12-2-2015 STRASBOURG, FRANCE PART II

A fantastic, colossal piece of art stands in the Notre Dame Cathedral:  The Astronomical Clock.  It was constructed in the mid-1500s by three masters:  a mathematics professor, a clock maker and an artist.  As the works became worn, the clock went silent ~1588.  The 70-80 foot tall giant stood

Astonomical Clock

quietly until the 1800s when a young boy proclaimed, “Oh yeah?  I can make it work again!”  Later, he became a mechanical engineer and at the age of 61, after having studied the mechanisms over his lifetime, Monsieur Schwilgué spent the next four years making it run again.  That was in 1842.  So there were no good engineers in France, apparently, for 300 years.  This is a phenomenal machine.  It tells you everything you want to know and so much more!  The time of day, current location of the planets, month and day of the year, astrological sign, season, phase of the moon to name a few, all displayed in 3D while music boxes play as figures circle about.  A mechanical rooster crows three times to symbolize St. Peter’s denial of Christ and human frailty.  Just the base is 24 feet wide and more than 12 feet tall.  It is safe to say that this incredible piece of art that tells time cannot be worn on the wrist.

The beautiful old city of Strasbourg is heavily populated by irregularly constructed “half-timbered” buildings, meaning that they are fortified with wood beams geometrically arranged in the primary structure for added stability and support.  If the buildings were all originally straight, then we suppose that time and wear have taken their toll because now, they appear to be leaning against each other to remain upright.

Half-timber houses along the Ill River

Typical half-timber
construction

  They are stunningly beautiful and at this time of year, decorated by mad elves.  In the center of town, the 98 foot tall “Great Tree” grows proudly, now draped in sparkles, lights and ornaments.

The Great Tree in the
center of Strasbourg, France (or
Germany depending on the century)

  The many Christmas booths provide happy people with every imaginable trinket and glüwein, lights, music and laughter fill the air.

Lindy and the Monster Nutcracker

Rob trying to find wienerschnitzel
at the Bierstub

We searched about for just the right restaurant to have a midday snack.  When the menu read, “Wienerschnitzel mit pommes fritts,” Spouse had arrived.  So, at the restaurant au Gutenberg, Rob savored that while I was lucky enough to find a beer and escargots for myself.  Everything is written in French and German so between the two of us we can figure most things out and get our point across.  Later, we found our own way back to the tram and the riverboat in time to clean up for The Last Supper.  This evening, the entrée for me was a fresh trout filet stuffed with spinach and for Rob, chicken cordon bleu.  Rob’s dessert was warm chocolate cake drizzled with yet more warm chocolate.  And of course the wine flowed freely till we fell into bed exhausted.  In another day’s time, we will arrive in Basel, Switzerland, pack up, depart the ship and launch on the rest of our adventure.

Restaurant au Gutenberg

On a personal level, we have mostly remained healthy except for the sore throat I developed.  Lift me out of the desert and drop me in the cold and wet and bam, I’m sick.  Lots of “Emergen-C,” Sudafed and throat spray coupled with good nights of sleep in our comfortable room and I have beat it.  On another front, the heartburn that I get nearly every day at home has left the building.  This can mean only one thing:  I have not been getting enough bratwurst, brötchens, beer and glüwein at home.  Easily resolved.

I can’t believe, after months of planning, that the Christmas Cruise is behind us.  I am sad but extremely gratified and looking forward to the next phase of our trip.