April 13-19 Tours and Dinners

April 13-19

Saturday, April 13 was a family day. Veronique (Fabi’s sister) and her husband, Claude, invited us over for Tarte Flambée. He has a little oven set up in the basement. Sonia, (Fabi’s other sister) was also invited. 

We started off with the aperitif. We had several choices….

Then Claude fixed the Tarte Flambée. Since they take only about 3 minutes to cook, we just kept making them and by the time we were finished with one, another one was ready. Take a look at the process.

It was so nice be back at a family gathering. Unfortunately, most of the time, I didn’t understand much of what they said. Fabi kept asking them to slow down and they would… for about 6 words. It’s the same at a gathering at home when there’s someone learning English trying to follow along. You just can’t keep up the “lenteur.”

Veronique and Claude don’t have any children…not human ones anyway. They have a little farm—some land with animals—not far from where they live in Souffelweyersheim. At home, however, they have 3 turtles with 2 eggs fixin’ to hatch, 2 parrots, 2 dogs, many many frogs, fish…and I don’t know what else is hidden in their back yard. So take a look… 

Sunday, April 14, was an interesting day. Fabi and Francis and I went on a guided tour of Fort Rapp-Moltke de Reichstett. This is an old fort, built about 1872. It is one of 14 forts built after the Franco-Prussian war when Alsace became part of Prussia/Germany. They were intended to guard against France attacking and trying to take over their former territory. It housed about 900 soldiers. It’s built into a hill so most of it is underground. I briefly read up on its history before I went so I could understand a lot of what the guide said. 

We went outside and took a look at the cannons which could rotate to different angles to get a good aim at the “enemy.” I don’t think they were ever really used. There is one that was reconstructed to show what it really looked like. It was interesting to see the fort from the angle of the top of the hill.

Originally, there was no light inside the fort so candles and lanterns were used but they barely lit up enough of a passageway to get by. There are lights showing some of the passageways now but most of the tour was inside dark tunnels and rooms so I didn’t get many photos but here is one that had enough light…

I found the tour interesting. We saw a little bit of the kitchens and the bakery and a dormitory where we were told that there were about 4-6 bunk beds in a room and somebody slept in them at all times…Each shift took the place of the previous shift in sleeping. What a life! Would I even call it a life?

When the fort was opened up to tours, some guy went to the mayor of the town and explained that he had a whole school full of furniture and equipment from several decades ago and he wanted to donate it to the fort so people can see a real school. In some of the rooms, we could see old desks and science equipment and art supplies and all kinds of things.

After one guy’s stuff was accepted, other people went to the mayor and said that they had stuff too, so it was also given to the Fort. Some of it is presented in the different rooms but it’s mostly stored there in the dark recesses of the fort because the mayor can’t say “no.”

The guide was interesting and knew his stuff. His special interest was weapons. He spent quite a bit of time, well, a lot of time actually…explaining how missiles and cannons and bombs work. He even demonstrated that you can put fire to the powder but it won’t explode without the impact created in a missile. After listening for a polite while, we left the tour and found the front entrance.

I forgot to say that before the tour, we had lunch. Francis prepared a fantastic dish with shrimp in an incredilicious sauce over pasta. Ahhh. Too much goodness…almost.

Monday, April 15

On this day, one of the other students—the one from Russia—brought in something that his wife had made. It was like balls of different kinds of nuts that were held together with a most tasty and sweet “something”— like popcorn balls but way better. I didn’t understand why she had made it but it might have been left-overs from something and we benefitted.

After class, since it wasn’t raining yet, I went on a walking tour of Strasbourg. It was a “free” tour that takes place everyday at 2:30 pm.  

https://happy-strasbourg.eu/

You’ll have to come take your own tour because there was was a lot of fascinating info about the city. Here are some photos to pique your curiosity.

Toward the end of the tour, we visited this sculpture/monument that shows how Alsace has been bounced back and forth over the decades. It shows a mother with two sons…one represents Germany and the other, France. 

Although this building was not explained on the tour, I know that it is one of the oldest and most famous ones in Strasbourg. It’s on the Cathedral square.

And there you have Monday.

Tuesday, April 16

Not much happened this day. In the evening, I went to a special presentation/workshop on French pronunciation. The presenter talked a lot and I understood about 30% until he got to the point about how to actually form some of the French sounds. He went around and listened to everyone and gave them some tips on how to improve. That was very useful.

Oh, I also met another (aka, the other) American at the school. She introduced herself and said, “I’m from Houston Texas, but don’t hold that against me.” Ha! We instantly connected.

Wednesday, April 17

I have no notes from this day so I guess it was a non-day. Hmmmm.

I will insert here an observation. Tarte Flambée is a very traditional Alsatian dish. You saw the one that Claude made.

It’s also called Flemmekueches. It looks a little bit like pizza but the crust is very thin and crispy—sort of like soda crackers; and, the traditional toppings are chopped bacon (lardon) and onions (oignons). Some restaurants have added other ingredients on it, like mushrooms or Gruyère cheese, which are also typical ingredients in food here. 

As I pass by restaurants, they will sometimes have a little sandwich board or sign outside showing the menu, and the kinds of Tarte Flambée that is offered if that’s on the menu. One day, as I was wondering home after class, I walked by two restaurants next to each other. One was a modern-looking sort of place and the other was a traditional Alsatian building. They both served Tarte Flambée. Here is the sign for the modern-looking restaurant:

Here’s the sign for the traditional-looking one. 

One would think that the traditional restaurant would have traditional Tarte Flambée, but no! to my horror, they do not…well, they do… and they also offer their own “creations.” Well, I think they go too far with their creations….just too far!!! Here is an up close view of what I mean…..

It’s an abomination!

Thursday, April 18

This day was ordinary until 4:00 when the hairdresser showed up to cut my hair. Yes, he came here and brought all his stuff. His name is Jose— Portuguese pronunciation— so it’s pronounced with a soft “J”— more like “Joe-zay” in English (sort of). Here he is just getting started.

I wanted to once and for all get rid of the wings that grace the back and sides of my hair….something chic and easy so here it is. I wish my skin was also chic. (LOL)

After the haircut, I went to dinner at Fabi and Francis house and had another incredibly delicious dinner of duck and pasta. Duck is as common here as chicken is in Spokane. WOW! Lucky me. It was incredible. I told them that their restaurant “Chez Tafani” was 5 stars. (Tafani is their last name.)

Oops. Sorry. No photo. Je suis désolée.

This brings us up to Friday where it was, yet again, cold and rainy. I have worn Fabi’s winter wool coat every day and it looks like it’s through the weekend too.

Enough whining! Onward with life….