|
Post by tod2 on Oct 23, 2017 13:52:51 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2017 15:46:48 GMT
So much fun, Tod -- can't wait to see more of your adventures.
The town is a really surprising mixture of modernity, street art, and quaintly antique, isn't it. Any idea what the dark pink building is?
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 23, 2017 16:50:24 GMT
Sorry I did not specify - I know it was featured in Kerouac's report as the Old Town Hall - now a museum. Alas, we did not venture inside. So many regrets when one looks back on their photos... Oops! I see the building is not named in Kerouac's report. It is indeed the old City Hall.
Please tell me about Los Buenos Dias cafe`? Is that Spanish? I saw the word 'comida'.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 24, 2017 3:24:23 GMT
I love seeing totally different pictures of the same places, and also things that I didn't see. And I think you had better weather than I did. Mulhouse will definitely be worth a return visit one of these days if only to see the Schlumpf collection, which I'm sure you are going to show us, and then I'll want to go even more.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 24, 2017 8:07:47 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 24, 2017 8:50:09 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Oct 24, 2017 16:19:49 GMT
Superb Tod! The carvings in the arches surrounding the doors of the Cathedral are incredible to see.
Another beautiful region to keep in mind to hopefully discover one day.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 24, 2017 16:36:36 GMT
So different, Tod! If I had to guess where the pictures were taken, I wouldn't think France -- certainly the town names are no clue. After you said you weren't tempted by Kruth, of course I wanted to see it. How wonderful that you all decided to take the tram to the end of the line to see what you could see. Thann certainly delivered as a picturesque stop and the cathedral is so different and interesting, with traces of different centuries inside. I'm intrigued by the statue of St. Theobald, after having read that Gothic churches used to paint the exterior statues. From now on I am going to refer to what I have to pick up from my dogs as "déjections". French really is more elegant.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 25, 2017 6:38:43 GMT
Having said I wasn't tempted by Kruth I take that back only because I would love to see these guys in action! See what's happening in the Thur Valley...!! This troupe in Kruth (I believe).
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 25, 2017 11:54:18 GMT
When they all have identical costumes, that is the guarantee that they are fanatics about it.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 25, 2017 16:57:05 GMT
Seriously unlively, too!
Tod, there are line dancing lessons on youtube. You should start your own troupe.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 25, 2017 17:11:11 GMT
Harr Harrrrr! (in my best Pirate voice) Pleas excuse me as I have been travelling from a cricket match with my grandson who is in the year end school play "Treasure Island". I know ALL the songs like ...What will we do with a... We sang and sang all the way home.
Pee - Ess - I see on internet that Line Dancing is far larger in France that USA. Really?
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Oct 25, 2017 17:53:14 GMT
For line dancing, I always think of those Irish dancers who were popular some time ago, when only their legs moved. Personally, I prefer "What do we do with a drunken sailor" to this country music.
But I like the rest of your report, Tod. Another area of France that I don't know at all. It looks like a mixture of French and German buildings. And I like the metal sheep.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 25, 2017 17:58:51 GMT
Bjd - I know you mean River Dance! I saw it live in Las Vegas with O'Flaherty someone. And because it's a school play for under 9's we sang "what shall we do with Long John Silver"!
