Kelly: I love France. There is a palpable difference in the vibe between Germany and France, even though we were no more than 50 miles from the German border. France feels friendlier and more approachable...evidenced from facial expressions to architecture. I loved the "common" stores such as the Cora, which is the French equivalent of a Super Walmart, complete with wine bar and patisserie at the entrance. See, how could you not love France??? And, Monoprix, the smart and chic department store selling everything from fabric softener to bamboo bowls.
We spent the night at Hotel Gutenberg in Strasbourg, France. It was a charming old hotel in the center of town...translation...amazing location with no parking and tiny accomodations for our budget-conscious rate. We had a nice time strolling around the city with intermittent stops back at the teeny, tiny but warm room so that I could regain feeling in my limbs. We ate dinner at a local place...I had salmon...Matt had beef stew (after they sold out of his first choice roasted chicken). Both meals were good. We went to bed early, only to awaken to the sounds of shouting drunk men, reminding us that we were a stone's throw from the vibrant university scene. We woke this morning and Matt decided that my idea of spending 3.5 hours at the spa wasn't such a good idea after he learned that he'd have to be naked for the whole time amongst other naked folks...not to say that I am comfortable with the idea either, but I think it is a once in a lifetime experience. So, I'll be going back...alone. Instead of sitting in a sauna, we sat in the Corolla on the freeways and backroad in France exploring Nancy (an industrial, shabby city) and Metz (a gem with parks and trees). Unfortunately, as in Germany, everything was closed on Sunday, so we will return to explore the shops and cafes.
We went for a walk when we returned, enjoying the sliver of sunlight that poked through the clouds just before the sun set at an astonishingly late 5:05 PM...it is headed in the right direction!
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