July 20th 2023

As the queue to enter the cathedral yesterday was quite long I decided to do an early morning visit. A truly spectacular church with double stained glass windows in a high church nave.

The astronomical clock was grand. It also has a perpetual calendar, which at least showed 2023 as the year. The other dials I am not so sure about…

The main destination today was the Orangerie park, which was not so far from the European parliament building.

The park was set up right after the French revolition, taking orange trees and other plants from the former private gardens of the aristocracy (since they probably dit not have heads anymore…) and making it available to the public.

The garden was a very nice and spacious green area, well worth a visit

Returning to town, and this being my last full day in France, I decided to mark that with a good lunch – simple and clean tastes.

I spend the afternoon doing a bit of planning for Frankfurt, but also took a stroll in areas that I had not seen yet.

My evening meal was a street café which had a good wine list and a charcutierie and cheese place which was more than enough.

As the darkness fell over the city, I wanted to visit a bar that was recommended to me yesterday.

This is a “speakeasy” bar, name coming from the prohibition period in the US, when no alcohol was allowed, so the illegal bars needed to stay hidden in back of restaurants. This one was in the back of a pizzeria.

So, leaving Strasbourg – and France – tomorrow to go to Frankfurt, my final city before heading back home. It will be sad to leave France, these weeks has given me so many good memories I know will stay with me for a long time. Au revoir!