Rhine Getaway Day 7 - The Black Forest, Germany and Colmar, France

Hiking in the Black Forest of Germany

I am up really early for our flight out. I will have to make this very short as we need to get our luggage out our door at 3:30am and leave for the airport at 4:30am to catch a flight from Basel to Amsterdam and Amsterdam for Home Sweet Home!

Yesterday was another wonderful day. I had an excellent night of sleep and went to the ship's library for great time with God before anyone was up. I have really loved this little travel devotional, God is With You Wherever You Go. Yesterday's was about taking in each moment instead of trying to capture it on your cell phone camera. There was a little exercise to take five minutes out of your busy day of activity that always accompanies vacations and just breathe it all in - experience the sunset sort of thing. Then to just listen. Isn't that a great exercise for every day and not just on a vacation?

Anywho, had breakfast in the dining room (most days we grabbed lighter food from the Aqua Vit Terrace buffet and brought it back to our room to eat on our veranda) with the cutest couple in their 80s, Dominique and his wife (her middle name is Ann, but I cannot remember her first name). Dom was in the Navy and in the waters near Cuba encountering Russian ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Say what? LOVED his stories.

We boarded buses at 8:30am that took us on a scenic route up to the snow-covered highest point (4,898 feet) of the Black Forest of Germany.

Charming Village at the Top of the Black Forest

 It was so beautiful. Our end point brought us to chalets where some could go to the assembling of a cuckoo clock, but we went on a hike up the Ravenna Gorge. 

Then, we went to a demonstration of how to make a Black Forest Cake that was excellent! 

After busing back and lunching with more wonderful people, Frank and Janine from Massachusetts, we went to the charming Alsatian town of Colmar, France. We had Laura, the same guide from our Black Forest tour. She is a 30 year old English woman who moved to France when she was five years old because her parents wanted to have a different life for her twin sister, Rebecca, and her brother. We called her "Laura the Explorer" (because Dominique misheard her and thought she was Dora the Explorer). 

Laura the Explorer - Our Guide

She gave us a detailed, one hour walking tour. Colmar is home of the creator of the Statue of Liberty. So this replica is the first thing we saw as we entered the city. 



Laura told us about  a fun tradition that dates back centuries called "The Blessing of the Chalk." During Epiphany (January 6), Catholics mark their homes with chalk signifying that their homes are homes where Christ lives. Usually, families gather around the front door of the home, saying a prayer before a family member makes a mark on the doorpost. Then they pass it on to the next family member to make the next mark. The "CMB" refers to the names of the three Wise Men traditionally referred to as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. It can also stand for the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates to "May Christ bless this home." The numbers preceding and following symbolize the year with crosses in between. This is what having a guide to a city does for you! We would have never noticed this if not for "Laura the Explorer"! 

The Blessing of the Chalk

Tiniest House in Colmar - No Ground Floor = No taxes! 

The Unterlinden Museum was CLOSED! BUMMER!

My only critique of this tour is that she did not take us to the quintessential part of Colmar: "Petit Venise"! I have no idea why. When you think of Colmar, you think of those iconic buildings lining the canal. As it was, we walked down there by ourselves because we knew it was there but wish we could have done it for the tour as we did not have much time to walk along there because we were on a mission to taste a flaming Apple and Calvados Tarte Flambee!

Here is the video link on Instagram in case the embed one does not show up: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5DT3hYnyEs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Tarte Flambee with apples and calvados!

A post shared by Carol Weaver (@carolfoasia) on Nov 19, 2019 at 12:17pm PST

YUM!

I think I like the savory Tarte Flambee better than the sweet, but this was something I had to try because of the flaming presentation!

We also tried two of the famous Alsatian wines, Gewurztraminer (ladies wine) and Muscat. I liked the "Ladies Wine" better! 

After this, we went to the Dominican Church to see the famous Virgin in the Rosebush. Alas, it was closed. :(

Then, we found some Cremant D'Alsace (and I had to say that about three times until the French-speaking person behind the counter knew what I was saying - must work on my French pronunciation) and Sylvaner. 

We left Charming Colmar as the Christmas lights came on. By Friday, these streets will be CROWDED with people in the Christmas Market.

We came back to pack and celebrate our final dinner with great new friends. We all went around the table to share what we found to be the most life-giving thing about the trip. 

Brandy and Lydia from Atlanta. Mary Ida and Christ had already gone to bed! 

We had a great time and will forever remember our trip down the Rhine!