Day # 42 Erdelsheim to Strasbourg.

             Yes! Raining again as I parted the curtains at  a rather dark 7.15 am, just as the street cleaners were out hosing the pavements of the main street, where my overnight was located. Not in any great hurry and knowing that my mileage would be modest after yesterdays marathon. Last night's super hot and long shower worked wonders on these tired muscles that barely protested as boots and rain gear were donned once more. Finding a major city like Strasbourg is rarely difficult---didn't JC say "all roads lead to Rome"? However, my big surprise of the day was the nondescript, shabby & potholed Rhine river bridge crossing over to Strasbourg from its twin city Kehl, in Germany. In fact, metro Strasbourg, only starts about 3 kms. west of the river banks and it was necessary to trek through an extensive stretch of industrial waste land to reach the suburbs & into the central city area. This 3 mph. tourism certainly reveals warts & all.
            As a aficionado of modern history, I would have thought that given the tragic importance of Alsace-Lorraine to both nations, they would have been inspired to jointly construct a rather magnificent linking bridge, plus inspirational signage to symbolize the new European spirit. All I saw was a small sign saying---France--- 50 kms max. on city streets!!

Not an exactly inspiring welcome to France.

           With weather improving to cool & sunny, sightseeing was purely incidental today in Strasbourg, as I concentrated on the hotel search task at hand. Even here, with so many hotels in the central area, there were relatively few budget empty rooms on offer. Eventually I did locate something, adequate for two nights before I begin the 8 day walking stretch that will take me down to Basel, Switzerland.
            After nearly a month in teutonic Germany it has been a relief to be in latin France for 48 hours. Surprised that in a city, which has in history so regularly passed back and forth between the two nations, that there is so little apparent German influence apart from the distinctive black & white timbered architecture. In fact, I have not hear a single word of German spoken on the streets, Turkish yes, but no German and that includes the main railway station announcements.



 22.2 kms. walked today per Google maps.
800.2 Cumulative kms. walked.
 Type of overnight lodging: Hotel Le Colmar.
 Cost of lodging: 42.50E.