Wow. Colmar, France! Certainly French, a little bit Germanic, decidedly Alsatian. Voltaire spent some time here (apparently, he was a philosophe-nomad). His quote: "A city half-German, a city half-French, and wholly Iroquoian." That last bit was his politically incorrect way of saying "bizarre." I'm grateful the world wars left the town and its half-timbered and medieval architectural stock mainly intact. Time to go ice skating, sample some choucroute, sauerkraut and vin chaud blanc! Perhaps the last of our holiday market photos for the year. Hoping your last year was a fine one, and the next even better. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1OmG98l
The Alsace region of France held all sorts of surprises, including a run-in with a family of river rats during a morning run along the rivers and canals outside of Colmar, France. This guy is a coypu or nutria (in French, ragondin). That orange thing is not a tongue, but rather large incisors (teeth). Audrey and I spent a good 30 minutes with them and their neighbors the swans and the ducks, and a few passing locals who came to talk with us while we were admiring the local wildlife. A message for 2016: follow the water, enjoy the peaceful and pastoral and take large doses of gratitude from seemingly small things. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1ODkGns
Cathedral and wee Tabac sign. The colorful St. Martin's Church -- Colmar, France. A tricky frame, the current structure dates back about 650 years, while archaeological digs have exposed remains over 1000 years old. History in Alsace runs deep. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1MSxPb2
