First week of holiday trip - France

While Nana and Jimbob were here, we all headed off for a 2 week vacation.  Campbell wanted to have another family trip and planned if for when they would be here.  We headed back to one of our favorite places, the Alsace Region in France.  We went there exactly 2 years early after Sylvie was born for our first family vacation.  We didn't know anything about it and were blown away with how beautiful it was.  So we decided to go back.

We rented an old house in the center of Kaysersberg.  It was much like the photos in the background of the picture below.  It is likely several hundred years old (1600s?).  It was painted cobalt blue.  Archie called it our France house.  We had a wonderful time and loved being there.

And there was a playground just outside the house.  Perfect!

The weather was warm enough for Archie to wear shorts one last time before Autumn set in.

Doors to the cellar of our house.

Exploring the first day we were there.

Checking out the bridge and river that runs thru and sometimes under buildings in the town.

Day 2 and we spent a short day before it rained in another village exploring.  It was the first village we went to last time, Ribeauville.  It is one of the best there.

Many of the building had beautiful geraniums in the flower boxes.

Time for coffee, tea, and French pastries!

Beautiful old building in Kaysersberg.

The kids favorite part?  Playing and doing circles around the bollards on the street.  Archie was calling them "jingles" for some reason.

There were old fountains in every town.  The kids loved playing in this one at Kaysersberg.  They were soaking wet only a couple times!

Gingerbread seems to be a regional specialty.  So there were many beautiful shops with all things gingerbread.  Fun to see and nice to smell.  We have a little bag of mix to make some cookies during Christmas. 

Pushing Nana for a walk.

More fun with the bollards

There was an ice cream shop that we took the kids to in Kaysersberg.  They loved it.

We went for a walk up the hillside to see the ruins of a castle.  It has been there (in some form) for over 1000 years (or more).  In the hills surrounding it are acres of vineyards.  It was very beautiful and a nice way to see the town and valley.

Like father, like son!

Outside our blue France house.

I have too many photos for one post on the week in France.  So I will do the second half of the photos in another post!