7 days, 3 countries...TIRED but happy

When the alarm went off at 7:00 this morning, it was so hard to get up. Not that this cruise has been grueling or stressful--I've been plenty busier and stressed at home--but for some reason leisure can be tiring.

We docked at 5 a.m. in Strasbourg, France. Neither Chris, Dad, Judy or I have ever been to France so we were looking forward to a new country. It didn't disappoint. This time, instead of a walking tour, we went around the city's canals on a glass covered boat with an excellent tour guide. Strasbourg has been under German and French rule many times in its history and has been a key trade route on the Rhine and Ill rivers going back once again more than 2000 years. What was really impressive is that city is really, truly old. Much of the old town buildings are more than 500 years old and older. That is so hard to fathom when you come from America.

The city was bustling with tourists but it didn't loose any charm or beauty. The focal point of the city is the Strasbourg Cathedral. You would think we would get tired of seeing all these cathedrals, but this one is unbelievable--constructed of red sandstone and very ornate. Pictures will never do justice, but all the same, we took many! We wandered around the town, enjoyed an eclair and listened to beautiful spoken French language. I sure wish I had learned a language when I was young--it opens up the world.

We went back to the boat for lunch then the afternoon was open to do whatever we wanted to do, so Chris & I walked the 2 miles back to old town Strasbourg. We had a map and wound around streets, through the University, to our destination. As long as we stayed on our walking side of the path and out of the many bicycles way, we were fine. We found the art museum in the beautiful Palais de Rohan. Then we walked back along the river path as the sun finally peaked out from the clouds (first time this trip).

Back on the boat we enjoyed another wonderful meal of veal. The wine has also been enjoyable--it is part of the meal and are local wines. What will I do next week when I look in my fridge at home and don't see anything edible. I'm savoring every moment. Tomorrow we take the wine road tour of northern France--it is supposed to be beautiful. Until then...