Wed 25 Apr 2007
Alsace is know for its storks. I never did see a live one.
A metal stork above a store door
Strasbourg was a large Protestant area before King Louis XIV forced it to become Catholic. He, by the way, loved the area calling it a Garden and had many of his subjects move here resulting in some beautiful buildings including a chateau. His illegitimate son remained a Protestant and when he died they didn’t know what to do with his body, not wanting to taint a Catholic church or cemetery so he was buried in a Protestant church in Strasbourg. Here is his tomb. He is stepping down toward his casket which death is holding open. The weeping woman is France begging death not to take him. Strasbourg, by the way, was where Martin Luther posted his teachings on the door of the Strasbourg Cathedral starting the Lutheran Reformation.
Albert Sweitzer, that famous scientist, taught and preached in Strasbourg before coming to America. He was also known for his organ playing and this was the famous organ he once used for recitals.
Lots of those half-timbered buildings. I learned that they were almost like a piece of furniture in that they could very easily be dismantled and moved, then the empty parts were once more filled in with straw and plaster.
A bridge as the sun set. We were sitting at a cafe on the river having dinner.
The food in this region has a German slant as you might expect. I had the Tarte Flambee twice. It was on a very thin crust and was very tasty with a white sauce, cheese and bacon.
A closeup. I’m wondering if I could use an ordinary flour tortilla to recreate this at home.
April 26th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Some years ago we spent two nights in a wonderful bungalow at the Eco Musee in Alsac. A stork had his nest on the roof. The last night we were hit by a thunderstorm and though both girls were terrified during the storm, their main concern was how the stork would survive.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Linda,
I’m always amazed by the contrasts of detail and the “big picture” you use to create the image and mood of a region or City. Your portrait of Strasbourg is exquisite. Even the foot peddles of Schweitzer’s favourite pipe organ are evocative. I can almost hear the music. My husband Paul is wondering about the location of the illuminated bridge. He lived in Strasbourg and somehow missed this beautiful scene. Lovely work.
April 26th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Great pictures!
(By the way, it was on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg where Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on Oct. 31, 1517, setting off the Reformation.)
April 26th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
so good to catch up with you again…love the history lesson and details that always come with your pictures…and I love the bridge photo… just gorgeous!
April 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
oops-you are right–wrong door. I should know that. I used to read a very “radical” magazine called the Wittenberg Door. Anyway, he hung out around Strasbourg and there is a street named after him. Linda
April 26th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
You must have hung around some Lutherans if you were reading “The Wittenberg Door”. It is indeed “off the wall”!
(By the way, it wasn’t Luther who hung around Strasbourg. You are thinking of Calvin, another important reformer, who lived there for at least three years.)