"Greetings, favoured one..."

We thought we might have a bus trip day but events intervened and instead we had a Colmar day. 

We walked up to the part of Colmar called Little Venice to enquire about a boat ride. Lyn discovered that the English language trip would be in 10 minutes. An interesting  exchange this one. There were two guys. The first switched immediately to English and was a little patronising.  His companion immediately leapt to Lyn's defence because she was trying to speak in French. 

Our boat arrived, steered by Anne, who cheerfully congratulated us on both being her only passengers and having the benefit of the only female boatwoman on the River!

We had a wonderfully scenic little trip. 

The last photo gives you an idea of the gap between our boat and the bridge we were passing under. Towards the end, Anne pointed out two dozing water rats.They were the size of small wallabies.

Earlier, we found a fountain where Lyn wanted to take a photo of me. It took an age because three very rude Germans had occupied the space and wouldn't get out of the way. (It seems Alsace is still in danger of German occupation.) Germans have no sense of irony. The statue has the features of the Colmar mayor who refused to cooperate with occupying Germans!

After our boat trip we went to the town covered market and bought a pretzel. In Colmar, this is not a salty drinks nibble but proper food. I got a photo of the cathedral (which isn't really a cathedral) on the way.

Marching on, we negotiated. I offered Lyn museum-free shopping time while I went to the Unterlinden Museum. She agreed without any resistance. "Quelle surprise!"

The museum is most known for the Isenheim Altarpiece. Firstly though, I found a photogenic well in the cloisters.

I have developed a fascination for artistic representations of the Annunciation. You know, when the angel breaks the news to Mary that she is pregnant. This version appears to have Mary saying, "No Deal!", but presumably the television show wasn't around back then.

I wondered why Alsatian Marys have red hair. This one below is from the Isenheim Altarpiece. 

The whole altarpiece is very large and elaborate but my favourite bit is Hell. The artist really let loose here.

After forty minutes of art appreciation, I went to the cathedral (which isn't really a cathedral) to meet Lyn. 

I rang her to discover she'd unsuccessfully tried on clothes and successfully purchased groceries.  "How do I find you?", she asked.

"Walk towards the Dominican Church and look up. You'll see the top of the cathedral (which isn't a cathedral). I'm waiting there."

Some time later she called back. 

"I'm lost."

This was one of Lyn's finest efforts. I rank it somewhere between the time she lost it on a circular track in New Zealand and the time she did laps in London. It always seems impossible in the age of Google maps and mobile phones, but miracles do happen. Ask Mary.