Tomorrow...Museums that have some interest in Mulhouse.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 26, 2017 8:17:37 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 26, 2017 9:43:34 GMT
A short tour of the Museum Of Printed Fabrics. We arrived nigh on the lunch break which left us to our own devices as everyone else had abandoned the reception desk, and other rooms. We were invited to go off to lunch and re-enter using our same tickets but we were there now and not feeling hungry just yet. An insight to this Museum: In 1833, a group of textile manufacturers based in and around Mulhouse formed an Industrial Society known as the Societe Industrielle. They decided to collectively archive the designs they produced and then added designs from other countries, and from earlier times. This collection grew in importance to become what is today the Museum of Printed Textiles, the premier collection of printed textiles in the world. Six million samples including 50,000 textile samples, and pieces ranging from bedcovers to lengths of cloth span the history of printed textiles from the 18th Century to the present day. The Museum's premier collection is still housed in the original building, which was entirely renovated in 1994. Temporary exhibitions, publications, demonstrations of hand and machine printing techniques, creative workshops for children and adults. Guided tours are available in English, French German and Italian. The rooms are very large and in dimmed lighting to enhance the appearance of the displays. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/jXhUYk.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/6qBR0r.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/lMmHWy.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/ewmNac.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/Ua95hJ.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/kpxQDr.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/DGM0K1.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/9aPGoj.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/vbF4BK.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/xdPDzN.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/X5MhUs.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/xUMPXq.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/m2QRC9.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/E3iKnZ.jpgI think if we had been on one of the guided tours - in English - it would have been more interesting. Now it is time for lunch so we hopped a tram to quite a large restaurant called Au Bureau - a pub chain on Place de la République. We ordered a burger and I had a delightful dish of prawns and courgettes/carrots. The chips were cut into curved half rounds - never seen that before. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/u2fK8a.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/ZpnQz1.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/eBdfAu.jpg
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 26, 2017 11:48:20 GMT
Thank you for your input Huckle. I am so glad someone else has already been to the museum and will appreciate what a small section of photos I have posted. We did not venture up the marble staircase where you see 'The Winged Victory'? copy. Did you go up there and if so what is up there? Our interest in the museum was because we own a fabric wholesale/retail business and have been associated with textiles for over 40 years.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 26, 2017 16:17:13 GMT
This is great. It is maddening to think that "nobody" goes to Mulhouse (well, the Swiss and the Germans do but even the French don't bother unless they want to see the cars or the trains) when it is one of the most interesting destinations that one could choose.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but Alsatian and Schweizerdeutsch, the dialect of the Germanic Swiss, are very similar so they have few difficulties in communicating with each other. This weekend a friend of mine from Metz who now lives in Mulhouse (he is a high school administrator) is coming to Paris and called to see if we could meet up. I haven't seen him in about 10 years. I'm going to ask him how he sees Mulhouse and what he thinks is interesting there, so I hope that our meeting will be informative.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 26, 2017 16:23:19 GMT
Oh, Tod -- so well presented, interesting, and beautifully photographed! And that is not easy to do with museums, but you sure succeeded. I love the details you caught of the rail carriage interiors and the video is stellar. Were you disappointed in the textile museum? From what you show, it looks like it could use more of an exposition on techniques used to create various textiles. That looks like the museum shop in one picture. What did you get? Thanks so much for including the wonderful allotment pictures. I find that concept so admirable and fascinating and really enjoyed seeing the Mulhouse ones. I was in Mulhouse to explore the Mulhouse experiments in worker's housing and the history of the entrepreneurial Hugenots driven out of France. *pricks up ears* Do tell, Huckle! Would love to know more about this. Have you seen this thread?
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Oct 26, 2017 17:11:54 GMT
I am VERY interested in both those historical subjects, Huckle. Would love to read more. I've been involved in associations fostering social housing here and have visited early social and workers' housing in other countries, unfortunately not yet in Vienna, ground zero for the famous Hofs.
Some of your Hugenots wound up chez Tod... Have you studied their contributions to other societies, in exile?
K2, isn't it because people view Mulhouse as a more "industrial" city and not as quaint and immediately charming as Strasbourg or Colmar? But as we can see it isn't a grey zone.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 27, 2017 4:08:18 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 27, 2017 8:05:46 GMT
Thank you Bixa - I have had to present what was captured on my cellphone with all my reports this time. I did mention somewhere that my camera (the one Kerouac helped me buy) was stolen. That must have had a wealth of photos - but let's not cry over spilled milk and instead do all I can to bring a small part of our holiday to those who love to travel. Yes, there was a shop and as tempted as I was, knew that this was only the beginning of the holiday and would have to carry it all the way to Italy and then UK - so, no purchases!
