Distance. 55km
Total. 525km
As we left our hotel we complained about the poor standard of the room and got 10 Euros knocked off....well at least it’s something. We didn’t have petite dejeuner there and nipped into town to get a cafe espresso and a pain aux raisin. It was a sunny but cool day and we cycled into Strasbourg without delay. As we left the hotel we twigged that some other guests were people who worked for the EU Parliament and that the Parliament were currently in session (a fairly rare occurrence). We had already decided (after lengthy debate, negotiations and deliberations and ultimately putting it to a vote) that a visit to the Parliament building would be on our agenda.
On our arrival we managed a quick coffee to warm up and find that their were four fully armed soldiers waiting to be served. It was nice to see that our visit was being taken seriously and our security is paramount to the citizens of the EU. We didn’t take any photos....they tend not to like people taking snaps!
Our first port of call was the Cathedral, which is huge and at the time of building was the tallest building in the world. We then cycled across the city centre to the Parliament building. We were even allowed in to the session which was coincidentally about Brexit.
The Union Jack may not be there in a month and a half’s time! They put it at the side so it can be easily removed without affecting the position of the other flags. I wore my Vernon Velo Club top which is a French cycle club, just so no-one would ask me about Brexit.
There weren’t many MEP’s in the Parliament at the time but we enjoyed the 1 minute slots that MEP’s were allowed to speak. Ann Widdecombe was present but no Nigel Farage. All view points were aired and then Michel Barnier made a longer speech. The Brexit MEP’s gave him a bit of a heckle. There were lots of spectators in the gallery and despite it being against the rules to take photos I sneaked a quick one. I was quite wowed by the building and the ease with which we were allowed entry. We had a bag scan etc but it was very quick and easy. We just enjoyed the coincidence of our visit with the Parliament sitting and that they talked about Brexit, it seemed very lucky.
We moved back into the old centre of the city and had a bite to eat next to L’Ill river and walked around the area they call Petite France. It was beautiful.
Lots of timbered houses and buildings, lovely shopping street and covered bridges over the river. I had an ice cream as I am trying to make my five a day fruit and vegetables up by eating fruity flavoured ice cream.... but I keep failing at the last second when choosing the flavour because I keep choosing my favourite....chocolate!
Mid afternoon we cycled out of the city and across the Rhein to Germany and the town of Kehl which is immediately on the other side of the river from Strasbourg. It seems rather different and more industrial. We didn’t hang about but cycled north up the Rhein. The wind was no longer ‘cheeky’ it was damn right ‘rude’, constantly in our faces and it had strengthened. We didn’t have to go too far to the pleasant small town of Diesheim and a much better hotel than last night. We dined in our room on food we had purchased earlier but tried some of the local bier to quench our thirst. I say this to reassure the reader that we are not dining out each lunchtime and evening. We are foraging as we go, looking for berries and grubs to sustain us in our cycling endeavour.....well actually we buy stuff from the shops!
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