it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Thump… thump… thump… What the hell is that drifted through the fog of my sleep. What time is it? I sat up in my bed looking at my phone. 04:15, and in the darkness, I could see my bride of 39 years doing jumping jacks. “ I am sorry, I could not sleep, so I decided to do a workout” was the response I received to my blank stare. I sure hope the person below us does not mind as I rolled back over. This is how day 2 began, but the day got a whole lot better as it progressed. Our destination was Colmar, France which was a short train ride away.

Basel is a beautiful place, but does not have the charm of my preconceived vision of the city. The river is absolutely gorgeous and the old town very nice, but Colmar in Alsace was calling us to visit. In Basel, you can be in Switzerland or France just by walking across the street. 

The train station is in Switzerland, but gates 30-35 are in France. Although the exchange rate Swiss Francs to the Dollar is very good, the cost of living is crazy in Switzerland. Rich had done his research and said that it is best to buy the train ticket in France. Arriving at the station, Track 31, we were told to buy the ticket on the train. 

After a 45-minute ride to Colmar no one came to sell us a ticket. The price was not only better in France, it was free! We went straight to the ticket window in Colmar and bought our return ticket. Because we were a group of 10, the tickets discounted from 30 euros to 12. We tried so hard to pay and just could not get anybody to take our money. The fines for cheating the system are very steep so go early and buy your tickets.

France, I am sorry, I owe you so money. Promise to buy lots of wine on this trip!

Walking out to light snow flurries, we headed into town. The town looked like it belonged in a fairy tale... The Christmas Markets not only had lots of glühwein booths, but there were wine tasting kiosks. Just amazing wines, and they were more than willing to let you try all the wines you like. I had a Crémant d'Alsace that blew me away. A bottle of that was had as well as Gran Cru Gewürztraminer. I have died and gone to heaven. My family’s ancestry comes from Alsace, and I was lost on why they would emigrate to California in 1870. When in comes to white wines, Alsace is hard to beat. Of course… IMHO.

Colmar had 4 or 5 markets, and we weaved our way through the alleys enjoying all the ones we could find.

Julie had a quick fling with Charlie along the way.

While Ann modeled hats.

We laughed and chatted all the way to the canals of Colmar. There was no doubt Santa would be visiting this special town.

Lunch for a party of 10 was tough, but we found a spot and I had to order the traditional dish of Alsace, Choucroute. The dish consists of multiple pig parts served with sauerkraut and potatoes. A working man’s meal. So… before you turn up your nose and say sauerkraut, yuck – this was different. The cabbage is done in Riesling not vinegar. Oh My! Benedict, you were right – AMAZING!

After a day of exploring and lots of fun, we jumped on the train to head back to Switzerland (tickets in hand). Once again no one checked to see if we did or did not have a ticket. 



Arriving back in Basel we enjoyed the Christmas Markets and a few glühweins before heading back to the hotel.

Before we called it a night and turned off the lights, I walked out on the balcony and snapped this shot. All is good in our world.

Yes indeed, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas

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