Arrival in Eguisheim
14 September, 2017 continued
We took the main road of the Alsatian Wine Route down through Ingersheim and Turckheim before pulling off onto the back roads. The clouds gathered in the sky and rain started to lightly fall. We drove through vineyards and fields before finally coming to the outskirts of Eguisheim, where we found a pay lot and pulled in. As we were getting out to fill the meter, another car pulled up to us as they were leaving and gave us their parking ticket so we wouldn't have to pay. This has happened a few times in France so far. Americans tend to expect the French to be rude for some reason, but we have encountered nothing but the nicest people here!
We ran across the lot in the rain to La Ferme Du Pape, our home in Eguisheim for the next couple nights. We check in and get the code for the private parking lot behind the hotel. Score! We head back into the light spotty rain to get the car from the pay lot. As we cross the street, the sky opens to a full rainbow stretching across the lot. This is now the second time we've arrived at a new spot in France and was greeted by a full-sky rainbow. And to make things even more special, we watched as it became a full double. So beautiful! It's too bad we couldn't get to the town before it dispersed, so we had to settle with the parking lot in the pics.
I was still in a good bit of pain, so our wander through town was more like a slow limp. Still, we enjoyed what we saw! Heading down the Grand Rue through the center of town, we passed beautiful wineries and little cafes. The town is surrounded by a ring street, each section named after something wine - Rue du Muscat, Rue du Reisling, Rue du Traminer, and then lastly Rue des Trois Chateaux, named for the three castles that overlook the town. We will visit those castles tomorrow, but for now we will just enjoy the evening in town.
The town is laid out in a circular shape with the old fortified ring now being the external walls of the homes that surround the town. There was an alley that separated the walls, with the inner part now being sheds or garages for the houses along the wall. The houses are beautiful in their brilliant colors and décor, while the storage parts are much more primitive and rustic. Along Rue du Allmend and Cours Unterlinden the town shows its old, medieval side. A much more run down look, but don’t think that means at all that it is not just as alluring. In a way it is even more beautiful, the real rustic underbelly of history showing through the pretty facade. The whole ring encircled the town, with the main street of shops and restaurants cutting through the middle, and the square with the church and the old castle as the heart.
Much of the town was closed for the evening, but we did manage to find a restaurant that looked great. We got a table for dinner at the Auberge du Rempart, where we ordered the tasting menu. We started with Edelzwicker wine which is one we haven't had before, but what better place to try new wines than wine country? The waiter didn't know how to translate the main ingredient for the terrine of the day, so we went into the kitchen to ask if anyone knew. After a few minutes, he emerged back to the dining room, threw up his arms and shouted, "Bambi!" So... venison terrine it is! It was actually very good. We had Chicken in Riesling and Spaetzle, followed by a couple different fruit tarts. Fantastic meal, but what else should one expect when in France? After dinner we made a slow walk back to the room for an early cuddly night. Tomorrow we climb castle ruins and stroll the beautiful streets of Colmar, but for now the romantic room in this romantic town beckons us to return...
