Sunday, September 9, 2012

DAY 19: MON 10 SEP - STRASBOURG, FRANCE TO OTIGHEIM, (via Rastatt) GERMANY

Ride: 77km; total: 790km
Fine and sunny 16 - 31deg, but not humid so it was pleasant

Spent a good hour wandering around Strasbourg prior to and after dinner last night, then an hour or so this morning on the way out.  The place didn't do much for me in 2005, but the more I looked around this time the more I like it.  The cathedral was seriously big but not that nice inside; as it was gloomy.    The nicest area called, Little France, is like a little Venice with lots of water, cafes, restaurants and bridges.  All tarted up with flowers everywhere.

Once out of the city we rode on a nice smooth, sealed path on top of a large bank which turned out to be part of the old Maginot Line.  It, and the French, failed to hold the Germans back in WW1.  The pillar boxes are all still there guarding an empty forest.   

The rest of the day we meandered through lovely French villages with lots of old houses and beautiful flower gardens.  We were of course on the Floral Route so a lot of the bridges, parks and street gardens are also blooming nice.  Crossed into Germany to get our pre-booked motel.  That was the last of France for this trip, but there is no doubt that I will be back as I love it.  

Timing is everything, as we were booking into the motel it started raining.  Also later, just as we made it back to the motel after having a stroll around town a huge thunderstorm came through with lots of rain. 

Schloss Rastatt (Rastatt Castle)




 

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