Travels with Charlie: The Alsace

 From Charlie's POV : Pine Cones : Ribeauville, FR

After visiting the Alps and staying in Lauterbrunnen for two nights, we took friend Sheryl R. to France's famed wine region, the Alsace. Again, I have a bazillion pictures from this area, so instead I snapped a few photos using my Apple iPod and took a couple of photos from Charlie's level. Here's how the world looks from eight inches off the ground! Personally, I think Charlie has a pretty good eye! LOL.

Charlie, a little contre jour,  in the tall grass and dandelions gone to seed : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

The Jam Witch of Bergheim

Bergheim's version of a jam fairy can be found behind the doors of
Confitures Artisanales : Bergheim, FR

In contrast to the Jam Fairy of Niedermorschwihr is the Jam Fairy of Bergheim. Bergheim's version makes jam out of everything. And I mean, everything. There was jam made from wine (good with fois gras), fruit, vegetables, flowers, roots, berries. You name it, she's jammed it. If you venture to Bergheim, look for Confitures Artisanales near the Hotel de Ville. You'll be in for a treat!

On the far right, Bergheim's version of Christine Ferber--
Madame Gabrielle Hegeunauer : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

100 Strangers: Antje et Stephanie

Antje and Stephanie at the Wistub du Sommelier : Bergheim, FR

I rarely post more than one entry of 100 anything once a week, but this past weekend was full of all kinds of great people. Lilo and her St. Bernard, Amy. John the tablecloth guy. Today, I'm featuring Antje and Stephanie. Antje and her husband, Patrick, run a fabulous little brasserie/bistro in Bergheim called the Wistub du Sommelier.* Patrick is the chef and Antje is the sommelier. Stephanie is one of the restaurant's wait staff. The Wistub produces fabulous Alsatian culinary experiences. (I've written about their restaurant here, here, and here.) The restaurant also has been featured in the New York Times and is well worth a visit. This won't be the last time I go there.

Gemütlichkeit : Wistub du Sommelier :
Bergheim, FR

*In previous entries, I misspelled the name of the restaurant as Winstub. It's actually Wistub.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/10

Friends

Janeen and Janet Kincaid : Bergheim, FR

Today, my sister and I are off to Paris, the City of Lights. This is a photo my friend, Diana, took of us last weekend in Bergheim. In the background with the two dogs is Diana's husband, Scott. Don't be fooled by the time on the clock tower. Di took this around 3:30 in the afternoon. The clock in the tower is busted and permanently fixed at noon!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10. Photo taken by Diana Gibson.

La Choucroute

La Choucroute before... : Bergheim, FR

In addition to visiting Basel, we also spent a day out in the French countryside in the Alsace-Lorraine. We went with our friends, Scott and Diana, to a fabulous restaurant in the tiny town of Bergheim called the Winstub du Sommelier. They serve extraordinary food, including the Alsatian culinary wonder known as La Choucroute. It consists of fresh sauerkraut, potatoes, sausages, bacon, and ham and it is yummy! It's especially good on a cold day. Here are two shots taken before and after!

La Choucroute after... : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Au revoir, Bergheim

Sunday Cat in Shadows : Bergheim, FR

Here are the last of my shots from Bergheim. They're sort of more of the same, but I wanted to show them anyway. Tomorrow, I'll post some photos and a slideshow of Ribeauville, just down the road from Bergheim. And then a few photos of Basel, back in Switzerland.

Bi-Recycle : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09

Architectural Detail

Sundial on the Side : Bergheim, FR

Just a few more photos from Bergheim in the Alsace-Lorraine. I tried to focus in on the details, rather than the larger scene. I loved the color of the buildings and all of the beautiful flowers.

Fountain and Hotel de Ville : Bergheim, FR

Blue House : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09

Signs and Colors

Sign over the Winstub du Sommelier : Bergheim, FR

One of the neat sights in the towns and villages of the Alsace are the signs hanging over the doors of businesses and the colorful buildings. According to my friend, Di, Disney modeled its sets for Beauty and the Beast after the signs, buildings, and plazas of Bergheim, Ribeauville, and Riquewihr.

Colorful buildings in Bergheim, France

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09

Wistub du Sommelier

Detail of a Mural : Winstub du Sommelier : Bergheim, FR

I forgot to take a picture of any of the entrees each of us had, but I promise they were yummy. I ate a regional, peasant dish called choucroute: sauerkraut with sausages and ham.

Muscat d'Alsace : Winstub du Sommelier : Bergheim, FR

Just a couple of pictures from the Winstub du Sommelier. And dessert was divine.

Chocolat Mousse et Sorbet : Winstub du Sommelier : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09

The Alsace-Lorraine

Quiet Street : Bergheim, France in the Alsace-Lorraine

This weekend, I went to Basel, CH, to visit my friends, Di and Scott. On Sunday, they took me and our mutual friend, Dr Lala, to the Alsace-Lorraine. This is one of France's eastern wine regions and is picturesquely nestled between France and Germany. Throughout history it has changed hands numerous times as a result of feudal land grabs or world wars. The area is dotted with villages and towns lying at the foot of some beautiful wineries and vineyards. We went to Bergheim and Ribeauville, FR. In Bergheim, we ate a very delicious lunch at Wistub du Sommelier. Over the next week, I'll post pictures from both of these towns. Eventually, I'll also post some photos I took of Basel.

Oh! The best part of the weekend, besides hanging out with good friends and eating good food? Being able to speak a language I know and understand. Thank goodness for German!

Shutter and Wall Detail : Bergheim, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 05/09