Colmar, Riquewihr & EcoMuseum

Our trip started out as an adventure. Thursday I took the kids to KiGa so I could finish the packing etc without disruptions. Soon after Günter finished his shower the water went off. I wanted to a load of Jenna's bibs and get a shower (not to mention washing dishes left from the night before) but that wasn't to be! I did manage to finish packing but it is hard to consider all the things you need. Our friends came at 11:30 and we loaded some of the things in their car and they went with Günter to pick up Jenna from her developmental preschool Meanwhile I got Niklas as 12 and took him home, gave him lunch and we waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally Günter and everyone else returned an hours and half later. His story is they talked to the people at the ReHa about Jenna's progression etc. But Jenna never got lunch and she was cranky and it was time to get on the road. We put one of the car seats in our friends car and let Niklas go with them. I honestly thought he would fall asleep within minutes. But each time we passed them I could see his little hand waving at me. At least Jenna took a little nap. Early in the trip we had to pull off several times because we had our friend's GPS since ours only works in Germany. It was taking us on different routes. Plus Howie (Harald) had to take a nature break (and couldn't at our house since there wasn't any water). We arrived in Colmar about 5 pm and it was fun to see this:

The sculpter that made the Statue of Liberty is from Colmar.

We drove past the vineyards and little villages while it rained, but it was so lovely.

We had trouble finding the road to get to our apartment (house on last post) but eventually found it. There was some misunderstanding aparently and the landlady thought it was 2 adults and 2 kids. But after she showed us the rooms, we thought we could make it work. We had to push two twin-sized bed together and they had a strange long crib-like bed that only had the bars up 1/4 the way. I brought the pack-n-play for Niki and we had Jenna sleep in the strange bed. But that is a story for later. There was only a shower (no bath for the kids and they don't like showers).

We unpacked the cars but about that time the thunder and lighting was getting quite bad and we lost power! Luckily the stove was gas and we could still make the dinner. In the hour the power was off the kids got quite excited and were running aroung slamming doors and Jenna went into the bathroom and took a bite of the soap. Our friend wanted to be spontaneous so we didn't plan out any meals and I didn't know what they would bring (and they were counting on shopping here). So around 7:45 we decided we could go down to the village and pick up a few things. The kids did not want to come, so Günter and I went. It was thrilling to go without them. But soon we stopped by some shops and they were all closed. Somehow Günter remembered enough French from HS to ask a lady and she said we had to go to Colmar to Cora. We then noticed the gas tank light was blinking and we needed to refuel. As we passed a huge traffic jam (in the opposite direction) I got nervous about not explaining to our friends about the kids bedtime routine and all. Günter had forgotten his cell phone at the place and we tried to use the one in the car but it just gave us a voice mail. We knew we just had to keep going and let them figure things out with the kids.

We finally found Cora and luckily they were still open! We discovered that even though they post signs that they take credit cards--they don't work. So we need to get cash too. Cora actually sells gas and we went there but it was for cards only and the credit card didn't work. We tried two other places and it didn't work (and there were not open with attendants). Finally we found a place to get gas. I was really expecting the adventure to go that we ran out of gas as well, but it didn't happen, mercifully. When we got back to the house we found Jenna was up, but sleepy. Apparentely it was a disaster trying to put them to bed. Niklas kept crying for Mama and they didn't know to put in the night light or the white noise maker. I guess he had just fallen asleep (and it was after 10 pm) and Jenna was having trouble sleeping in the bed. I went in and Niklas woke up and I had to sing to both and after 30 minutes (11 pm) they fell asleep.

We stayed up talking with our friends for a while. I really couldn't relax for some reason! After we went to bed around 12 and I was just getting into a deep sleep Jenna woke up in her "sleep terror" mode. I put her in bed with me (I was very nervous about disturbing not only our friends but other people in the building). Anytime I turned she bolted upright like she was afraid. The matress was not the best either, so when Niklas still woke up at his normal time (5:35 am) I drug myself out of bed. I tried to keep him and Jenna quiet so the rest could sleep, but it was hard since we had limited toys and no TV.

But the day began and we got breakfast and then Howie and Elke went off with the kids around 10:30 am.

We decided to go to the EcoMusée It was a very nice day if you don't mention the down pour of rain. Here are some pictures, see how many storks nest you can see--the storks & nests are EVERYWHERE.

We saw many demonstrations from worker suing the techniques from the "old world".

This was interesting--the artist shows how the timbered houses were assembled then raised up before the straw and clay went in the middle and designs were imprinted and they were painted.

The Kids's section:

We asked someone that worked there for a recomendation for a resturant. I want to add here that the Alsace region has an interesting history. Most people over 60 speak German along with French (not so with the younger generation they only know French). Most names of villages and streets are German, so it is quite an interesting thing!

We went to this resturant high up in the mountians (why didn't I take pictures?) and they serve only FRESH trout. What I mean by fresh is there are tanks outside and some inside and as we left we saw some fisherman deliver more that they caught up in a lake. I had a trout that was whole and fried with slivers of almonds on top. I didn't mind the skin (and thankfully the innards are removed) but the fried eyes in the head were disgusting to look at. Günter had a filet. We both were pleased.

We returned around 8 pm and they had given the kids dinner. They went to a Riquewihr with the kids and Kayersberg. The kids nap and sleep schedule was completely thrown off--they only got a little in the car at late times. Hense they stayed up later. But at least that night we put them to bed.

That night wasn't any better sleep-wise, but Elke got up at 7 and took care of the kids and I went back to bed until 9 am.

Howie and Elke took the kids to the EcoMusée and we went to Riquewihr. Most of the buildings were from the 1500's!

I love sundials!

Then we headed to Colmar.

By the time got there I had to go to the bathroom and so I had to use the public one--you have to pay. OUr coins didn't work so this Afraican guy selling wallets and such close by paid. I felt obliged to him (in a personal way) so ended up buying a wallet I didn't need and later found it sold in the market for half the price! I keep thinking I am sponsoring a family from Kenya for that!

The city is really spread out but here are a few highlights:

Old French lady with blue hair (a danger on the road we thought after seeing her driving skills)

This house was built by a hat maker--apparently they made more money that what I think a hat maker would make back then.

It is something special to see weddings from another country:

That evening Günter and I actually arrived back at the apartment before our friends and the kids. We started the dinner. We tried very hard to get the kids to bed earlier but they wouldn't. I must have stayed in there singing and telling stories for 1.5 hours and in the end I had to leave and let them be hysterical (then they finally went to sleep after about 10 minutes). I did that all because I am afraid that our friends think I am not a kind mother since I refused to let them stay up or get them out once they started crying.

On Sunday we had breakfast and packed out and went to church in Colmar. It is hard when you don't understand any French. In the end I took Niklas out and walked around outside with him.

We got home around 5 pm and then it was the other end of the stress--unpacking, washing and getting back to the routine.

There you have it! My "holiday". I had many more pictures but you saw enough I am sure!

Posted by Krista at June 4, 2007 05:34 PM