Strasbourg Day 2

It was a rainy morning to start with so we waited until it cleared until we left for the day.

We headed through the city to the European Parliament on the tram. It was a surprisingly quiet residential neighborhood right next to the huge building.

We were at the entry for visitors- but no one was going in.

We continued walking up the river and came across the Council for Europe building - a human rights organization with 46 country members - Russia has just been expelled.

There was an announcement going on with a large group gathered outside.

We continued walking to the huge Orangerie Park which had been designed by the Versaille garden designer.

Napoleon had commissioned the park for his wife Josephine - but she never saw it. The pavilion in her honor is very grand. The storks are prolific here in summer and had a nest on every chimney.

The winter colours were very nice. The newly planted flower arrangements included cabbages and lettuce - I was starting to make me feel peckish.

We came across a pond with fountain and strange ducks - Egyptian geese according to Glenn. The autumn colours and reflections were very beautiful.

We then went looking for some lunch. All the snack bars and icecream shops were closed. We found a boulangerie - the only food shop open nearby.

This was my lunch - served up on a little tray - very cute. The veg flan maybe had some cabbage from earlier.

It was a perfect French lunch!

After scoffing that we headed off to the city. We walked to work off the lunch. We arrived beside the River and walked through an old area before being met by the little train.

Our first destination in the city was the cathedral. It was as amazing inside as it was outside. It included very intricate stained glass windows and an 18th century nativity scene.

There was an ancient astrological clock in the corner - a very weird sight with a moving skeleton and cockerel.

This was the new version replacing a lot of parts. We saw the original later in the museum.

We saw another amazing alter piece and a new design of stained glass window.

After those amazing things we then moved across the square to the Rohan Palace Decorative Arts museum. The palace was commissioned by a bishop Rohan. 3 other family members followed in his role and lived in this large palace.

It was taken by the revolution and is now owned by the government. It’s occasionally used for state occasions.

These are some of the rooms and the luxurious decoration.

A lot of pottery was required - and some weird and wonderful pieces collected.

We then found the original parts of the astrological clock made in the 1300s. The cockerel is the oldest automaton in the world.

This family must have been hoarders as nothing seems to have ever been thrown out.

These were Napoleon’s rooms with an interesting ceramic stove for heating.

Glenn then managed to shrink me on the Strasbourg park bench.

Glenn showed me the exit.

After all that wandering about we deserved a rest so we found an interesting pub with around 15 craft beers on tap. We had local Alsace IPAs - mine a wheat beer - and pretzels of course!

We then caught the tram back to the van and had a warm home cooked dinner and early bed.