Strasbourg and the Spaces In Between
A Mix of Cultures, the Scenic Route and Small Town Vibes

In Strasbourg, we parked and just started walking—with no real plan other than “find a good pastry and a view.” This city has a vibe all its own: French cafés on one corner, German beer gardens on the next. The blend is seamless, and the result is a city that feels both familiar and totally unique.

We walked along the canals of La Petite France, browsed a few shops, and admired the Strasbourg Cathedral, whose towering Gothic spire made us all pause and look up in awe. We grabbed snacks from a bakery (yes, more pastries) and sat in a shaded plaza, people-watching and letting the moment stretch.

It was a reminder that some cities don’t need to impress you loudly. They just invite you in, quietly, and offer you space to breathe.

After lunch, instead of heading straight back, we took the long route through Germany’s wine country—a stretch of rolling hills, vineyard-covered slopes, and towns that look like postcards.

We stopped in a few villages along the way, wandering down main streets, poking into bakeries, and snapping photos of timbered buildings and flower boxes. The names blur a little now—but the feeling doesn’t. It was peaceful. Easy. And a part of Europe we hadn’t really seen before: the ordinary, everyday beauty of small-town life.

We didn’t go wine tasting (the kids weren’t quite ready for that), but we did appreciate how every turn seemed to reveal something new. It was one of those drives where no one asked “how much longer.” Everyone just looked out the window.

After a full day of walking and winding roads, we decided to eat out in the small village walking distance from our rental house—a village so charming (and so under-the-radar) that we still occasionally debate how to pronounce it.

The restaurant was cozy and casual, tucked into a little square where locals lingered over beers and slow conversations. The menu? Traditional German fare... with a surprise twist: a version of German “pizza” (Flammkuchen) that we couldn’t not order.

Was it Italian? Of course not. But it was delicious—crispy, cheesy, topped with regional ingredients—and it made for a fun dinner adventure. The kids were skeptical at first, but ultimately gave it a thumbs-up. And hey, when in Rome... or Germany... or wherever we were that day.  It wasn’t a fancy night, but it was the kind of evening that sticks with you—not because of what was on the plate, but because of the people around it.