【E外桃源】Alsace (Elssas in German)

Alsace (nowadays a region in northeast France) has long been a squabble between the French and German.  To us with mainland Chinese education background (I mean old), it is most famously known in the text book "The last lesson/class" by Alphonse Daudet (都德的最後一課）.  In that, Alsace was about to be handed over to German Empire after the defeat of Franco-Prussian War. The Rhine river meanders through the region, which now serves as the physical border between the two countries..

Many years ago in September, I had the opportunity to travel to that region, on business per se.  Our hotel was in Baden Baden, Germany, a tourist town which is famous for its hot spring ever since the Roman time.  It was the peak season, the best weather, packed with tourists.  At days, we had to work in factory, but in the nights and weekends we treated ourselves with outdoor parties and explorations.  Other famous attractions of Baden Baden are those ancient castle ruins scattered around the hilltops at the edge of Black Forest mountain.  They are unattended, open to public. Most just have a sign at the entrance says "Be careful, enter at your own risk".  I have to say, to this day, darn, how exciting.

Hohenbaden Old Castle (Altes Schloss Hohenbaden), I was there, by the 2nd window from the right.  It was the 3rd level.

Over the weekend, we crossed the Rhine into France, to Strasburg. There we toured the grand Strasburg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg). It is even grander than the Notre Dame de Paris if I may say.  Since the groundbreaking in the 11th centry, one of its tower is still not built. A gypsy singer was singing the play "Notre Dame de Paris" in the plaza in front of the church. When we lined up to climb the tower, a group of girls joyfully chitchatted in French and German, switching back and forth at will. Oh, how romantic.

The facade of the cathedral, I was on the tip and at the foot of it.  

So my friends, if you are ever in the region, dive in to the culture, cuisines, architectures and everything.  Time is a luxury there always in short supply.

 

By the way, the photos are dutifully plagirized via google search.  If you want more, google them.

所有跟帖： 

• 沙發！ -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:26:05

• haha, ok, now what? -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:28:43

• Ah,,The last lesson,,,an emotional story,,a tearjerker for sure -青鬆站- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:28:24

• yep, however -Marauders- ♀ (440 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:34:36

• agree, the French were hurt badly,,emotionally briused ,,proud -青鬆站- ♀ (87 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:38:35

• 唉，這英文表達怎麽就像說中文一樣的順暢，我看著忍俊不禁“ Be careful, enter at your own risk” -beautifulwind- ♀ (970 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:39:34

• 相當然，你咋知道他中文有這麽順暢流利? -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 05:37:36

• bingo -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 07:04:30

• 哈哈，什麽語言都玩兒似的，更不用說母語啦：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 09:56:23

• chitchat okey dokey darn damn -忒忒綠- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 07:49:00

• 我忘加引號了，都是引用大S的話：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 10:00:11

• 這個可以 -beautifulwind- ♀ (29 bytes) () 03/13/2021 postreply 22:47:25

• 哈哈，嗯哪 -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 07:04:03

• 我應該先讀最後一句，害的我使勁放大右手第二窗口。這地方簡直就是我的夢想攝影靈感源泉 -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 05:36:21

• 在歐洲出個國這麽容易 -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 05:38:19

• True, there's really only border signs but no check points -Marauders- ♀ (199 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 07:07:26

• 哈哈，好奇心害死人，我也扒來扒去找半天，沒找到一個人影兒。 -天邊一片白雲- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 09:18:28

• 哈哈哈，你的搞笑能力真是杠杠滴：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 09:57:23

• hahaha, I said I "was" there.... -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 10:31:43

• ok, I added myself to the castle -Marauders- ♀ (39 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 15:47:06

• 哇! 好帥啊，酷斃了 -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 17:47:54

• 哈哈，把我蒙了一個趔趄：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 20:40:26

• Luckly, I have been there 20 years ago, thanks for sharing! -欲借嵯峨- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 09:22:08

• 別那麽吝嗇了，奧不，別那麽羞澀了，趕緊和大家分享你的世外桃源吧，隨便一個和Ex經曆的地方就好：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 09:59:09

• Good for you. I wish we had more time there. -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 10:40:10

• Very nice writing! Thanks for sharing! -甜蟲蟲- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 10:29:55

• Thanks. That was time spent the most worthy. -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 10:41:42

• the sense of peace and serenity,,a song will probably add to to -青鬆站- ♀ (192 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 11:34:39

• absolutely, thanks -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 15:21:47

• 英文表達真流暢，讓人讀起來覺得很舒服。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 15:47:23

• Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 21:34:43

• I wonder if there is something in French wines making people rom -忒忒綠- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 17:13:00

• romantic -忒忒綠- ♂ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 17:14:00

• I would say it's the cheeses. -Marauders- ♀ (45 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 21:36:41

• 恭喜大S。首頁進來，謝謝網管，E外桃源“Alsace (Elssas in German)”掛首成功：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/14/2021 postreply 22:17:09

• Thank you very much! -Marauders- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/15/2021 postreply 08:34:14

• 更要謝謝你的文章為美壇做宣傳：） -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/15/2021 postreply 10:30:15

• 隨文雲遊， 讚 -樹的花花世界- ♀ (0 bytes) () 03/15/2021 postreply 22:17:14