The hills above Riquewihr

More Riquewihr

Once again Lily and Alice's favourite features were the animal ones... they each found them-selves a pet fish in each of the two fountains. They also loves raceing through the tiny streets especially one passage that was so narrow that none of the adults were inclined to follow.

Riquewihr

This is Riquewir, a double walled medieval village that is one of the few that was not destroyed in the war. This was as close as we got to a castle but it really is a fortified town with houses huddled up against the defending walls. This is the heart of wine country so the hills all around are covered with vines. We are told that the steeper the south facing slope the harder work the grapes are to harvest and the better the wine. There are certainly steep slopes a plenty.

Munster

Metzeral is just ten minutes from Munster where they make Munster cheese, in fact the whole valley produces the milk and the bacteria (as we discovered) that got into Munster cheese. Munster's other claim to fame are these cranes that now live there year round and make their nests on the tops of all the buildings. Every now and then they all start clacking their beaks and the town echos with - clapa-clapa-clapa-clapa-clapa-clapa-clapa.

The second lake

After walking down the trail from the first to the second lake we had a magnificent pick-nick that Eric and Daniel layed out for us. Alice and Lily set up camp in the mossy rocks over-looking the lake. Then it was back up the trail to the first lake and car.

The two lakes

Our second day in Alsace Daniel took us up in the mountains to walk from one frozen lake to another. The air was cold next to the frozen lakes but it was the first of many sunny days and it was a magical walk. Alice and Lily, after lagging on our walk the day before decided that they were a yellow submarine connected together by a stick. Fortunately the yellow submarine did not mind walking. Eric, do you remember the names of the lakes?

Garden helpers in Metzeral

Garden helpers continued

fist walk behind Metzeral

Our first day in Metzeral - where Daniel's grandparent's house is, we went for a very nice walk up the hill behind his house. The girls were building feiry houses as usual. The mossy rocks between which Alice is running is a cow trail. This is the path that the cows follow between their winter stables in the valley and their summer pasture in the hills. These rocks have been piled here over many of years to keep the cows from wandering as they are herded up and down.

A warm welcome in Colmar

Our friend Daniel Haeberlé was at the train to meet us in Colmar and so was the sun. We immediately felt the relief of being out of the big city. Daniel not only lent us his house but was also a superbe host, preparing us delicious food and showing us around and lending us his car. He even had a pair of hiking boots for me!

En route to Colmar

Here we are on our way to Colmar. How marvellous to travel by train!

Alice et Lily à Paris!!

I will have to let Eric fill you in on this day because I was not there.... After one short evening together when I arrived in Paris I had to leave again to spend the day in the theatre preparing my show in Vanves on friday night. Eric and the girls were, once again, left to their own devices. They spent the day with the architectural wonders of France and Eric's friend Denis and Denis' dog (who I think the girls appreciated at least as much as any stone monument).

Garden Houses on the Island

I found this little neighbourhood during my wanders on my last day off. There is an island here between us and the down town and in the middle of the island there are all these little garden houses. People don't live here - I think that they are only allowed on week-ends and holidays but they must sleep over and certainly have meals and friends here and especially work in their gardens. I was there on a Saturday and there was the lovely smell of spring earth in the air with people here and there raking up the winters leaves.

Finally some graffiti that I can understand!

Playmoblie at the market

These two men at the flea market by the river on Saturday seem to have as much patience as Lily and Alice for setting up innumerable playmobile figures.