I had left the air conditioning off all night and opted to leave the window open in my fourth floor attic room. The noise from the bustling street below continued throughout the night gradually forming an active part of my dream in my shallow sleep. The long drive from the previous day ensured that, in spite of the noise from the street below, I had a good night’s sleep. I woke around 0800 and migrated downstairs for a pain au chocolate and a smooth cafe au lait. I sipped my coffee as I planned my day flicking through my lonely planet guide book.
Washed and refreshed I left the hotel Gutenbourg turning right and took a slow walk towards Petit France. As I passed well maintained timber framed houses the road gradually became narrower and the window flower baskets became fuller and more colourful. I felt I was entering a quant old world of German nursery stories. The roads were cobbled and cafes flowed out onto the small squares under a canopy of trees. It was very magical with the warm summer breeze comforting me as I walked. Being the first Sunday in the month all museum entrance fees were suspended. So I went to the museum of contemporary art which was a painful looking shard of glass sat on the side of the river nestled among the chocolate box like houses. The contrast of old and new was not harmonious but there it was a rectangular glass three storey monstrosity excusing itself for art. A matter of tastes I guess. I stayed only briefly to see the exhibits that gave me little inspiration and reminded me more of adolescent graffiti rather than beauty. I might as well be looking at the paint section of a DIY shop. I carried on walking around Strasbourg before stopping for coffee and cake near the Cathedral. I had a tarte myrtille and espresso which gave me the much needed fuel to take on the 366 steps to climb to the top platform of the Cathedral. Up I went spiralling around the endless spiral stairs to the top. The view over Strasbourg was magnificent, looking over hundreds of little chocolate box house roofs with their patch work pastel colours and small attic windows.
I then made a brief excursion into the museum of fine art and the museum of decorative art taking advantage of the free entrance today. Then I walked around almost the entire isle of Strasbourg along the water ways, how small the town is but how different the northern part is with more poverty then the south. The people seemed less colourful and seemed sadder than those living in the south of Strasbourg.
I returned back to the hotel around 1700 to have a short nap and gather my energy. On waking I dressed and showered for dinner and headed back out to Petit France to survey the restaurants and decide where to eat. After dinner I walked back to the Place Gutenbourg to have a drink in one of the late night bars before dragging my tired body to the hotel and my bed.