A Short but Sweet Stay in Strasbourg

Strasbourg is only a couple of hours away from Heidelberg.  It’s so close that I can’t even remember if we passed by any border controls.  It just felt like going on a day trip. From Strasbourg bus station, I rode the tram to Homme de Fer. I then walked for quite some time looking for my hostel. I arrived in the early evening of November 1, a public holiday, so most establishments were closed.  I wanted to make the most out of my short time in the city, but there was really nothing for me to do. The next day, I decided to just have breakfast somewhere near Petite France. It was still very early, and I’m glad to have stumbled upon an open boulangerie. I wasn’t sure if it was popular or because it was the only one open that’s why people started arriving shortly after I got a seat. After caffeinating, I continued walking until I reached Strasbourg Cathedral. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) I walked around the area for a bit and found this Insta-famous chalet that’s even more decked out during Christmas. Strasbourg’s Christmas market is actually the oldest one in France and one of the oldest in Europe. Oh, how magical it must be when all the shops are illuminated and the smell of cinnamon waft through the air! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) Also just a few steps away from the cathedral, I reached the banks of the River Ill where I admired Strasbourg’s half-timbered houses. These date back from the 16th and 17th centuries and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) Eventually, I found myself in the middle of Petite France. I never thought I’d be able to visit the real one! A few years prior, I’ve only been to the replica in Korea. I’m amazed there are a number of small bridges in this tiny area. They are the perfect vantage point to see the mills, dams, and the gorgeous waterside terrace. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) Pictured above is the white street, formerly a tanners’ street. Each white half-timbered house has an additional roof for drying animal skins. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kat 🇵🇭 (@excursionista_net) I wanted to go to Colmar too, but I also had to catch the bus to Brussels later that day. In fact, I was so scared I’d miss it that I booked an Uber to the bus station. I paid €17 for an 8-minute ride only to wait for half an hour because FlixBus was late!