Continuing on with Mulhouse and surrounds I will post our day visit to Eguisheim soon.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 27, 2017 12:45:21 GMT
A Day Trip To Eguisheim from Mulhouse. This is a lovely days outing especially if you love wine tasting and the weather is nice and sunny. Another plus is that it is an enchanting village with quirky old timber frame houses, ancient fountains and sloping hills covered in grape vines. To get there one just buys a train ticket at Mulhouse station, which has a strange contraption in the hall but is essential if you have forgotten to charge your cellphone - jump on, plug in and pedal! First destination is Colmar. On arrival take a taxi to Eguisheim, a short 7km away and takes 15min to get there. If you happen to go on a Sunday like we did - Beware! No taxis back in the afternoon unless some Turkish man happens to be on duty. It took 12 telephone calls to various companies before we found him. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/SLz4Ca.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/VATw3c.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/DFIK3a.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/8XIvEr.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/SVAbhH.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/OOet5K.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/WtJ0C3.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/xjvvjo.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/sWAgIQ.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/mqXsXY.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/ECaYYa.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/Aehl2O.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/KHXUBX.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/bowI98.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/x5gnlC.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/zgxNzd.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/IBR70q.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/kODsNU.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/jqsqcc.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/NJtGiz.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/Ucc7Kh.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/zXZsYR.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/zvzBIh.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/I1H5GK.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/heBqKb.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/qBtF1Y.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/WN1WbO.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/IyKTbm.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/CHNyOA.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/N6Q7J8.jpgA fun ride on The Little Train takes one up a hill to view the vineyards up close. Each section is planted with a variety of grape that make up the seven varieties that make Alsace wine famous. 6 white wines : Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d’Alsace, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, 1 rosé or red wine : the Pinot Noir. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/c4JI3L.jpgAs the train travels uphill a glimpse of The three castles of Husseren-les-Châteaux, alternatively referred to as the three castles of Eguisheim can be seen on the hilltop. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/SGr9YM.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/swXOp6.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/MHfrOj.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/p8Y9GG.jpgOver the new plantings a fabulous view of Eguisheim with Colmar in the distance. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/K7i3Oc.jpgIn Alsace, seven varieties of grape predominate which are also known as “Les cépages nobles”. They are Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. In recent years, an eighth grape has become more widely grown – Chardonnay - which is to becoming more and more widely used in Crémants d’Alsace. Maximum enjoyment of wine may be achieved by following some simple guidelines. Firstly, the temperature at which the wine is served should be considered: As is the case for champagne, Crémants d’Alsace should be served cold – the ideal temperature is between 8 – 10°C (46 – 50°F). Still white should also be served chilled at a slightly higher 10 – 12° C (50 – 54°F). Pinot Noir red wines should be enjoyed at a warmer temperature of between 15 – 17°C (59 – 63°F). Back down the hill for a spot of lunch and more wine tastings and a look inside the church. The steeple is famous for it's stork nest. Actually the whole area is stork territory. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/r092al.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/Z6119e.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/BU7O7H.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/xHXqke.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/5GP0tp.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/XGkCav.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/vunofc.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/NNYsLl.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/bNGnYm.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/qrLXKo.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/z8DBGA.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/JxhN2O.jpgimagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/EyF1l1.jpgA good way of getting around - and time for us to get back to Colmar station. imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/p9Z1m7.jpgThis was my choice after tasting several wines - imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/SurGrr.jpgColmar station imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/Erv4Fo.jpgEguisheim, may be touristy but we loved it! That concludes Mulhouse and Surrounds.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Oct 27, 2017 13:29:37 GMT
I'm responding to this yummy post before my digression on social and workers' housing. Yes, touristy but very pretty and well organized. What did you have for lunch, other than wine? Digression: There is some remarkable stone workers' housing at the Arsenal in Venice that is still occupied - such solid buildings. K2 showed us some admirable workers' or social housing in Paris from the late 19th century (or turn of the 20th?). There was indoor plumbing and some electric lighting (or gas?) I don't remember the thread. I've toured Het Schip in Amsterdam: www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g188590-d2226968-r331048812-Museum_Het_Schip-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province.html Unfortunately I never made it to Vienna to look at the famous Hofs there; we had a friend in Vienna who had been an architect in Toronto and retired back home (he inherited a flat in a desirable central area), and I'd been planning a visit. Unfortunately this friend killed himself for all practical purposes, holing himself up in his flat and smoking and drinking himself to death on strong cigarettes and Slivovitz... A friend who was doing a long walk along the Danube downstream to Budapest related how dispiriting the last visit was... he spent his time watching TV in his little parlour. She didn't even speak German so the TV blaring was just noise. (Although I'd understand it, I'd be just as downhearted, in the midst of a historic city where one could at least go to a café). Sometimes social housing could mean social control. A "capitalist" example would be the housing Henry Ford built for car plant workers; doubtless better housing than most workers had at the time, but strict social codes. He built a similar estate in Brazil, Fordlandia, and the Brazilian workers utterly rejected it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fordl%C3%A2ndia www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/19/lost-cities-10-fordlandia-failure-henry-ford-amazonA "real socialism" example of social control many will remember is the East Berlin housing estates in the film "Goodbye Lenin", where there were a lot of activities and amenities in the blocks, but constant "soft" espionage, which turned hard when people were clamouring to tear down the wall... I don't know what has become of those huge "warehouse for the poor" projects found in some large US cities. Here there is a trend to build smaller buildings and complexes better integrated into their neighbourhoods.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 27, 2017 13:32:51 GMT
Wow, that really is a charming village. Of course Alsace is oozing with them, but I have never heard of that one, being more familiar with the Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg area) than the Haut-Rhin(Colmar area). You certainly were there at the perfect time for the flowers and the grapes. The grape harvest this year was 3 weeks earlier than usual just about everywhere in France.
