An exhilarating bike ride through the French countryside brought my childhood alive in the realm of the French vineyards, and I could feel myself bubbling with the new found temerity in hunting down places inaccessible by public transport. But the despair of riding through a back-breaking route insignificant in comparison to rediscovering an incredible feeling, still deserves a mention as a matter of precaution for those like me, who are prone to giving into mad adventure impulses.
With Europe's fantastic transport connections, I had been conveniently putting off cycling. But here in France, my only option to get to the picturesque Alsacian village of Eguisheim was a rented bike. After renting a bike from the Colmar train station, I rode to Eguisheim - the adjacent Alsacian village that is ~7Kms away. There must have been magic in the air because a fairy tale town was visible in the distance and my balance came back as soon as I clutched the handle bars, even after 9 long years. Pedaling along winding roads flanked by pumpkin and tomato farms; their green creepers glowing in the shades of the fast-approaching autumn, visible from between thickets, where a wild fawn appeared and disappeared-Oh those were some sights!
Wafting into the cobbled alleys of Eguisheim, the whiff of freshly baked Bretzels (German for Pretzels) leads you to rows of half-timber houses, each one more aesthetic than the last! There's also plenty romance filling the air of these idyllic villages that lie on the French-German border. Simply watching zestful old couples strolling hand-in-hand, young ones cheering to their wedding bells, and rooftops festooned with colourful hearts, implying the presence of a maiden eagerly awaiting her prince charming are enough to fill one with the idea of ever-lasting love. But the bicycle ride back and the night long flix bus journey from Colmar to Luxembourg that lay ahead, prevented me from dwelling on that thought. More on adventures in other parts of this lovely European country shall follow in a later blog post. Until then, au revoir!
DIY ITINERARY
Explore the Alsacian villages on foot or a bike. Trains run between Strasbourg and Colmar. I rented a bike from the Colmar train station to travel between Colmar and Eguisheim!
a. STRASBOURG
b. COLMAR
c. EGUISHEIM
DAY 2
Take the cable car up from Chamonix and commence the hike to Lac Blanc from the highest drop-off point. With the lake located at about 2800m and the incline being very steep, it can take anywhere between 7-8 hrs based on fitness levels.
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