Samedi le 13 decembre- Strasbourg markets!

This building has a painted facade and cool sleigh!

Had to put the alarm on to get up this morning to get breakfast before it shut at 9:00! So off we trotted down to the dining room where I was amazed at how many older people were staying at the ‘youth hostel’ also many families like us. They really are flash and very popular in Europe. It had a restaurant, café, disco, tv room, pool room etc. Our room had 4 beds and an ensuite, quite adequate really. Many people use them and they are cheap. €18 per person.
Breakfast was a continental type – cereal, bread and coffee machine and juice. The time was very strict and as soon as it hit 9:00 the food was taken away – people went up to get another drink and they had turned them off!
Anyway we headed to the walk bridge to cross the border into Germany – we had to do the France / Germany hop! From one to the other and be split in half etc… Hermione in particular thought this was so funny!
Then we ambled back to the bus stop we got off last night and even in the daylight there were no signs and it certainly wasn’t our idea of a park! They really need better instructions for visitors – we surely can’t have been the first nor the last to get so horribly confused.
Into town and went straight to the Gare to drop off luggage so we didn’t have to carry it for the day. Leaving luggage is taken very seriously now and it all has to be x rayed and has security guards monitoring the locker room. It also has a door like the bank where you must wait to be buzzed in!
Then to the markets….but how the crowds have arrived, last night was very pleasant walking around hardly anyone – today they were 10 thick across and went on for ages! It was so worth it though – Strasbourg says it is the Noel capital – I would believe it. There were so many markets in all the little parks and squares – many food places too. Food really is a huge focus at Xmas, I have taken a liking to vin chaud!
For lunch we tried to get into a place that we couldn’t last night “Tiger Wok” – at this restaurant it has an asian flavour and very cool atmosphere. The idea is very simple and I think would really fly in NZ. So maybe a business opportunity here. Very simply you get given a plate where you go and help yourself to the vegetables you want and then a choice of 2 meats/ fish. You chose the oil, sauce and garnish as well. You give your plate to one of the ‘muscley’ t shirt clad men at the wok stop who cook it in front of you.
It was great – the girls loved it, having all the ownership over what you eat! Back at the table they also serve you your own little bowl of rice to go with it.
Fantastic!
More markets! Hermione said she wasn’t feeling well and had a bit of a rest while Seph and I zoomed around another market. When we got back we had to start heading for the train but Hermione was sick on the way! Poor kid! You could say she left her mark on Strasbourg a couple of times. However we made it right on time back to the Gare. I was slightly worried how the trip home would go but passed OK! Straight home to bed after this. What a shame to end the trip this way. I actually could have stayed another day, if we could have got accommodation, as still heaps to see and do. As it was we booked in September for this and it was the only night we could get that could accommodate 4 then! Very popular!