Gadflights: Christmas is coming

Flyspring No 2 arrived at Zurich airport last Tuesday. Fortunately, she managed to synchronise quite well with mother fly, and we met up in the pick-up lane outside the Arrivals Hall. Unfortunately, it was a day of thick fog, so nothing much was seen of Switzerland or Alsace as we drove back home. The same heavy fogs continued through the week, and while driving around some picturesque villages and tripping in to Strasbourg were still possible, it was all within the ambiance of autumn fogs.

An interesting experience on the drive to the airport: Fly stopped at a servo on a Swiss autobahn to fill in some time. (Can’t be too early in the pickup lane at the airport, only allowed 15minutes. And once you progress out of it and are back on the unavoidable network of autobahns, goodness knows how long it would take to get back in again). Bought a sandwich and coffee, asked if I could pay in euros. Of course, yes, but we only take notes, and we give the change in Swiss francs. For some reason this reminded me of the taxi drivers in Vietnam, who were very keen to be paid in US dollars, but gave change in Vietnam dong (14,000 dong=US$1)

She is off again now, train to London and there met up with her tour bus. A phone call last night indicated that already she has come across French officiousness. I remember 30+ years ago being he subject of this because I trespassed on some grass near the Eiffel Tower. Flyspring was shouted at for standing in the wrong place outside the Louvre while taking pictures. “Why you no can read?” shouted the official. A sign, in French, was some distance away. It is true, unfortunately: French officials do not ask, they order, usually very peremptorily. (But the French people – not officials – are usually very nice).

Now that Flyspring 2 has gone, the fogs have lifted of course, and Alsace is sunning itself under beautiful blue skies. Still very cold – temperature range has been around -2 up to 8 degrees. Very exhilarating. On Sunday fly visited the very lovely village of Ribeauville, as did very many other people. Managed to get a park outside the town walls, and wandered up and down the cobbled streets admiring the Christmas dress that now adorns the buildings. It is everywhere, on businesses and private dwellings – taking the place of the wonderful floral arrays that were the feature a couple of months ago. Civic buildings are not excluded – the “decorations” line in the local council budgets must be very generous.

It is interesting to see that variety and nature of the decorations. There is the usual of course – wreaths and trees and tinsel and bells etc. But there are also a lot of places decorated with stuffed toys – teddy bears in particular. And also polar bears, penguins, and Eskimos are features. The village of Andlau just near here has a whole tableau set up in the square of an Eskimo village, complete with igloo, and people fishing in the ice and polar bears eyeing it all off. I find this an interesting departure from the usual insistence on their own culture and style.

Today in Barr, the town square was being set up with little wooden chalets for their Christmas markets. The same is happening in all the squares in Strasbourg. Barr has also spread grit over all its cobbled streets already, getting ready for the snow season.

Ribeauville - On the round-about outside the town walls

Grand Rue with the Chateau ruins up on the hill above the vineyards

This Teddy was blowing bubbles. Must have had a vacuum hose in his mouth, and his hand kept moving down to the bowl to pick up the suds and up to his mouth. Children of all ages were entranced.