Europe Day 12: Strasbourg and Rothenburg

Monday, July 2, 2018

• Woke up in Strasbourg with a mission to go to the cathedral and eat crepes
• Had hotel breakfast - Hugo ate 2 croissants!
• Walked to cathedral and explored the inside, then ascended to the top
• Mark climbed to the top of the same cathedral when he was about 11, and wanted to do it again
• Cathedral is high gothic. Ridiculously ornate.
• After returning to earth, we ate crepes: a sweet one (salted caramel and nuts with whipped cream and ice cream) and a savory one (ham, onion, white cheese and Ementaler cheese)
• Violinist was playing the whole time, and he could also be heard at our dinner last night. We tipped him. He just kept playing, rarely stopping
• Started driving to Rothenburg, but we got caught in an epic traffic jam. 
• First part was by a brush fire, but we were still moving
• Later, we came to a complete stop and were stuck for an hour. Many got out of their vehicles including us.
• Opened a lane in the middle so that emergency vehicles could pass. 9 vehicles of various types went through, including an oil spill cleanup crew
• Eventually got moving again. All we saw of the incident was a semi trailer that looked a bit charred.
• Made it to Rothenburg much later than anticipated. We had dinner with the Olivers and Nadeaus. Mark had Flammkuche, Liz had some disappointing potato pillows that were basically hash browns with some cream and chives in the middle
• Liz did, however, enjoy her Schneeball, which is basically a ball of pie crust with cinnamon sugar sprinkled on it. Everyone said not to bother but Liz was glad she did!
• Rothenburg is a totally walled city and the wall is still intact.
• Went on a night watch tour that evening with a fun character dressed up as an old night watchman. There was a huge group and it was difficult to hear him. Hugo stared making noise so Liz took him back to the hotel and Mark finished the tour. 
• Our hotel room was problematic and Hugo didn't help much - we had to put him to sleep in his portable tent/bed, and he wouldn't go to sleep until 9:45
• Lots of noise from cars passing by on the street
• A single fly entered the room and buzzed in our ears all night. Mark even dreamed about it.

Check out the detail on the outside of the cathedral.

This is one of MANY stained glass windows.

Starting our ascent to the top 

There were lots of swirling staircases

View from the top

Heading back down. The handrails were very important because Hugo was blocking my view of the stairs.

I told you there was a lot of stained glass.

Detail, detail, detail!

Crepes with a view

Brush fire just before the traffic jam

Stau!

Mark chatted it up with the Brits in front of us

Hugo remained in good spirits

This is the view on a lot of postcards in Rothenburg

Schneeball. This could be a fun challenge on the Great British Baking Show.

Night watchman. Fun tour but too popular and thus overcrowded.

View from Rothenburg's wall