20170726 Dyber Visit

Wednesday 6 photos

From Niederentzen we drive back to Ensisheim and stop to say hello to Jacqueline. Her entrance wall and garden areas always charm. We exchange updates and stories, especially how life changed after losing Francois. She shows us the stove that once belonged to his mother and describes how he renovated it. Wishing for more time, I propose a selfie, her first one, and smiles are easy.

20170726 Lunch at Finger Home

Wednesday 13 photos

We arrive at Marie Jeanne's home in Niederentzen shortly after noon, and welcoming kisses are soon followed by Bernard's opening of the wine. Joining us are Estelle Schmitt and Maurice, MJ's son-in-law. Marie Jeanne pours, and when talk intensely turns to farming, she and I go to the old restaurant kitchen, fascinating to watch her work in such familiar surroundings.

First course features tomatoes from her garden, boiled eggs, and soft sausage; main course of Alsatian spatzle and creamy sauce of veal chunks and mushrooms; dessert of ice cream loaf Estelle brought and nut cake Marie Jeanne made. All served with great warmth and hospitality!

20170726 Ensisheim Morning

Wednesday 14 photos

This morning we walk from hotel to find coffee and a bite to eat, but both places recommended by Schmidts are closed for vacation, as is Au Boeuf Rouge. After taking a few photos of familiar places, we decide on the same pink patisserie closest to hotel and frequented other years.

We get coffee from hotel bar and have breakfast in our room, coconut pastry for Jim and tomato and tuna quiche for me.

20170725 Schmidt Dinner

Tuesday 14 photos

As planned, Suzanne and Jean Michel Schmidt come to our hotel at 7:00pm to get us, and rain is falling hard enough to require umbrellas. As not planned, they have prepared dinner and will not allow us to take them to a restaurant. They have cremant from Bordeaux because they know we have been there. Then they open Pinot Gris. Main course is rolled pork wrapped in a pastry crust served with green leaf salad. Jean Michel makes traditional vinaigrette of Dijon mustard, Melfor vinegar, oil, minced shallots, salt, pepper, etc. Dessert is ice cream loaf covered with meringue.

After dinner they drive us to a building converted into a community center where Jean Michel goes to paint every Monday in an upstairs room. They show us his art and Christmas greetings he helped produce for the town.

They insist we visit a friend of theirs who has collections of old things bigger and better than Eco Musee, so they call him and make the plan to take us Thursday afternoon. They also phone Marie Jeanne and set a plan for us to have lunch with her tomorrow, but she will cook, not go to a restaurant. Busy, happy days!

20190725 Munich to Mulhouse

Tuesday 6 photos

At the Munich airport we have HB again and goulash soup, mixing a little German and a little Hungarian. Up in the sky, the flight attendants' confusion results in two glasses of wine for me.

At Basel-Mulhouse we pick up the rental car and drive to Ensisheim. Strangely, I don't feel like a stranger here or at the hotel.