all wine roads lead to alsace

It's hard to believe that we are on our last day of the river boat cruise on the Rhine. What could top the past days we have had, but the day didn't disappoint. Every day gets hard to get up early, but once we open our eyes and realize where we are, we prepare ourselves for a day of new adventures. Today it was the wine road through the region of France called Alsace (al-zahs). This is a wine vineyard region--white wines--and absolutely beautiful. It is a valley region between the Black Forest and the Les Hautes Vosges Mountains. Vineyards fill every spot not occupioed by half-timber houses of the 16th & 17th Century. It is out of a storybook. Little villages dot every few kilometers--some with old moats still intact. At any moment I think I will see the "six-fingered man" or Fezzik the Giant...INCONTHEEVABLE! (reference: The Princess Bride)

We drove all along "the wine road" to Riquewirh--a medievel town at the base of the mountain range. We stopped at the Hotel Cerf for a wonderful French/German meal. This area has changed nationalities at least 4 times since the turn of the 20th Century (now it is under France). I really love this area of France and want to see more of this country someday. We couldn't leave without buying wine, macaroons and local folkart.

Back on the bus to Colmar--the capital of this small state of Alsace. Ths is a larger city but still has an old town and the charm of France. We wandered the streets for a while before finding a quaint cafe. Up the spiral staircase to the second floor for espresso or "the" (tea). No English, but we managed to get what we wanted. When Euros are envolved, everyone speaks the language.

Tonight the "last supper" was one to remember...not to bore anyone, but we had 6 courses and our main course was a beef tenderloin in hollandaise sauce and white asparagus (only grown in this region this time of year) and ended with baked Alaska. Words cannot describe the pleasure to the tastebuds.

Tomorrow we disembark by 9:45am. It will be hard to get back to the real world, but exercise and healthy eating is on tap for our bodies next week. I thank my dad for this once-in-a-lifetime gift. We can never repay him for it, but know that spending time with him now is the best gift of all!