GERMAN RIVERS: The Beginning

Brenda and I arrived at the Strasbourg train station on time at 6:00 pm. We were only 650 meters from the hotel but it was a struggle with our 6 heavy cases.  Friends Lee and Beckie Wilson met us half way and helped with the luggage. Everyone else had arrived and were starting orientation with cheese and wine by the time we arrived.  Later, 12 of us went to dinner; it started raining during dinner and none of us were prepared.  I can't remember the last time I walked in the rain without raincoat and/or umbrella.

Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in north eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. With 759,868 inhabitants in 2010, Strasbourg's metropolitan area (only the part of the metropolitan area on French territory) is the ninth largest in France.

Strasbourg is the seat of several European institutions, such as the Council of Europe (with its European Court of Human Rights, its European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and its European Audiovisual Observatory) and the Eurocorps, as well as the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman of the European Union. The city is also the seat of the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine and the International Institute of Human Rights.

Downtown Strasbourg appears to be very livable. For some reason there are few cars; most transportation is by tram, bicycle or foot. The cobbled streets are very wide, facilitating outdoor cafes.  We had lunch at one of these. Some of the group went on a guided walking tour; again more details than I wanted.  It rained off and on but we were prepared with an umbrella.

The 13 to 15th century cathedral was the tallest building in Europe for 300 years.  (When was Notre Dame built?)

Ron Barton from Ottawa noted that both times I went in a church or cathedral, the rain stopped and the sun came out! What can I say?

We have a group dinner tonight and begin our ride tomorrow with a fairly long 60 mile ride. The terrain should be flat and I saw forecast for slight tail winds. It should be a good day.