Flying North to travel South.

[OZDUCK]

That’s the Aldar building. Believe it or not it’s a government owned real estate development organisation. The Abu Dhabi Sovereign Wealth Fund is a big investor. That whole precinct is full of very futuristic looking buildings.

It does look very striking. I assume the design was chosen as part of the ongoing effort by the various sheikdoms in that region to be one up on each other.

 

[OZDUCK]

It was pretty cloudy for most of the flight and basically all we saw was the tops of clouds until descent began.

The food was pretty good on this leg.



The Salmon was nice.



The ravioli was a bit different than what I expected but very tasty



For someone like me with a sweet tooth the Peach Cobbler was lovely



Our route



Descending into Frankfurt



The European Central Bank building. Our Hotel - a Marriott is just to the right of it in Frankfurt Ostend.



The Frankfurt Skyline with the Taunus Mountains in the background









We were through immigration in about 5 minutes but then there was a failure in the baggage system and it took close enough to an hour for the bags to come out. As we had to take a shuttle bus to change terminals to get to the railway station and do a change from the S Bahn to the U Bahn in Frankfurt it was not until around 22:00 that we got to the hotel so it was straight to bed.

 

[OZDUCK]

Our hotel, the grey/cream building, was extremely convenient to the U Bahn station. The hotel entrance is about 5 metres from access to the station



The next morning we went for a quick walk along the Main River promenade. It was a beautiful crisp morning

We passed by the European Central Bank



The Old Market Hall (Die Großmarkthalle) was built in 1928 and is a "listed building" it was incorporated into the new bank building and "accommodates the public functions of the ECB". In 1941 it was used as a collection point to transport Jewish men. woman and children to the concentration camps.

Großmarkthalle (Frankfurt am Main) – Wikipedia

de.wikipedia.org

The Frankfurt skyline again





We looped back around through the streets to return to the hotel



Part of The Hospital of the Holy Spirit. The hospital presence in Frankfurt dates back to the the 13th Century.



When the old city walls of Frankfurt were demolished the land was turned in parklands. This is Obermainanlage which is a section of the Wallangen (Wall Park).




There were lots of ducklings along the river and lakes

 

[OZDUCK]

We went off to Bad Homburg to visit our friends.

Bod Homburg S Bahn Station - very nicely restored





The building to the right of the main station was for the use of Kaiser Wilhelm 2 for whom the Bad Homburg Palace was one of his favourites.



We took them a Pandan Cake from Singapore. It arrived a little worse for wear but they had never tasted it before and it was well received.



We went for a walk in the nearby parklands that once belonged to the estates of the Landgrave of Hesse Homburg and was much improved by his wife Princess Elizabeth of England - the third daughter of King George the Third.



A bi-annual Sculpture Exhibition is held in the grounds of the nearby Schloss and the associated parks

This work is entitled "Emissary Cats".



A reminder of the English association





A restored Ice House



An unrestored Creamery built in 1822 by Princess Elizabeth.



An Australian export that you seemingly can't avoid anywhere



The next day was a complete change in the weather.



There is a working harbour just upriver of the bank building



I think this is the biggest skateboard park I have ever seen. And as seems the norm in Germany covered in graffiti.

 

[OZDUCK]

And now we head off for the sightseeing part of our trip. In my opinion a Eurail Pass didn't meet our needs but what we did buy was a Carte Advantage Senior. This is offered to people 60+ and costs €49 each. It gives a 30% discount on most train fares in France - some of the local rail operators in the south of France aren't covered. The Trip from Frankfurt to Strasbourg was covered. Plus it gives advantageous cancellation etc terms. It pays itself off after a couple of long trips. The SNCF sight is pretty good, was easy to use to buy tickets and it gives you updates on delays etc. To me it is at least as good as the D Bahn site.

For any of the longer TGV/Intercite trains we booked in First Class as it was usually only a few Euros dearer and gave a lot more room especially for baggage. You have to carry your 'discount card' with you but we were only asked for it once or twice. It can be used to get discounted tickets from the ticket machines of the smaller operators who are part of the scheme.

https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-be/catalogue/description/carte-avantage-senior?esl-k=google-ads%7Cnx%7Cc%7Cm%7Ck%7Cp%7Ct%7Cdc%7Ca21729654443%7Cg21729654443&gad_campaignid=21729655421&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2tsGdGLxJbQmYmTsPt0p-shp5Y7&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2_KRiJqTjgMVFBCDAx2ZBzKqEAAYASAAEgIGb_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&prex=SEA

Being in Germany for less than two days the only chance we had to pick up a currywurst was at Frankfurt HBF. It was the strangest one I have ever had. Ok but not really tasting much like currywurst.



Our TGV. This was very comfortable but as we got further south the quality of trains dropped. The Intercité trains are very dated and not at all special and our last TGV from Bordeaux to CDG felt ancient and was pretty uncomfortable even in First. It was also the dearest ticket on our trip.



The man, well 'a' man, in Seat 61



The upper deck of a TGV in first. The overhead racks are very small. Except for our last train most passengers were very careful about not making loud phone calls or talking loudly on these trains. The local ones were a different matter.



