Colmar's Claims to Fame

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
                      - Emma Lazarus

What has become the symbol of freedom in America, the Statue of Liberty, was built by a Frenchman named Bartholdi who grew up in this house, now a museum, in Colmar. 

Farmers' Market Day

The market in Colmar has been in existence since 1863, with part of it permanently housed in a building called Les Halles, while the rest is open air.  It was sited here, near the canals, so farmers could deliver their produce using  flat-bottomed boats.

The Best Kind of Neighbor

That's our building with the pale green paint and white shutters, and here's the Karcher Winery!

David has been sick with a cold and the trains are still on strike, so we've been sticking close to home.  But, oh, how sweet home is when there's a winery right across the street!

La Petite Venise

Italy is not the only town with canals.  Colmar has its share of waterways where you can ride in a boat, stroll along the banks, or dine in a riverside cafe.

Cheap (Delicious) Eats in France

One of the strategies that keeps travel costs low for the Tightwad Traveler is relying on grocery stores and markets for food shopping.  Gourmets can still enjoy the finest treats a region has to offer, but they will find them in carry-out shops, delis, specialty stores, and even the supermarket.

Being waited on while sitting at a table enjoying the passing scene does have merit, and David and I do indulge in that occasionally, but, for the most part, we enjoy exploring markets and discovering food on our own.  We'd rather try four new deli dinner entrees for the same price as one restaurant meal.

Come on in to our Colmar Apartment!

Just a block from the quaint shopping/restaurant area is our apartment.  Open the door to the entry and climb one flight of stairs to our flat.

 The living/dining room and kitchen are one space with three high casement double windows flooding the room with light and fresh air.  (You can see in the mirror that  I'm busy taking photos while David is still exploring.)

STRIKE! the conclusion

Because of the train strike, a lot of unhappy people were stranded at the station staring up at the departure/arrival screens that never changed.

 Every seat in the lounge was taken and most of the floor space occupied.  David and I finally crowded on to a wooden seat that encircled one of the structural poles, but we were jostled by someone trying to squeeze in every few seconds.  We propped our feet against our suitcases to keep our balance on the wooden circle and discussed our options.

STRIKE!

A rare sight -- an empty train platform in Paris.

Philippe came to collect the apartment keys, to say goodbye, and to hail us a taxi, but, instead of the smile we expected, he looked unhappy.   There is a greve, a train strike, he said, and we may not be going anywhere today.  His son had made it from Marseille, but the news reporter said no trains would be heading east toward Colmar today.  If he hadn't had another reservation for the apartment, he would insist we stay another night.

Musee du Louvre Musings

Pyramids and triangles are a repeated theme in every substance imaginable.  Not only does the pyramid throw golden replicas of itself on other buildings in the museum, but water features, green swaths, and even the tourists seem to align themselves in this geometric forms.

Depending on which source you consult,  it can take weeks, months or years to see everything in the Louvre, so why not concentrate on just a few areas?  Of course you'll want to see the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa, but you may enjoy other works that don't require fighting crowds for a view.  You'll see what I mean in the next photo. 

Easy Tickets for the Musee du Louvre

The inverted pyramid below the Louvre splashes rainbows all over the floor!

The best way to get your ticket to this world-famous museum is to buy the Paris Museum Pass which entitles you to entry at more than sixty-some places.  But that costs €42 for a two-day pass, and, if you're planning to see only one museum as David and I were, then that is not financially advantageous.