Thank you for this spectacular report.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 27, 2017 14:52:37 GMT
Merci Monsieur Kerouac.
Lagatta - I remember having to stand around for 20 minutes because there was no table for two people. There was a table for 6 people available but did not let us sit down as the waiter explained 'any time now 6 people may arrive'. Fair play to him but six people never did arrive all the time we were finally seated. As a matter of fact a couple strolled in, no waiters around so they sat down at a vacant table for 4 and when discovered were kicked out immediately although other 4's were empty now.
Aah! what did we eat. My husband ordered flammkuchen. Big mistake for him as he does not like cream cheese. He said it looked better than it tasted. If there was any available he would have drowned it in chilli sauce. Anyway he managed to finish it. I think it was a pizza...BUT, just because this Alsatian flatbread is topped with a layer of cheese (in this case, fromage blanc), onions, and bacon, and baked in a hot oven does not make it a pizza any more than having four legs and a wagging tail makes a dachshund the same thing as a golden retriever. For those unfamiliar with tarte flambée,(like me) describing it as a pizza is the quickest and surest way to recognition. I had the dish of the day which I think was beef stew or romantically called Boeuf Bourguignon! or maybe that's as far away as having four legs and tail as a cat is to leopard.... Anyway it was divine. I even managed to have a glass of my favourite chilled red, Brouilly, to wash it down! How very dare I ! "Brouilly is the largest and most southerly of the ten Beaujolais Crus as well as also being one of the few not to be named after a local village. Its 1200ha of vineyards curl round the volcanic Mont Brouilly, producing fruity, round, textured wines which can be reasonably tannic and often show earthy notes".
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 27, 2017 14:54:00 GMT
Beautiful and informative...thank you Tod, really enjoyed this. Had to take a second look at the couple on a tandem. Friends of mine are travelling through France atm on their tandam too (it wasn't them!)
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Oct 27, 2017 17:51:46 GMT
Outrageously wonderful, Tod! You really have a knack of making me feel as though I was right there with you. You also have a knack of ferreting out places that others might skip that turn out to be very visitable. Eguisheim certainly fit the bill this time. You also managed to teach me something about wine, about which I'm terribly ignorant. I know you all have a business and commitments, but hope that one day you'll be able to do a report on wine growing in South Africa. Your knowledge and reportorial verve would be perfect for that, and I know you'd make the sacrifice of tasting the wines for us. So much to appreciate -- the wonderful pictures even after the camera tragedy, the primitive but effective way to recharge, the masses of flowers, your adventures in getting where you needed to go, etc. etc. Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Oct 27, 2017 20:16:24 GMT
Something about South African wines or other comestibles in the country would indeed be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Oct 28, 2017 5:15:07 GMT
Many thanks all. I certainly would not have been able to report anything if it wasn't for the fact the trusty old cellphone was much easier to use at times. I am going to start my photo-essay on Italy & then Paris but until I start sorting out stuff will only realize how much we put on the camera.
|
|