Heidelberg

Heidelberg is another typical medieval German town in that it has a castle on a hill overlooking a river with a gate on the bridge entering the city.
Well, Heidelberg HAD a castle, and then it got blown up, burnt down and ruined.
It still looks cool though.
Pics from Heidelberg are up in the galleries.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg, France is the home of the EU parliament and a bunch of other boring things.
But it also has a spectacular old town situated on their Grande Ile, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On their Grande Ile is a spectacular Gothic cathedral.

Which had a nice Christmas market at its steps.
And which has one less tower than I figure they were planning on having.
And is decorated with sculptures that a regular schmoe wouldn't expect to see on a church.
Crusifixions, beasts and demons, oh my.
Check it out.

Colmar France is a quaint Alsatian town not far from the Rhine river. 

Its also the home of the dude that created the Statue of Liberty. 

Seriously. 

Images of Colmar have been added to the galleries. 

Let Them Eat Cake

In the small village of Breitnau in the black forest of Germany is the Goethehaus Hofjut Sternen.
This small hotel was Marie-Antoinette's (daughter of Empress Maria-Theresia) last lodging in Austria (the area is now a part of Germany) in 1770 while on her journey to France to marry king Louis 16th.
And we all know how that journey ended.
Good ol' Marie A is infamous for a certain piece of advice.
Which I did follow, mind you.
While in Breitnau I ate cake.
Authentic black forest cake, eaten while in the Black Forest.
Awesome.

Breitnau, the Black Forest and Breisach, Germany pictures are up in the galleries.

Mountains & Snow & A Christmas Market Too

Ten years ago, I visited Switzerland and ended up traveling to Mount Rigi.
That was in the summer.
This year I returned to Mount Rigi.
In December.



Let me tell you, its a different world in the winter.
Galleries from my return to Switzerland have been created, including Mount Rigi, Lucerne and Basel.