Tour d'Alsace

Alexa Nickandros
Dec 16, 2018
3 min read

Winslow here wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

I say this now because in a few days I will be out on my next adventure, this time out of the country, for a couple weeks. Also because this past weekend was very Christmassy indeed.

I even got an early Christmas present; check out my new neckwear!

The young one kindly fashioned it for me from a small piece of fabric that was made in a city called Mulhouse. This was our home base for the weekend in Alsace, and the first Marché de Noël of the trip. We were expecting something grand, but instead we were greeted in the center square with a setup very similar to that in Orléans. The market was very centralized right next to the temple, and perusing through the few aisles we saw many of the same booths and boutiques from the weekend before! What does, however, make the Marché de Mulhouse special are the decorations and embellishments all made with the same fabric that I now wear on my neck. Mulhouse just happens to be a famous producer of textiles!

We regret to inform you that besides the Christmas market, this city does not have a whole lot to offer. Oh except the friend we met who let us stay in his home there! If I’m not mistaken, he is another one of what the young one refers to as a “host”.

On Saturday night the young one, the host, and I hopped on a train to Colmar, about 20 minutes north. Now this marché really was exquisite! I had to hang on tight though because of the bustling crowds. I think the photos the young one took that night in Colmar really show just how busy it is! No one can get enough Christmas around here.

This time, six different spots around the city housed a cluster of boutiques, again selling most of the same foods and crafts, only personalized for the city of Colmar. But looking past those deceiving non-authentic odds and ends were light projections dancing on buildings, lights strung through every tree, and giant teddy bears hanging out of windows. And the best part was that it wasn’t even raining! Boy do I hate the rain. The Christmas spirit seemed to run down every street as we made our way from one square to the next. This is just what we were hoping for.

When we went to Strasbourg it was like old times, just me and the young one spending quality time together. I could tell she missed the boyfriend, though; I mean what better time to walk arm and arm with someone than at the most famous Christmas market in the world? We did our best that day to have a good time together and enjoy each others’ company, beginning with a simple walk to La Petite France and the Verdun Gorge. We wanted to just see what the city was like in daylight, not minding the festivities going on around us.

Heading into the center I got some judgmental looks from some tough guys in yellow vests, who were peering into my bag looking for something. I hope they found it eventually.

So, what’s so special about Strasbourg during Christmastime anyway?

Well first off, it sure likes to make itself known as the “Capitale de Noël”. It’s only literally written in lights a few times.

Next, one area was dedicated to Finland where vendors were smoking salmon in little huts and selling reindeer hides.

Third, there is an awful lot of traditional German food available like spaetzle and schupfnudel. I have no idea what either of these are or how to rate how funny they sound.

Strasbourg is also the only place you can see “Strasbourg” written on a giant gingerbread cookie (pain d’épice). Everywhere else you can buy a giant cookie with a different city written on it.

The young one noticed a spot selling at least 7 different kinds of vin chaud.

Lastly, the young one wants me to be slightly more serious. Walking around the Strasbourg markets was like being on a scavenger hunt without a list of things to find. We dared ourselves constantly to find something more Christmassy than what we were just looking at. It was a constant curious search which…well, now that I think about may have just been her anxiety.

Either way, I had a great time admiring the city with the young one. Strasbourg is a magnificent city to begin with!