Villages in Alsace, France

The village of Barr, the wine capital of Alsace, also runs the longest Alsatian wine fair (for more than 100 years). But this festival is not until autumn, when the harvest is completed.

Driving between villages, vineyards are what you get to see, wherever you look.

Vosges Mountains, France

On our way, while looking for a Winstub for our second evening, we visited the nearby village of Andlau where we had stayed previously (autumn 2022). In the center are three restaurants, but none of them was open! One was permanently closed, the other one had a big banner advertising staff hire, and the third one was undergoing a major renovation.

Well, at least, we walked to our favorite picnic spot in Andlau and enjoyed this peaceful view.

Andlau, Alsace

My travel partner likes to visit churches. I come along, but only to light candles for our loved ones.

Looking up, I happened to see this unusual contrail. With a glass of wine in hand, I wondered about its purpose. 🙂

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Restaurants in Germany

In general, restaurants which have added take-out and/or delivery to their services, have been able to hold on in this latest lock-down. Restaurants, pubs, etc. have been closed since mid-November 2020.

Government support for this industry in need is coming at a slow pace, I’ve heard.

One restaurant (which also is a guesthouse and brewery) in the small town of BreitengĂĽĂźbach in Upper Franconia (north of Bamberg), has to close its doors. The remarkable thing though is that it has been in the same family for 380 years and will be missed by its town’s 4.600 residents.

The interior has already been auctioned off. As of October, the estate will be turned into a day care facility for senior citizens. The restaurant owner, Thomas HĂĽmmer, said he will have to find himself a new job.

You can read more about this here in German: https://www.infranken.de/lk/bamberg/breitenguessbach-brauerei-gasthof-schliesst-nach-380-jahren-wegen-corona-art-5200765?fbclid=IwAR3bJg9AZ7nJI7gJrNrS7A5dDNXeB-kiTsIYp3LDjy9tykiBPdzyKmgeSes

The Day Before the Josselin Medieval Festival

The town was getting ready for the big day – the Josselin Medieval Festival on Saturday, 14 July. Booths were getting set up on Friday and the task was finished by evening, so there was already some buzzing in the air. We took a stroll through town, and ate at the best restaurant in town, ‘Le Prieure de Clisson‘, a Tapas restaurant (they also serve Paella).

Josselin is a quaint little town or better yet, a village, with a population of close to 2500 residents.

This was one of the seven dinners I had. This was at ‘Le GuĂ©thenoc’, and I would call their selection and taste average fare.

Salade du Berger

The Breton version of the crêpe is a galette, a pancake made with buckwheat flour, and usually with a savory filling.

galette

When I saw this worn out mailbox, it reminded me of Germany’s red gumball machines, which, if any left, are in the same condition. I wonder if people still use this mailbox…

Mailbox in Josselin

We left town the next morning, the day of the festival, to head back to Germany.

Sea Food Heaven in Cancale, France

There is an abundance of good sea food restaurants by the shore. Some of them specialize in ‘Moules & Frites’ (mussels and fries), some in sea food platters, and others in oysters.

My husband spent a week in sea food heaven.

This sea food platter was served at the restaurant Au Pied D’Cheval (address: 10 Quai Gambetta)

The restaurant ‘Le Phare’ (6 Quai Administrateur Thomas) served this one. The going price for a sea food platter this size is € 29,00 (one person).

The assistant shucking oysters at ‘Au Pied d’Cheval’.

Restaurant ‘Au Pied d’Cheval’ in Cancale

Shucking oyster equipment and work place at Au Pied d’Cheval.

We also bought oysters directly from the market vendors by the shore. There are only about six booths, so it is a small marché. My husband got a dozen oysters for € 6. You can eat them right there or take them home (which we did). If I remember correctly, the lady vendor even threw in an extra one for my husband. There is a big heap of shells on the sand next to the marché area. They came from the sea, they will go back to the sea.

Oysters in Cancale

Every evening, we had dinner at one of the restaurants by the shore. My husband loves sea food, I don’t. I usually rotated my choice of dinner between steak one evening, and omelet the next evening. The selection of non-sea food dishes is limited, understandably so.

 

Riquewihr Holiday in October

This is what Riquewihr looks like in the early morning at around 6:30. An hour later, a sprinkle of tourists are coming down the road to go to the bakery, with delivery trucks and repair trucks coming through. By 9am, it gets lively with tourists.

We had rented a studio apartment in the yellow house on the left.

Riquewihr 6am

Repair was done on this house (good restaurant inside!) at about 7:30.

Au Tire Bouchon

The town boasts to have 30 restaurants and this could very well be.

Riquewihr

The steep vineyards are a special sight to see.Steep vineyards

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