Alsace and home

From Innsbruck it was a short drive to Zurich, a city rich in architecture and just about everything else, we seemed to pay double from the norm on this trip so we had a good look around, stayed the night and left early for Alsace, we would definitely return. The Alsace Wine Route north of Colmar passes through many lovely 'chocolate box' villages, painted many different colours and with a heavy concentration of wood framing. We particularly liked the medieval Riquewihr, the gem of the vineyards, a unique town within the old city walls which has retained it's character, although it must become very busy in tourist season, other favourites were Kayserberg and Mittelbergheim, where the architecture is renaissance and the colours more traditional .

A little further up the road, sitting high in the hills is Chateau du Haut-Kronigsburg a most impressive structure started in the 12th century, the massive pink sandstone terraces cover 1.5 hectares. It was looted and burned and lay empty for 250 years then was completely renovated in 1900 using many 'modern' inventions of the time: a crane, a steam engine and electricity. It is difficult to convey the scale of this castle but it is a 'must see' in this area.

Finally on to the last place on our scheduled itinerary for this trip and a city we have wanted to visit for quite a while, STRASBOURG. The cathedral is very different to any other we have seen and was a good place to start, after which we took the one hour river cruise. The mixture of architecture is fascinating, from the historic Petite France in the southwest through old Strasbourg:

to the European Parliament in the northeast:

Shown here is the European Court of Human Rights which appears to me to be the place where criminals who have been convicted in a proper court in their own country, get a second chance to get away, and often do. It was a fun night to be in Strasbourg, the 'City of Christmas' in France, for the lighting up ceremony and our last night away for this trip. Yesterday was the final sprint back to England via the Eurotunnel and we are safely at home having covered 10,652 kilometres since October 8th. As we review all the photographs and realise how many different places we have been and how much history, art and culture we have absorbed it is impossible to select a favourite place or moment, there were so many. However, if you want one of most fascinating rides you will ever take, try one of these in Palermo, until next time.....