Saturday July 23rd- NOT Paris this trip. Celebrated Mass in French.

Today we were originally scheduled to board a high speed TGV train for Paris, where we planned to spend two nights, sightsee and watch the Tour De France riders finish on Sunday.  However, because of the rash of recent terrorist incidents throughout France and Germany, we took the advice of the State Department and decided to avoid large gatherings. Rather than take the train trip,  join the mass of humanity near the Arc de Triumph, and be looking over our shoulders for three days- we cancelled our Paris side trip.  This simply means more time in the hinter lands of Alsace, where we will hopefully be safer!

Our "plan B" day turned out to be a mixture of strenuous hilly vineyard hiking (about 4 miles) in the morning, relaxation playing cards, visiting a stork rehabilitation center, and finished with a spur of the moment trip to the mountains.

For a brief video clip of us walking through the vineyard next to our apartment (just after I slipped and fell on my butt), click on the link  below:

https://youtu.be/HZ_Xxquw_gU

A very friendly parking lot stork:

Our goal was to reach the ancient mountaintop convent of Mont St. Odile, just west of the town of Obernai, France.

Check out this link to our  brief video from atop Mt. St. Odile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUJZDdQAQdQ

The views from the terraces were heavenly, and the elevation above the Alsatian plain was so extreme, that you felt like you were in the presence of divinity looking over God's creation.  Walking the old halls of the Abbey and Convent complex were awe inspiring, and just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we stumbled upon the main Catholic chapel, where a French priest was just beginning his mass.

Naturally, we stayed, talked to the priest afterward, and came away with a deep feeling of appreciation for our blessings. The entire mass was, of course, in French, and we think we caught a few words here and there, but LOL, when we discussed afterwards what the priest's message was-well, we both came away with different thoughts-Alan thought it was regarding terrorism and Chris thought it was about acceptance and attitude. C'est bon, no matter what!

We could tell by the cadence when they were saying the Our Father and few other prayers, so mostly, we fit in. This was a wonderful adventure and we both left feeling at peace--until poor copiloting skills took us home the wrong way.

Papa Figura feeling tranquil:

Eventually we found our way back to Riquewihr and a very late dinner of Quiche Lorraine and salad--with the required wine of the Alsace!