2017-08-22

【Aiden in English】

        Another perplexing Alsatian town. Difficult to pinpoint what culture it belongs to. By now, I've accepted that these places, switching between the German and French lands in history, have created a new culture altogether. 

        Today's shore excursion was based in Colmar, one of the hottest spots in France. Being the capital of Alsatian wine, it has a strong sense of culture. Thus, Mom and I hopped from the German warmest city of Breisach to the French driest town of Colmar, and off we went.

        Originally derived from German, Colmar is a canal-lined medieval gem and now considered French. Neither of Colmar and Breisach showed its qualities right now, but it is something interesting to point out. Due to Colmar's early German history, the 9^th-century streets connected with the 13^th-century Gothic church and 17th-century half-timbered houses are a mix of French and German Renaissance architectures. However, not many stores or vendors were selling sausages. Instead, items such as delicious gelato, baguettes, and chocolates. Classical music by German composers could be heard throughout the old town, from violins to accordions.

        It's easy to say that Colmar has a very happy little old town, in which tourists, locals, and bees thrive together, each looking and tasting a lot of items offered in shops. The best way to describe the scene would be through the eye. So many colors blended within one another, making up vague shapes to distinguish themselves from each other. Blue in the Launch River flowing through what the locals called the 'Little Venice'. White in the whiffy clouds floating high over the medieval town. Gold shining in the tasty pastries in the windows. Green, red, and orange in the hundreds of store façade themes. The stores are what makes Colmar, Colmar. Each one was unique to its own position. Even the architecture differed from other places on earth. Additionally, the second and third floors all extended out over the streets to avoid taxes during the medieval period. Taxes were only based on the ground floor area, so I guess people even in those days still went the extra mile to not pay taxes.

        After another long stretch of cobblestone walking, mom and I made it back to the meeting point, but not before stopping by many churches within the old town. St. Martin's Cathedral, the center of the old town, was probably the standout. Once again, all the intact Alsatian buildings and homes were quite low, so the bell tower of the cathedral spires out predominantly. A quick adventure for gelato finished up the day, topping off an amazing experience with a strong hazelnut and macadamia flavor.

        Today marked our final day of the cruise part. Tomorrow would be the disembarkation in Basel, Switzerland. However, the vacation continues in Lucerne near the alpine mountains (Hint*). I do think the Viking River Cruises have done an outstanding job, and I've enjoyed cruising in both Danube and Rhine immensely.

        Nevertheless, the small river cruises with fewer activities are not for me. There will be a time when I will come to like this more. As of right now, a more proactive vacation is to my preference.

【紅霞譯文】

        又一個撲朔迷離的阿爾薩斯小城，人們甚至分不清它到底歸屬哪國文化，如今我對這些經過德法兩國歷史洗禮並早已開拓出嶄新天地的城鎮鄉村心懷敬意。

        今天我們乾脆把出行目標鎖定在法國熱門景點之一科爾馬，作為阿爾薩斯地區葡萄酒首府，它有着濃厚的文化氣息，正因如此，我和媽媽才樂不顛顛地從德國氣溫最高的城市布萊薩赫趕往法國濕度最低的小城科爾馬。

        源自德國的科爾馬堪稱運河縱橫的中世紀寶石，現在已劃為法國地盤。眼下無論科爾馬還是布萊薩赫都沒讓我們碰到乾燥無比或者酷熱難忍的天氣，但其它方面依然值得大書特書。由於早期深受德國影響，九世紀街道將十三世紀哥特式教堂與十七世紀半木製房屋串成一體，有機地結合了法德文藝復興建築風格。然而老城沒有太多商家店鋪專賣香腸，相反地，倒有不少美味可口的手工冰激凌店、法式長麵包房、巧克力小賣部，德國作曲家創作的古典音樂遍及大街小巷，從小提琴到手風琴，表現形式不拘一格。

        簡單來說科爾馬是一個富有詩情畫意的古城小鎮，外來遊客、本地人與蜜蜂簇擁而至，逐一品嘗商家推銷的招牌產品，場面蔚為壯觀，再加上奼紫嫣紅的色彩交織在一起，人們只能憑藉大同小異的形狀來區分彼此差異。被當地人稱之為“小威尼斯”區內，藍色的酪赫河潺潺流淌；散發出中世紀風情的古城中，白色的雲朵悠哉游哉地凌空飄舞；櫃檯櫥窗里，金色的美味糕點放射着耀眼光芒；數以百計的商店正門上，綠色、紅色和橘色的標誌飾物主導整個建築基調，正是這些形形色色的商店成就了科爾馬，每家風格盡顯特色，每棟建築獨一無二。中世紀人為了省稅，二樓、三樓全部加長伸向街道，畢竟當時稅款只是依據一樓面積而定，我覺得即使時過境遷，現代人照樣能少交稅就少交稅。

        又走過很長一段鵝卵石路並參觀了老城大大小小的教堂之後，我和媽媽才返回集合地點。聖馬丁大教堂恐怕算得上城中首屈一指的建築，因其周邊所有阿爾薩斯樓房民居格外低矮，致使鐘樓部分突顯高大挺拔。臨行前，我們抓緊買來香味撲鼻的榛子和澳洲堅果手工冰激凌，好好犒勞辛苦的自己。

        今天標誌着遊輪生活幾近結束，明日抵達瑞士巴塞爾登岸之後，我們還會南下阿爾卑斯山附近的盧塞恩繼續度假（溫馨提示）。維京河流遊輪服務上乘，我個人非常喜歡兩度乘它觀賞多瑙河與萊茵河風光。

        不過話說了回來，小型河流遊輪缺乏活動設施，於我並非相宜，恐怕我要過段時間才會捲土重來，現在更傾向節奏快捷的度假方式。

Today in History(歷史上的今天):

2015: Forbidden City, Beijing(北京紫禁城)

2014: YMCA Camp─Dodgeball-3(基督教青年會夏令營─躲避球之三)

Crosslinks(相關博文):

2017: Amsterdam—Venice of the North, NLD(荷蘭阿姆斯特丹—北方的威尼斯)

2016: Stockholm—Venice of the North, SWE(瑞典斯德哥爾摩—北方的威尼斯)

2016: St. Petersburg—Venice of the North(俄羅斯聖彼得堡—北方的威尼斯)

2016: Copenhagen—Venice of the North, DNK(丹麥哥本哈根—北方的威尼斯)

France(出遊法國)

Europe(歐洲掠影)