Colmar

While I read about Europe’s worst first winters, am reminded of my brush with cold at Colmar in France. When Lance Armstrong made a statement that evening that it was perhaps the coldest day for him in Tour de France, trust me he wasn’t joking! I remember the clanking of my teeth and my fruitless effort to hold my hand still in order to take few photographs of the TdF cyclists. The make do rain coat I had bought in Barcelona, struggled to hold up against the downpour coupled with chilly wind and had I been sitting inside a café sipping a hot cappuccino it would have been a different experience. And this was the month of July! Nevertheless, am not complaining. The whole Tour de France experience was worth every single experience and needless to say my stay in Colmar was simply beautiful.

Colmar is a delightful little town in Alsace region of France close to the German border. Hometown to Martin Schongauer, a German engraver and painter and the very famous sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty, Colmar is like a picture postcard town that one always dreams of. There is even a statue of Bartholdi with a mini Statue of Liberty installed in one corner of a crossroad which I noticed during my walk around the neat and green Colmar.

This old town known for its art and history has many museums one can visit including the Unterlinden museum, Bartholdi Museum,…etc. to name a few. The Saint Martin cathedral was peaceful and had the typical stain glass windows.

There is another thing that you will find common to all European countries – love for Indian food! Almost in all cities I visited I found Indian restaurants. Since I was there to check out the local cusine I never even thought of venturing into the Indian restaurant. Though am 100% sure that the Indian food served there would be half as spicy as the original 🙂

As you take a walk around the centre of the town you will see familiar European style cobbled streets lined with cafes. But what sets Colmar apart in your memory is the canal lined with aged & old houses – thus getting the name “Little Venice”.  These are not any normal looking house but crooked looking houses that are half timbered and painted. These quintessential houses give a very different feel to the environment.

Colmar is located near Germany and Switzerland and if you happen to be on a mountain like I was you would be amazed to see the German and Swiss borders! I was invited to a Marimba concert atop a hill preceded by a potluck picnic. Sitting there out in the open, covered in warm clothes in the company of locals, sipping wine and gorging on some French cheese and food followed by some good music in concert style; well what else do you need in life?

Colmar is well connected by rail, air and road routes. I traveled by train. Though I had Euro passes that I bought from India before I began my tour; I bought tickets many a times while traveling in France. You must evaluate options before using up your Euro passes. Sometimes, buying tickets is a cheaper option. And since I had another three months in Europe at that point of time, I had ample and better opportunities to avail my Euro pass benefits. From campsites to bed & breakfast, youth hostel and hotels, Colmar offers you options for stay to suit every pocket. That was Colmar for me, a nice, clean laid back place where one can lead a life at his/her own pace and still not be bored!!…:) Enjoy your travel & stay there.