Adventure Flashback: Alsacean Saturday (part 1)!

Quick note before I begin: I have quite a few posts I need to catch up on over the next few days (you can think of this as both a coming attraction and a way to hold me accountable).

• Alsacean Saturday (part 2; basically just because I had WAY too many photos to fit in one post)
• An Undressed World: Thames Walk with MAY
• Vinyl Records, Vintage Flannel, and Really Good Street Food 
• Spontaneity! 

But for now, I am SUPER excited to present some photos and stories from Alsacean Saturday, one of the final days of my EPIC week-long trip to Switzerland. These photos are some of my favourite of all time, and I hope any readers like them as well. Here we goooo...

I woke up on Saturday to Michelle bursting into my room, declaring, "Time to get up Sara Moss! It's Alsacean Saturday!" I have never jumped out of bed more quickly. 

The best way to start any day = Traditional Swiss German breakfast
(Note: Meats, Eggs, 100% Swiss Muesli, Pretzels, Mustard) 

The adventures Michelle and I had taken during the course of the week had been just the two of us (Alex had to be responsible and actually go to work). BUT on the weekend, the three of us went off in search of adventures in the Alsace region of France, just a quick drive across the Swiss boarder...

I was freaking out in the backseat, pretty much like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas morning. But who could blame me?!?! Look at that view out the front windshield! Also, thank you to Michelle for wearing a scarf that matched the scenery

First Stop: Kaysersberg! We got out of the car and discovered that we needed 2 euros for parking. This proved to be a problem. Switzerland uses Swiss Francs, not euros (quite frustrating to me as a tourist), SO if you cross the boarder into France or Germany you need a totally different currency. Alex was again the responsible one and went off in search of a shop at which to break change. I looked for coins on the ground (while mostly taking pictures). Michelle helped me. Luckily, we were all successful: Alex came back with fig spread and change for parking. Michelle and I took some good photos.

Map of Kaysersberg

Can it get any more beautiful? (answer: yes! keep scrolling down)

Alex was starting to take a picture of Michelle and me when this adorable French man offered (/insisted) to take one of the three of us. Ta-da!

Too cute!

 And with our first group photo successfully taken, we set off to explore!

Cafe owners were setting up outdoor searing

Don't look up

I watched a family unload their car for a while and then
wandered down the alley 

Found this at the end of side street

MIND BLOWN. Straight out of a postcard or painting (and all done up with Easter Eggs in the front garden)

The shutters and rooftops were my favourite thing to photograph

Another side street that was begging for exploration 

Kaysersberg was great for far more than scenic streets! There were also shops with tons of useful trinkets. We didn't go into any of them, but we did enjoy the window displays. For example...

Michelle is standing in front of a shop that sells pornographic fairy sculptures, skulls, and small toy kittens/animal models

Alex is standing in front of the window on the other side of the door. Here, you can see a collection of knives, peace flags, and buddah statues. 

I mean, basically the same stock as any CVS or Wallgreens, right?

Model shot

Self timer. Michelle is not sure exactly why I recommended this pose (I was going for something original!)

Shutters

Sauntering down the street...

...in search of everyday beauty...

...and a good shot!

Found one!

Cigarette break  

Cheesecake or strawberry torte?

Reenactments are our specialty! 

Musee

Telephone Public 

I sat on a ledge here for a long while and pondered life, love, and travel

Can you spot Michelle? Hint: Look for the scarf!

Vive la France!

Tru luv

Cannot get enough of the colours!

Or the windows!

In action..

Keep walking...

There is something timeless about black and white photos

GROUP SELFIE!

Then we decided it was time to climb the giant castle that overlooks Kasersberg. Fun began before we even got to the first step...

We found these strange teepee like structures. Michelle tried to convince Alex to go inside one. In the end, she climbed in. Alex and I had a great time watching.

Starting our gradual ascent

This photo series is one of my all time favs (thanks Alex!)

The queens of silliness and tomfoolery! 

Up and up and up! I took advantage of every lookout!

Add this to my list of happy places

Staring into the clouds!

 It was touch and go for a while, but WE MADE IT!!!!

Love in front of a castle

 There were more stairs to climb inside!

This is the view from that lookout 

And THIS is the view from the TOP!! 

I spy Michelle

In the other direction

And we began the climb back down...

Eventually, after a stop to a hospital that was actually an Elderly Home (long story), we made it back to the car. With more than 150 photos already on my memory card and my mind overloaded by the beauty of Kaysersberg, we headed off to the next town...
Stay tuned!