More on France: Verdun and Strasburg

It’s late Friday night and I’m tired and frustrated.  Maybe some of you are, too.  Well, we both know what the answer is, right?  Go to bed … LOL!  I will soon. J

I’m sitting here with a cup of hot coco, wondering what I want to write about.  I had picked up the guitar just a bit ago and played a few songs.  But, I don’t have the energy to turn the whole system on and really get into it.  Guess that’s another sign that I should “go to bed!”

But, being a night owl, that’s not an option; at least not for another hour.

I was thinking about what else to tell you, in a few paragraphs, about France before I jump into talking about Paris.  I was really stunned by the Verdun area: how blasted it was during WWI.  How you still can’t walk in some of the woods (they are woods again now after being just blasted dirt back then) because of the unexploded ordinance and shells in the ground.  The museum is solemn, but very complete, explaining much of the history leading up to events in the area.  The whole thing is just amazing to me.  I don’t want to go into any details because you need to be specific on things.  You just can’t say “The Germans did this” and “the French did that” because not all Germans were involved, as well as not all French likewise.  However, there is a pattern of villainizing the other on both sides that made such a conflict easier to support.  It’s a sad, repeating portrait in history to “create an enemy” so that you can do battle with them and hope to defeat them.

[A side comment on that … I just saw the movie “Lincoln” and it actually brought up that point.  His son was so disgusted and upset with the atrocities being perpetrated on “our boys” (paraphrased) that he insisted on joining up to fight the South: another example of this pattern.]

So, that was the sad part of that area.  The interesting part is that over the centuries that section of land has changed hands between France and Germany many times, resulting in a merging of cultures.  I think back to the Inn Keeper at the Comfort Inn in Strasburg.  He was a delightfully cheerful fellow who could speak three languages very well: French, German, and English.  And, for what languages he didn’t know, there was someone else on staff that might.  He and Liane would have a lively talk in French to each other.  Then a German couple came in and he had a lively chat with them. After which I, needing change for a 10 spot for the machines, had a pleasant chat in English with him.  I’d stop by there again anytime (besides the fact it was just off the Tram line, making it an easy point to go into town from).

Now that’s another interesting point about the trip:  transportation was excellent.  Trains, buses, trams, metro lines, even taxis … all so accessible and well done.  And almost everything was on time, with displays showing what’s coming and in how long.  It was really nice.

I suppose you world travelers are chuckling at my silliness.  Yes, I’ve had a semi-sheltered life: my only trip outside the States was a tour of duty in Southeast Asia.  But, I guess my point being, again, that I met many wonderful people who made the trip so magical.

Enough for tonight.  I wish you all sweet dreams … and have fun, wherever you are.

France – Alsace/Lorraine

Last September (2012), my wife and I joined two other couples to take a week tour of the Alsace/Lorraine area of France, finishing up with 5 days in Paris.  I’ll talk about Paris later.  For now, I want to mention the trip and our companions.

The trip was organized by our good friend, Liane, who basically does this for a living.  But, our journey was one to catch places she and her husband, Jim, had not really spent much time in before.  This was fine with me … anyplace in France was new for me.  Plus, since she speaks fluent French (as opposed to my 10 word vocabulary), it was a no-stress journey through Wonderland (voyage à travers le pays des merveilles?). {Isn’t Google wonderful … LOL}  Our other travel companions are a fun couple and friends: Jim and Janet.

Now, it wasn’t without it’s mishaps.  Right away, our rental van was not there.  It took a few hours to get one that would work for six with baggage.  But, it all worked out well in the end.  We loaded up the van and were on our way.  The GPS was unpacked and plugged in (for insurance on getting where we were headed) and christened “Gracie.”  {I should note that Gracie gave us quite the chuckle now and then with her pronunciation of some of the French names.)

Later, at lunch at an open air café, I had the distinct pleasure of “wearing” a demi of beer.  I saw it happening in slow motion as the waiter leaned forward to set down one beer and the tray started to tilt. Now, I must say, if you are going to spill beer on someone, I’m your guy.  The poor waiter (in training) was terrified.  But, I just laughed, and wondered if I should suck it out of my shirt.  Liane had a lengthy conversation with the head waiter, who said he would offer me one of his suits, but I was obviously not his size.  LOL.  It’s all good.  I am NOT his size. I am probably twice his size. They paid for the dry cleaning and I got a great story out of it. And, I’m sure the waiter in training got quite the scolding.  I do feel badly about that, though.

I’m not going into details on every day.  We were in Reims for two days (the site of my beer bath), across the border to Luxembourg for one day, back down to Strasburg for two days, then two days in Colmar before heading back to Paris for five days.  And between each stop were lovely, peaceful small towns, castles, battlefields, and cemeteries, as well as one detainment camp: Natzweiler.

And grape vines! As far as the eye could see, covering hillside after hillside. We even got the chance to see a load of grapes “de-stemmed.”  It is fascinating how the machine can take the grapes off the stems without damaging the fruit itself.

But, the true delight of the trip was in meeting many, many wonderful people, including the many friends of Liane’s (because of her business and travels).  They gave us personal tours, shared lunches and dinners with us, and just added so much fun and laughter to an already marvelous trip.

So, I must say that if you travel to places new to you, do it with someone who knows the area and the language.  You will have so much more fun than just taking a standard tour.

As always, have fun … anywhere, in any life.