Happy Halloween

Fondant ghosts

Halloween is not very popular in Strasbourg.  I have seen more decorations, candy, and holiday related items this October than I have in the past two years.  These sightings are still scarce though.  Here are photos of most of the glimpses of Halloween that I have had in 2011.  Americans, enjoy your day dedicated to costumes and the collection of sweet treats.  Have some candy corn for me!

Halloween balloons

A display of costumes.  I thought the armor headgear was historically appropriate for Europe.

I was amazed to see a grocery store display of pumpkins specifically for carving.  In France, pumpkins tend to be eaten instead of used for decoration.

Window display at a candy store

Placard of specials offered at a restaurant

Pumpkins decorating the steps of a bakery

Fake cobwebs and a ghost adorn the entrance to this building.

A witch hat sits in the window of a restaurant.

La Photo du Jour: A Table and Hydrangeas

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France

Gurgling Gargoyles

Several of the gargoyles on the Strasbourg cathedral function as drain pipes.  They received quite a workout today as it has poured most of the day.

La Photo du Jour: Petals Falling from the Sky

I was in the Petite France area of Strasbourg doing some shopping.  As I was looking at a window display I felt something drop on my head.  I had a moment of dread thinking of all the pigeons that frequent the city.  Hesitantly I put my hand up to my hair and pulled out what had fallen on me.  Thankfully, I was holding a spent geranium flower.  That wasn't as bad as what I had imagined.  I looked up and saw a lady pruning her window boxes.  More red petals dropped down around me.  I don't think that she ever noticed I there.

P.S.  Look at the underside of the balcony above the lady.  It has 1887 written on it.  That is a pretty young building by Strasbourg standards.

It's Monday, Get Back to Work.

Happy Monday!  You aren't alone in regards to starting another week of work.  Here are some photos of people tidying up around Strasbourg.

Les Photos Du Jour: Reading by the Canal

What a nice place to enjoy a good book.

Bring on the Brocante

A brocante cherub with a makeshift rain hat  

I grew up in a household where antiques were the preferred decoration.  My parents, especially my mother, love attending auctions, flea markets, and browsing second hand stores.  The "thrill of the hunt", the excitement of finding something interesting, useful, or beautiful, is in my blood.  I also have a syndrome that goes hand in hand with the love of antiques, the tendency to be a pack rat.  It is so easy to accumulate "stuff" and it can be very difficult for me to get rid of things later.

When we first moved to Strasbourg I was determined not to clutter our space with too many things.  Our French apartment is smaller than our house was and I didn't want it to become stuffed to the gills with possessions.  We didn't take much with us when we moved.  Leaving things behind felt freeing and the empty space allowed me room to breathe again.

Now that we have been here for two years I am changing my mind about our living space.  We have been visiting friends whose apartments are beautifully decorated.  They feel warm, homey, and filled with lovely decorations collected from their experiences.  Our apartment, which is sparsely decorated, used to feel free to me.  Now, in comparison to our friends' places, it looks empty.  After experiencing my freedom of space, I am now inspired to make it feel homey.  I am ready to start... carefully... choosing items to decorate with.

It has just recently dawned on me that I live in France, the home of antiques.  My mom is a huge fan of decorating magazines.  These magazines regularly feature articles about collectibles found in France.  Why haven't I been searching out antique shops before?  What has been wrong with me?  After a conversation with a friend I have learned that what I am most interested in are brocante items.  Brocante are used goods that aren't especially old or especially valuable.  The French reserve the label of antiques for things more rare, expensive, or that have been around for a few hundred years.

This friend and I had planned to go to an outdoor brocante fair on Saturday morning.  (Picture an antique flea market like in the States.)  Unfortunately she had a family issue to take care of and was not able to go. It was rainy on Saturday and I waited until the storm stopped before wandering over to the brocante.  I was too late though.  The vendors had had enough of the bad weather.  Most of them had packed up and left already.  The ones who were still there were in the process of leaving.  I had a chance to check out a few tables while the sellers were busy putting other things away.  There were some really interesting items.  Now my curiosity has been sparked.  I can't wait to search for, find, and decorate with some French brocante.

Les Photos du Jour: Changing Weather

An afternoon storm rolling in.

Even though it has been officially autumn for a couple of weeks, it has felt like summer in Strasbourg.  That is until this past weekend.  Storms rolled through and cold air arrived.  It is a little warmer today but I still wouldn't go outside without a sweater on.  I would probably advise on wearing a coat as well.  I guess I should get used to it.  It is October.

Smoking "Statues"

I spend a lot of time wandering around the plaza near the Strasbourg cathedral.  Not only is the architecture beautiful but you just never know what you are going to see.  Most of the time there are performances of one kind or another.  If not, the tourists are fascinating to watch as well.  

I wandered through the area in the morning and saw a man painted gold who was pretending to be a statue.  He was very good at standing perfectly still.  He seemed to be a bit of a prankster though.  When people got too close he would unexpectedly move.  This caused the unsuspecting person to jump, possibly scream a little, and most likely giggle.  He was also a bit of a Casanova, kissing various ladies on the hand.  

When I walked back through the cathedral plaza later in the day, a second golden buddy had joined the first.  They were taking a break from their mime duties.  Do you know where statues keep their cigarettes hidden? They keep them under their platforms, of course.  

   

La Photo du Jour: A Scene from La Petite France

Looking down the canal in the Petite France area, Strasbourg, France

The Girl and the Gargoyle

Wine Festival in Eguisheim

Detail from a stained glass window at the Wolfberger Winery

My husband, daughter, and I attended a wine festival in the little village of Eguisheim, France.  Technically it was a "new wine" festival or fete du vin nouveau.  The focus of the celebration was a successful grape harvest and the production of wine that can be consumed now but tastes better once it has a little age on it.

Eguisheim is a village located on the Route des Vins, Wine Road, in Alsace.  It's primary industry is the production of wine, from the growing and harvesting of grapes, the making of wine, to the packaging and distribution of it's creations.  The majority of the people who reside in Eguisheim make their living from wine.

This view is from the outskirts of town.  Grapevines can be seen up front and a castle looms on the hilltop above.

A building we saw when we first entered town

The fete was located in a plaza with an enormous water well.  There were tents set up to provide shade in front of a beautiful church.  Food was being served and a band was playing.  Several people were dancing and many more were tapping their feet to the rhythm.  Lots of wine was being poured, of course.  The atmosphere was quite festive.

The Alsatian specialty tarte flambee, also known as flammekueche, was being served.  Tarte flambee is made from a thin, crispy crust topped with creme fraiche, thinly sliced onions, and little bits of bacon.  It is then baked and served piping hot.  We also ordered glasses of the vin nouveau, or new wine.  I was really surprised by its looks and taste.  It was cloudy with froth on top.  The taste was very sweet and slightly yeasty.  It resembled cider or beer more than wine.  I am amazed that this liquid can sit around in big casks and eventually come out clear, drier tasting, and alcoholic.

Tarte flambee

Vin nouveau

The people at the table next to us were enjoying a whole bottle of the "new " stuff.

After enjoying our snack and some more music, we decided to explore the village.  It was a very typical Alsatian town.  There were lots of cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses.  Geraniums were plentiful.  One difference I noticed was the plethora of tractors.  Tractors were driving down the streets and were also parked in front of houses.  I don't know if this was because it was harvest season or if it is a normal sight in Eguisheim.

Eguisheim is ranked as one of the most beautiful little towns in France.