Eguisheim

Patti, whose birthday it is today (29yrs) made the last minute call to hike from Colmar to Eguisheim.  We did not have a map or route so off to Google we went. Google maps came up with three options based on efficiency but I had to make up a forth route which proved to be well off the beaten path.  We spent a lot of the time on tiny farm roads with no cars and only a few bikes.  

As you can see, the fog was in for part of our hike and with it a chill that made us all a little cold.  As a distraction for the girls Patti decided it was time to teach them to wog (walk + jog). While Tara wins for most power transfer, Riley definately won for most style. 

After an hour and a half of easy hiking the sun came out and we made it into Eguisheim. This little town my parents visited with my sister and her husband years ago. I can remember my mom really loving it and after strolling around it was easy to see why.

There were plenty of photo ops...

...fun colored and oddly shaped buildings...

...and pretzels to be eaten.

Eguisheim in its day was on a Roman trading route and charged a toll for passers-thru and those that wanted to market their goods.  These towns are cute little attractions in our modern times but it is not hard to imagine how brutal life would have been there during the mean times.  As I walk these tight, cobbled but now colorful streets it is not hard for my mind to wander to Monty Python's 'Bring out your dead' skit. 

While on this trip I have seen a number of MAMILs (Middle Aged Men In Lycra).  This is apparently the latest plague to hit these small towns.  They were all, every last one of them, donning their jerseys commemorating their conquering of some famed Tour de France mountain stage. But there were other much older and fit folks out as well.  Patti said she could see Randy, Troy, Dan and I out on one of these trips someday.

The stork is a very popular bird here in the Alsace region of France.  They migrate to this region for the summer and have been accommodated for by the towns equipping the highest points with platforms suitable for nesting. When I first spotted one way up atop a church steeple I was unaware of their prevalence and wondered if it were some mechanical impersonation. 

We returned from Eguisheim via the local bus where we chatted with an older woman who had lived in the area for a number of years. She complained a little bit about this bus because primarily it is a school bus and only runs a few times a day other than school hours and since she has no car it is is hard for her to get to and from Colmar. It was a round about way home, taking us up higher into the hills and through several more towns on our return.  We totaled out at 45 minutes in the bus plus another 5 minute walk to get back to our place. If we wogged the whole way we think we could have beaten the bus, but Riley had other plans.  All that hip tossing in her wog has taken its toll. 

This day is continued in Colmar Part II. 

Equisheim images in 2015 Eguisheim.