Strasbourg, France

Where does the time go? It seems like life has quickly become routine here in Germany. Henry is in school everyday, John is working, and I am staying busy with various activities as well as providing a taxi for Henry. It is amazing how within a few short months we have managed to fill our calendars with activities and commitments that we never thought we would have in a foreign country. Our church has given us an opportunity to meet many amazing people. Most are military families and are used to moving and meeting new people and getting involved in new situations. I have joined the MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group at our church and the Heidelberg Spouses Club. We meet a couple of times a month for lunch or we take small day trips to various places. Next month we are having a "diamonds and denim" dinner with our accompaniment of our spouses. John and I are both looking forward to it.

This past Saturday we enjoyed a day trip to Strasbourg, France. Strasbourg had been described to us as the "best of Germany and the best of France" in one town. It is located just across the French boarder, about 16 miles west of the Black Forest, which is only about and hour and a half from our home. Fortunately, the weather has been mild here, so outdoor activities are not out of the question, you just need a jacket and a great pair of walking shoes.

Strasbourg is best known for its several midevil churches, but the most famous is the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg which houses a famous astronomical clock. The highest sphere of the church is 142 meters high, which is 466 feet. It was hard to get a picture of the church because of its height, but I did manage to get a couple of shots. There are stairs that go to the top of the steeple that consist of 329 steps. We did not tackle the stairs yesterday, being 8 months pregnant and having a three year old is not a great combination for extensive stair climbing. We plan to return this spring when my parents are here, so we may try it then. Surrounding the church are many quaint shops and restaurants. There are several chocolatiers and bakeries as well as many clothing boutiques and shoe stores.

Strasbourg is located on a river that flows into the Rhine River which hosts many boat tours and cruises. We did not take a boat tour yesterday, but it is definitely on our list next time. Strasbourg is also home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicine and many other European institutions. John actually got to visit the European Parliament a couple of months ago which he said was amazing.

Below are a couple of pictures of the church, the clock and the city. As I mentioned earlier, we left the house without a plan, so our next visit will be more thought out and organized.