Les pensées de Nicole

Since my first car ride on Sunday, when we drove from the airport, I have been captivated by the size of the cities and the amount of open country in Alsace. Where we live in the US, it is impossible to drive down the highway and not see neighborhoods through the trees. You might spot a field or a thick patch of woods, but you know that there are many people living past it. Here, in Alsace, you can drive for many miles and only see open fields and vineyards. And it is very clear when you leave town, because all of the towns are not grouped together. The cities are also very different here. Most of the cities in the US have tons of metal skyscrapers, streets constantly filled with cars, and there is an atmosphere that demands that everyone get to their destination quickly. Both Colmar and Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, are filled with old beautiful buildings and cobblestone streets. Cafés spill onto the streets, and there are more pedestrians than cars. The tallest building  I saw was less than ten stories high. These aspects of Alsace show that the French are much more concerned with the environment, with preserving history, and just with beauty in general.

Strasbourg.