9/11/10, Saturday

Up early today to prepare breakfast of eggs and Canadian bacon for us before heading out for the day's adventures. We decided to drive to Colmar today because Taylor had been there during her previous visit to France and thought we would enjoy it.

The drive went smoothly and we enjoyed watching the little villages pop up in the foothills of the Vosges along the way, and the castles sitting up top. Within the hour we were in Colmar ready to start our day.

The weather was ideal for wandering around this old village. We were standing amongst buildings dated as far back as the 1200's. Very neat old town.  We spent a couple hours poking in some of the little shops and stopped in a patisserie and bought sandwiches, quiches and a slice of a fabulous layered chocolate cake that was out of this world. We sat by a fountain and enjoyed the people, ancient buildings, warm sun and good food for lunch.

YUMMY!I Shared

This little area of Colmar was called Petit Venice and was very pretty.

No matter where we go the flowers never stop amazing me!

Still so cute after all these years of marriage! Inspiring aren't we!

As if the chocolate cake wasn't enough! I love pistachio! I shared this too! Remember that when you see how this day ended.

Left Colmar in the early afternoon and headed for Mulhouse where there is a Automobile Museum.

The museum is the largest Museum of automotive in the world, with 500 vehicles including 464 motor 98 marks.  It is the famous collection of Fritz Schlumpf.  Pictured here is a  Bugatti Veyron a million dollar car! Even Taylor and I enjoyed this museum. There were some amazing automobiles that dated back to 1878.                                                                     

We spent as much time as we could at the museum allowing for traffic jams, which we were stuck in for a good long time on our way back to Strasbourg where we were to meet the Archads for dinner at 7:30. We arrived at our meeting place at 7:31. Whew, that was close. We were celebrating Vivianne's birthday. They took us to a Lebanese restaurant that they frequent. This was the first Lebanese dining experience ever for the Zillmers. The Archads ordered the traditional fare which comes in little bowls with a flat bread to eat with. We had 20 to 25 different dishes, starting with the cold and ending with the hot (in temperature not spice) dishes. We all found plenty of items we very much enjoyed and left feeling very satisfied. All in all a very fun dining experience. Vivianne asked if we would like to go from there into Germany for ice cream! Of course we would. Justine hopped in our car with us and guided us to the Italian owned ice cream restaurant that they often visit in Germany.

So, yes this is how my day ended. That's right dessert number 3, but who's counting. When you're in Germany you do not say no to Apple Strudel with Italian chocolate truffle gelato floating in rich cream with whipped cream on the side........oh my. So we spent the day in very old villages in the Alsace region of France,  had dinner at a Lebanese restaurant in the city of Strasbourg and ended in Germany with our friends from France eating at an Italian owned gelato shop. Vivianne explained that the Italians run the gelato shops in Germany 9 months out of the year and then return to Italy for 3 months to make up the new recipes for the next year. We cross back over into France and head for home. Hit the hay immediately because we have another big day planned for tomorrow. Ah yes time for a trip along La Route du Vin. Will tell you all about it!