Breisach and Colmar - December 8th

This morning we were met at the ship by storks who have not gone south for the winter.  It sounds like they know they will get food from the ships, so they are happy to hang out by your door in hopes of a treat.

Our first tour of the day was a bus drive through the Black Forest complete with snow!!!  The higher we went he more snow there was.  Beautiful views all around.  Unfortunately I took a Dramamine and pretty much napped a good part of the trip, but was wide awake when we got to the snow.  We stopped at an artists village where we had a demonstration about cockoo clocks, watched a Black Forest cake being assembled and decorated and watched as a vase was being made by a glassblower.  Photos below.

There was, of course an opportunity to shop.  A few things found there way back with me.

We returned to the ship for lunch, then headed back out by bus to Colmar, France.  It is a medieval city, wonderful architecture, quaint streets and Christmas markets galore.  This is the one time we came home with nothing.  The crowds were overwhelming and that was the biggest deterrent for both of us.  We walked all over the city and had gone so far that when it came time to get to our meeting point, we made it with seconds to spare.  It was a little bit worrying, but we made it.  They planned to count and promised they wouldn't leave anyone behind...but we didn't want to be the ones who weren't there.  The shipboard story is that there was a Mrs Woo who got lost and had to call the ship to catch up with her group, so the warning was, don't be the new Mrs. Woo.  Funny thing was, one of our group stopped to look at a quilt shop and lost their group and couldn't find them, so they called the ship and got connected with their group, but at the port talk that evening she got  razzed about it.

Here are some photos from beautiful Colmar

Back on the ship we took a group photo of our quilt tour group, then had a special captains toast, dinner and time to chat with those who are heading home tomorrow.

We are packed (with suitcases a little fuller than when we left, but everything fits.  Tomorrow we disembark from Basel Switzerland at 9:30 and head to Mullhouse France for the serious fabric part of our trip.  Two days there, one day in Zurich and Tuesday we'll be heading home.  

It's been a wonderful trip so far and I'm glad we extended it just a little longer.

Steps for today, just at 13,000.