Strasbourg, France and Belgium, Oh My!

Our next stop on the European road trip was Hoyet, Belgium. On the way, we passed through France and stopped in Strasbourg, France to see Notre Dame's little sister and delight in some French cuisine.

In each country, I suggested we turn on the radio to hear some local music and how many radio announcers pronounced the names and artists of popular American songs (like "Joosteen Beebear" (Justin Bieber).

We arrived! What a cute little French town, complete with rivers, bridges, people on bikes, and awkwardly-parked cars.

We found a Lock Bridge! The original and largest one is in Paris, but this one was just as nice!

Andrew and Christine seize the moment...

I saw these peeling off a wall near the Cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg: remnants of the unrest still visible even after all these months. We also noticed heightened security around the tourist square.

Decorations were still up from Christmas:

Finally, we found food! I was so excited to try authentic French food and wine. This one was a rose, and it was worth every Euro!

I also got the Penne Trois Fromages (Three-Cheese Pasta) which was so rich and delicious and was speckled with cracked black pepper.

I finished off my meal with a panna cotta, a cream dessert with a berry compote. It was divine.

Then we wandered back over to the Cathedral Notre Dame de Strasbourg, the kid sister of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

This is what it looked like from inside, on the floor. (long exposure, 30 sec.)

And the ceiling, stained glass, and organ:

The pews: (also 30 sec)

And the decor:

This door detail really caught my eye:  It's so beautiful!

From below:

VIDEO: Inside the Cathedral

Another 30 sec. exposure with ethereal ghosts:

The building was so big it wouldn't even fit in my wide angle frame! This picture was taken by Rob from all the way across the square!

I did the same for him:

This is my wacky photo composite: (obviously the building is not curved)

VIDEO: The Square

My "across the river" photo from this city:

Strasbourg is known as Petite France, or Little France, because it has elements from every region in France: the cathedral, like the one in Paris; mountains; valleys; rivers; a dense city; and is full of culture.

VIDEO: Driving in Strasbourg

After Strasbourg, we drove up to Hoyet, Belgium. It was almost impossible to find the farmhouse where we'd be staying, and we ended up driving around the rural village for a while until we found it! This is our group pic inside our little kitchen.

The apartment we were staying in was adjacent to a stable and barn, and it used to be a pig sty! The owners remodeled it into a small duplex, complete with 2 half baths (literally, a toilet and sink in one and just a bathtub in the other), a fireplace, full kitchen, and a cat that hung around outside! (We named her "Pork," because she was so fat. She also drank using her paw:

These are some photos from one morning when it was thinking about raining.

I found the horses!

I thought the sign on the right was funny. The sign on the left means, "Caution: Vehicles Exit" and the one on the left means "No Parking, Cat Exit."

We took a road trip to a nearby monastary where the monks brew beer. We were hoping to see the place and maybe have a taste!

As you can see, it was quite empty.

I spoke to a real, live monk in French and asked if we could see the place where they brew, but he said it was closed. :-/ Apparently everyone was still on holiday.

Even though we couldn't see the brewing, we smelled the hops in the air.

Then it was time for lunch and we drove to the nearby Rochefort! Yes, where cheese is made.

This light was weird-looking, but it was right outside the restaurant where we eventually ate.

This is what it looked like from the inside! Very lodge-y and warm, and that was great because it was cold and rainy outside.

Because I was in Rochefort, I ordered the cheese and fruit plate. Some of the cheeses I really enjoyed, but one had nuts in it (the one on the bottom right) and I wasn't such a fan. The cheeses ranged from soft to hard, creamy to tangy. There was a side of slaw and salad which was nice to balance out the heaviness of the cheese. It was delicious!

Connected to this restaurant was an ADORABLE little shop where cute things were sold like aprons, dishware, soaps, and candy. I bought an apron!

Stay tuned for more! Next stop: Aachen, Germany!