Fortunately we had read that Strasbourg has a good park and ride system. Pay 3.10 euros and you can park your car and everybody in the car gets to ride on the local trams and buses for the day. Theft from cars is apparently an issue in the down town area.
Covered walkway to the tram station.
Throughout Europe, you need to validate your ticket before you get on the vehicle. It simply prints today's date on the ticket.
Spiffy new trams. The windows are gigantic and there is plenty of room inside. They are very impressive and move quite quickly.
While there were plenty of Alsatian style half timbered buildings around, Strasbourg was more like your usual large French city in its architecture.
Outdoor cafes everywhere.
Marianne asked me to take this photo for Robin. Apparently the two of them have visited quite a few of this chain's shops. One of our very good friends in Brisbane has been elevated to the position of judge in North Queensland. He sent us a transcript of the proceedings for his swearing-in ceremony and we were highly amused by the following:
They say the mother of three sons goes straight to heaven and when musing about what happens to the father of three daughters, your sister Mary opined "He goes straight to the ATM".
Even the Big Mac can be eaten at the outdoor seating section.
It really is a pleasure strolling around these old French towns and cities. There are big squares, boulevards, little streets, alleyways and arcades. The variety is so interesting.
Click on the photo to take a look at the stockings on the woman at the left.
We were good and refrained.
An upscale wine shop with prices far removed from what you would pay at the vineyard.
The square in front of the cathedral.
The local bird is the stork and the souvenir shops had them in abundance.
Including a hat. No Robin, we did not get you one to go with your penguin hat.
We thought instead of getting you this white outfit from the all-white store. Naturally we did not think long and continued on.
By now it was 11am and the outdoor cafes were getting prepared for the onslaught of tourists for lunch.
If you take a look at this link, you will see a map of Strasbourg. The old part of the city is surrounded by water and we finished off our day in Strasbourg by walking around about half of the circumference.
As we were walking along we noticed that a young woman had started to water the plants on the balcony next to the stairs and was pouring water on these people walking below.
Fortunately we did not get wet.
A very distinctive bridge support.
A fierce-some looking grate.
In the south west corner of the city is the area called Petite France where the river goes over some weirs and there is a lock that bypasses the weir.
Canals on the upper side of the weirs.
This restaurant by the canal had probably the best position of the many, many restaurants in the vicinity. This is a very touristy part of town.
The menu at that restaurant.
The lock.
You could walk out onto the lock and watch it operate.
There are a few boats set up to carry tourists around the loop and they keep the lock in constant operation.
The lock is mechanized so there is no winding of paddles and pushing on gates as you have to do on the English locks. The bird sat on the gate for the entire operation.
This bird did not move either.
The lock gates have been replaced recently.
The top gate opening to allow the boat to proceed.
This was eye catching. I also saw a motor bike with two front wheels and one back wheel but couldn't get a photo in time. It was odd to watch it go around a corner.
Some of the buildings have quite elaborate facades.
A plant that is not lavender.
We wondered how long it had been sitting there so forlorn. It is very rare to see a bike that is not fastened securely with a big strong chain.
Another tram of a slightly different style.
We could not work out the purpose of these steps and the raised platform.
Our tram approaching to take us back to the car park. When we got home we had a nice cold beer.
The steps towards the water and the platform is when you have a river boat moored, you can step from the platform on the boat. We have those stairs in my home town of Kortrijk too, that is how I know about the boats. They are big flat ships, often used to transport bulk goods. Used to be coal or grain or whatever is shipped off to somewhere on a boat. Nowadays, most of the boat traffic has been replaced either by car or train. There are not that much river boats left. they are completely different then the canal boats you see in England. They are wider and bigger and have huge storage on board. When filled they just stay above river surface level...
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