Leaving Frankfurt. There were some track works around Frankfurt and they delayed us by about 10 minutes. The TGV rides very smoothly and quietly.



Some scenery



Mannheim Baroque Palace - thanks to Google Lens








This bridge over the Rhine links the German city of Kehl with Strasbourg. We crossed it by tram when we went to the Strasbourg Christmas Markets in 2023.

 

[OZDUCK]

Strasbourg Gare was built between 1878 - 1883 when the city was 'German'. I am quite impressed by how it has been modernised by the addition of a giant glass 'shell' covering but not hiding or damaging the historic façade. This allows for plenty of covered waiting room.





The station has some nice architectural detail including some attractive windows





Nicely decorated steel work





Our hotel was only a 5 minute walk from the station nearby and you passed evidence of the changing nationality of the city. Examples like this are all over Strasbourg



We stayed at the Lagrange apart'HOTEL Strasbourg Wilson. As I said above, it is only a y 5 minute walk from the station. The rooms are certainly not luxurious but are comfortable and satisfactorily equipped. The price was also pretty reasonable - €517 for 5 nights.







There is a pool on site. I had one swim but it was pretty chilly as it is partly open to the outside.



Not only did we get a car park view but a train view as well

 

[OZDUCK]

The first afternoon we just had a general wander before having an early night







My wife liked the shadows on this bridge





As on my first visit to Strasbourg we never got inside the cathedral. It was coming up to Ascension Day and whenever we went past a service was taking place and entry was closed off.












The same spot at Christmas time in 2023






We shared a small meal at a little restaurant down a small access way. Original Flammkuchen

 

[OZDUCK]

The next day we went to Colmar which is a very attractive city.

Colmar - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

We got our 30% discount on the train fare. This was probably the emptiest train we travelled on in France. The trip took about 30 minutes.



There were some lovely views from the, dirty, train windows on the way there and back.



Plenty of castles were visible on the hilltops



Including Haut-Koenigsbourg which we visited in 2011





Gare Colmar. Built by the Germans in 1903 - 06. It is apparently a 'twin' to the main railway station in Gdansk. We will be able to see if this is true for ourselves in late August.







On our walk into town we passed a fixer-upper for sale

 

[OZDUCK]

It is only about a 16 minute walk from the station to the old town. On the way there we walked through the Parc du Champ-de-Mars

This fountain was designed by the same man who designed the Statue of Liberty - Auguste Bartholdi







An interesting old weather station



And as in any French town worth its salt a carousel. This one from 1900

There were a couple of 'fantasy statues' nearby

 

[OZDUCK]

The old town area. It is very easy to walk around and is also very lovely. The crowds didn't seem to build up until around 12:00













"In Colmar's fisherman's area, the color of houses historically signified the family's occupation, with blue traditionally representing fishermen. Other colors included yellow for bakers, green for farmers, and white or tan for tanner"







The Covered Market - closed on Monday.



A bit of Germanic hangover on the Koïfhus (Old Custom House)



The Koïfhus - with the patterned tiled roof



Courthouse built in 1771

 

[OZDUCK]

More of the Old Town

An interesting window shutter holder





A street just for me!





The main bridge over the Lauch was tourist central



But admittedly the views around here were very good

The motors are electric and extremely quite







Blighted in parts by the hideous 'love locks'

 

[OZDUCK]

Being tourists we did the tourist thing and went for a punt ride. Our guides English was limited but a French woman in the punt with us did offer some explanations in good English. But as I have said on other occasions, we are in France so if I am too concerned I should learn French.

The guide. Until I was selecting the photos I hadn't realised that 'selfie mode' reversed the picture.









There is not much room under the bridges and ducking is necessary. My wife was hit, lightly, by a hanging light









At the end of the navigable part it becomes a bit wild





The water is obviously pretty clean

 

[ellen10]

I love both Strasbourg and Colmar. Enjoying the photos.
Now I think I need to go back!

 

[OZDUCK]

We had lunch in a small restaurant on a side street. We actually felt a bit guilty as it seemed to be a 'one woman show' and we interrupted her giving lunch to her 3 or 4 year old daughter.







We never been in this part of Europe in the white asparagus season so I chose it. An excellent lunch



My wife a traditional Alsation dish in the form of the Le Baeckeoffe. Very heart and tasty



Some more around town

Commemorating that Auguste Bartholdi the designer of the Statue of Liberty, and the fountain I showed earlier, was born and lived at various times in Colmar









And a bit more Bartholdi

 

[OZDUCK]

I love both Strasbourg and Colmar. Enjoying the photos.
Now I think I need to go back!

Both are truly very lovely cities. We have now seen Strasbourg in the depths of winter and early summer.

 

[OZDUCK]

Finishing off Colmar

My wife seems to have an affinity to these sort of characters. Perhaps a reaction to our forthcoming 50th wedding anniversary in a few months and being married to a duck?



Erfurt 2023



French Tacos - really?















This little electric bus did a 25 minute or so circuit of the Old Town including a loop to the Gare. You could hail it anywhere and it was free. We had a short ride in it.



We shared our punt ride with the little group with the dog

 

[Flyfrequently]

Getting in early to wish you both happy 50th anniversary - something to be celebrated @OZDUCK