Provence, Piolenc/Orange, 6.6.2025: Baby Carrots and Rosé Wine

Les Buisses chambres d’hôte, Piolenc, Provence, France

It’s now the 8th and I need to catch up on this travel diary. The past two days have been exceptionally busy and/or ones on which there was no chance to write in this diary, because we were traveling and my computer was packed away.

Alsace, Mulhouse, 5.6.2025: Black-Eyed Peas and Soupe à l'oignon

Marché de Mulhouse, Mulhouse, Alsace, France

Since W. was still attending his conference, Steve, K., and I walked this morning to the Marché de Mulhouse. The walk was longish, nearly two miles, but very enjoyable, with the skies sunny and a cool breeze blowing. Google maps provided courtesy of my iPhone kindly took us up this rue and down that one on a winding pathway until we finally arrived at the market. 

Alsace, Mulhouse, 4.6.2025: Storks and Strangers

Auberge du Vieux Mulhouse, Mulhouse, Alsace, France

There were thunderstorms in the night and the rain continued through the morning, so walking and taking photos today was not so easy. But we did manage to get a good walk in under umbrellas, and as we did so, I snapped photos of sights that caught my eye.

Alsace, Saint-Hippolyte and Mulhouse, 3.6.2025: Choucroute Garnie and Singing Blackbird

View of Black Forest through barn in Saint-Hippolyte, Alsace, France

Writing now on the 4th. Yesterday’s itinerary (i.e., the 3rd) was to drive from Würzburg to Alsace. We left Würzburg after breakfast, at 9 A.M. The drive was a fairly easy one, though I say that, of course, as a passenger and not a driver. As with the preceding day, W. and K. alternated driving. 

Hamburg and Würzburg, 1-2.6.2025: Franconian Bratwurst and Imposing Churches

Würzburg, Marienberg

Sunday, the 1st, was a rest day for us after the big party on Saturday, and as we prepared for the drive on the 2nd to Würzburg. We stayed in W. and K.’s apartment, ironed the shirts and pants we’d washed to prepare for the trip, and packed. W. and K. had a lunch meeting with T. and A., then returned to heat up food they had brought home from the party for a mid-afternoon meal for us. Later in the evening, W. cooked an omelette for the four of us as he tried to use up the eggs in the refrigerator in preparation for being away from their flat for weeks ahead.

Hamburg, 30-31.5.2025: Birthday Parties and Alster Bells

I’m writing this on 1 June in W. and K.’s flat, as rain pelts down outside. It began suddenly a few moments ago shortly before noon, and is very welcome, since it will cool things down and also because Hamburg, like so much of Europe, had a very dry spring. 

Hamburg, 29.05.2025: Disappearing Rings and Licorice Shops

Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie concert hall, kleiner Saal

Yesterday (writing this on the 30th) was for the most part a rest day. My sore throat and cough continue, and since we knew we’d go in the evening to a concert at the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, we all thought it was best for me to rest. There were plans for W. and K.’s friends V. and V. to come for the midday meal, with W. and K. cooking the asparagus we had bought at the Winterhude market the day before.