at the time. This wall, covered with snow, between me and the river fascinated me. So I took several photos, experimenting with different foci. Froze my hands, again.

This is where I was standing to take those pictures. I love little gateways going who knows where.

I think I liked the ivy climbing this house.

 And finally, water rushing through the dam. It was a little scary on that cold, overcast day, standing on a rickety wooden bridge watching that water rush out. But, you'll be glad to know, the bridge did not collapse and on a sunny day, it's not scary anymore.

Hopefully, when I get back from spring break travels I can get out and take pictures of Strasbourg with green trees. I'm heading off to Nice, then Florence! I'll be back Saturday. I'm here for Easter morning church service, and then I'm off to Prague for a week! yay for cheap tickets to less-touristry cities! :-)

A bientôt!

Mardi! (Tuesday!)

This is the corner of my desk right now:

The card - well, that came from Mommy about a month ago along with stickers for my keyboard, so I can see where things are in the French layout. It's a pen sketch of Yellow Narcissus in her room. Every time Françoise comes in and straightens my room, I have to fish out of the little pile of papers on my desk and re-erect it in its place.

The lamb with the goofy smile - that's from Françoise. She found it at the market down the street on Saturday and gave it to me to remember Easter in France. I've decided to class him in the category of appealingly ridiculous. I'm thinking of naming him Stanley, but I'm open to suggestions!

Saturday was delightful - sunny, but not too hot or too cold. I went for a picnic in the park nearby with Amelia. Françoise lent us a blanket and a cloth hamper to carry stuff in and we stopped at the market first, buying plums, olives, cheese, bread, and a little meat. We had ice cream bars afterwards and then stayed there for about 5 hours altogether, including a little stroll at the end. To make up for being out all day Saturday, I was a hermit on Sunday, except for church and a little stroll with Sam. She had to take pictures with a paper cutout of a girl around Strasbourg for the school project of a girl back in PA. So I was the photographer. We celebrated with gelato afterwards. And no, I don't eat icecream or gelato every day.

Tonight is the first of two Strasbourg university orchestra performances. We're playing Copland - Billy the Kid, Dvorak - New World Symphony (mvts. 1 & 2), and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. We're not the best orchestra ever, but I'm beginning to get excited about these concerts. The rehearsal with the soloist went fairly well last night. It was somewhat amusing as he is German and doesn't speak French. So he would stand up behind the piano and talk energetically and passionately about something he wanted to happen, and then our conductor, Corinna - who is also German, but speaks French, would have to translate. The second one is tomorrow evening - 5 euro admission, if you want to come!

Bonne journée!

Friday!!!

It's Friday and today is full of good things. First, despite the dire forecasts that today would be mostly cloudy, the sun is only slightly obscured by fluffy white clouds and I was actually rather warm after my walk home in the sun. Second, for lunch I heated a fresh croissant with camembert and ham (from Tuesday market) in the microwave. It was delicious, even if the cheese did make a little mess. Third, I get to gloat over the fact that it's currently below freezing back in Springfield with snow expected tonight, while it is 65 degrees here. Fourth, I saw the hugest tulips ever today, but I didn't have my camera with me. :-( They were about the size of teacups in a pinkish-red color. And finally, I am filled with the expectation of a delightful day tomorrow! We're taking a BCA fieldtrip to Mulhouse and Thann, including a possible picnic. In Mulhouse we will revel in cars at the car museum and then in Thann we will hike up to a ruined castle/vineyard, which is where the picnic might take place.

In the meantime I will attempt to work on my paper due on Wednesday without letting it obscure the joy of today.

And as a final addendum, I wish to say that if you have any objections to my spelling or my grammar, I do not wish to hear them. It's very difficult to switch back and forth from English grammar and spelling to French. ok? ok.

A bientôt!