Day #3 - Breisach and Neuf Breisach

Score! I'm a little (a lot) late in posting, but it took a few days to get the wifi working with the laptop, and the laptop working with the pictures. Had a lovely conversation with a lady who was working in the lounge and she helped me. I think it's working now, so let's play catch up. 

Day #3 was Breisach and Neuf Breisach. These two towns are right on the French / German border. Breisach is German, and Neuf Breisach is French. One thing I always forget is the amount of history that exists in Europe - we Americans are babies by comparison. Neuf Breisach was originally built as a German military fortress (you'll see more in the pictures) and changed hands multiple times. It eventually stayed as a French city, and is completely different from the original Breisach. 

One funny - Again, Neuf Breisach is a French town, and Breisach is German. I thought I was being bad-a*& when I ordered a bottled water in a cafe in Neuf Breisach - I used my foreign language skills! Realized after I left that I used the wrong language - wrong country. Thank goodness for gracious residents......

One story - for the love of G-d, do NOT be an ugly American when you travel. I looked over at one point in the tour to see a woman taking a picture of the lace curtain in someone's window. She was taking the picture by putting her camera directly against the glass of the window. She probably got a shot of the curtains as well as the contents of their living room. Really - that's someone's residence. Be polite and respect their privacy. 

We started today in Neuf Breisach, and then toured in Breisach (including the church - we couldn't go inside, but got some good pics outside). I shared a picture with my RockBox group....the hills here are no joke! Couldn't have made it to the top without taking kickboxing / fitness classes for the past few months. 

The crew posts the schedule everyday - they encourage you to take a picture of it to help you remember. Here's today's offerings. 

Neuf Breisach

Decorating outside your door here is a big thing. Easter bunnies, reindeer.....they're all part of the charm. 

The church in Neuf Breisach. Since it's a military town, the church is very standard. No stained glass, no extras, no decoration. In fact, there are only seats for half the expected military members. Once a month they had to prove they had taken a bath, and half sat in the seats while the other half had their hands and feet inspected. Multi-purpose church. 

The town hall. If you look to the right on the roof, you'll see a stork's nest. Storks are a symbol in this area, and the city will frequently build iron nests for them to return year after year. Depending on how far you can zoom in, you'll see a little stork head popping up.  :) 

Again, decorating is a big deal. Look above the storefront, and you'll see squish mallow chicks and the Easter Bunny.  

Breisach 

It's a looooooooong way up! 

The view from the top. Posting to show how far we climbed! Amazed that people do this every day....even with several months of kickboxing, I was still wheezing by the top. 

Another shot of where we climbed from. 

The view from the top. The river below is where our boat is docked. 

The church. It was so big and tall I couldn't get the entire thing in one shot. 

Posting for the markings on the door....have seen it in a few houses in CLT. 

Better view of the church from the bottom of the hill. 

Interesting story - next to the church was this small statue, memorializing the prison for witches that formerly stood there. If you were a woman, your husband could declare you a witch for multiple reasons - curly hair, red hair, if you spoke back, etc. I would've been in trouble. Note: That's our local tour guide pictured. Gotta hand it to the guides.....they've been great at every stop as far as knowledge. 

I definitely inherited a sweet tooth, and there's no shortage here. Today's dessert at lunch was ice cream, and I took full advantage. Vanilla and raspberry with caramel sauce.