04.23.08

A Weekend in Strasbourg

Posted in Travel at 11:31 am by rachel

Since last June, there is a high-speed train route from Paris to Strasbourg. The journey that used to take almost five hours is now reduced to only a little above two. It just so happens that my host sister, Elodie, lives in Strasbourg with her boyfriend, Maxime. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen Elodie since something like 2003, so a trip to Strasbourg was long overdue! I went the first weekend in April and had a wonderful time in the two days I was there. Elodie is perfectly bilingual in French and English and works as an administrator for university study abroad programs in Strasbourg. What better guide could I find?

Elodie and me, reunited!

We began our Saturday tour by going straight to Strasbourg’s famous cathedral. It only has one steeple.

Statues greeted us at the entrance.

This lone gargoyle was mounted to a corner at the entrance.

Strasbourg is the largest city in Alsace, a French départment with a turbulent history. The provinces of Alsace and Lorraine have gone back and fourth between France and Germany in only the last century and a half, and this border location is reflected in the mix of cultures and architecture that characterize the city of Strasbourg. The Germanic façades are probably the most obvious – and beautiful – cue that we are in Alsace.

These buildings are in the area called Petite France. Legend has it that this neighborhood was called “Little France” because of the abundance of French prostitutes that used to call it home. Most of these buildings date to the 16th century.

This part is a bit down the river from the traditionally richer part of the city. Elodie explained to me that this is where the poorer women used to do their laundry, in the dirtier water downstream from where the clothes of the rich were washed.

The three of us went out for a wonderful dinner at one of Elodie and Maxime’s favorite restaurants. The food was divine: I had a deliciously rich chestnut cream soup followed by a duck in a sweet marinade accompanied by roasted root vegetables and gratin dauphinois. It was classic with a twist.

Elodie was more adventurous by trying the “Alsacian sushi” as her first course. I don’t remember all that was in it, but I do remember that the usual rice was replaced with sauerkraut!

After a busy day and one of the best meals I’d had in a while, I was happy but very stuffed!

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