Peter, of Les Freres, had recommended Colmar as a place in Alsace to visit. It was just over half an hour on a rather expensive train. The Ticket Office was closed, if there was a better ticket on offer, it was not offered by the machine.
The Station was a hike to the Vielle Ville. Marg had suggested we go to the Zoo today, Hector got out of Gaol. There was Spring Fair on, various Poultry had been caged and some found this interesting. Marg was one of them. In the heart of the Old Town stalls had been set up, there was much for Marg to amuse herself with. Hector finds wandering the old streets to be reward in itself. That people live in these places remains fascinating. Without Tourism where would they be?
There is a building on most Postcards of Comar, could we find it? One suspects The Planners may have had something to do with this. Was it behind scaffolding? Had it been relocated? Was it now a Car Park? We shall never know.
It was time for a Bier. There was quite a few impressive looking Brasserie, I chose: Les Tanneurs. The MeteorPils (Hochfelden, Alsace) was recommended by Mein Host as being one of the last local Breweries. It was not Kronenbourg. The Bier was cold, yellow and fizzy. Once could expect little more.
Marg had a Glass Of Wine – qu’est ce qui s’est passé hier?
The train back to Strasbourg was a farce. A two Carriage Unit that was already full when it pulled in to Colmar. Standing room only for the wedged throng. It is a strange thing that there is a mass transit of people in the final hours of a Holiday Weekend. SNCF have not impressed, Hector likes DB.
After a brief WLD, it was out on the town again. At Bar Exils the Happy Hour was under-way. Mein Hostess from last evening served us: the traditional Mystic Kwak (small) and a pint of Delirium Tremens. The latter of course is one of the best Blond Biers around. How an 8% can be this dry remains a mystery. The due respect required for this Bier was shown, else the follow-up Kwak may have had a detrimental effect. Having taken it easy, even Marg had two Krieks, we decided food was now highest on the Agenda.
We did not walk far, Aux Armes de Strasbourg was around the corner. Shrouded in scaffolding it may not have been as busy as normal. A wonderful Bert greeted us, sat us, fed us and poured Milk over Marg’s Jacket. Hector must be stuck in Curry or Veal mode, Schnitzel in a Creamy Sauce and Pan Fried Potato faced off against Marg’s Meatballs which looked and tasted like Frikadelle.
There was an Ice-Cream follow up which kept Marg amused whilst I finished my Aperitif: a glass of Pelforth Printemps (Mons-en-Baroeul, France) Such restraint, and what happened to my follow on as this indeed was offered as an Aperitif? Well it turned out to be another Heineken buyout- Affligem (Brouwerij Affligem,Opwijk, Belgium) an all time classic and thoroughly enjoyed.
We were enjoying Strasbourg. It was still to early to retire, it was Marg who suggested a return to Bar Exils. A standard Kwak was the ideal way to bring this stage of the holiday to a close. Mein Hostess re-appeared from her break: ‘Are you still here?’. Are we now Regulars? She stayed with is long enough for me to be made aware that people this far south in France do not need to fly. She assured us that it is better to take the TGV to Paris then the Eurostar onwards to London than mess about at Airports.
The final part of our Trip is really about getting home. The last night will be in Traben-Trarbach, our second home, and a night in Saarbrücken just to break up the journey. Saarbrücken has not been visited before, it has at least one Brewery and a Curry House.
Bars, Restaurants and Brasserie visited today:
Les Tanneurs – 3 Petite rue Porte Rue des Tanneurs, 68000, Colmar, Alsace
Bar Exils – 28, Rue De L’Ail, 67000, Strasbourg, Alsace
Aux Armes de Strasbourg ‘Zum Stadtwappe’ – 9, Place Gutenberg, 67000, Strasbourg, Alsace