Not only is the train faster in many cases -- and you are allowed to board until the last minute -- but it is non polluting>

wow a non-polluting train - of course that is garbage - less polluting perhaps but non polluting now that is just misinformation. And there are those who even would contest that they do not pollute significantly.

showing your Southern California edikation I'm afraid.

The SNCF site shows the carbon footprint for all trips.

Gorgeous shots kerouac! We are definitely going to hot Strasbourg the next time we get to France!

kerouac, just gorgeous photos (as usual). You have such an eye for photography. Thank you so much for posting them. I haven't been to Strasbourg since 1998. I'll be in Paris for a week this November & have been considering doing a day trip to Strasbourg. Your essay has inspired me to make that idea a reality. Would you know when the Christmas market begins there? December? Or could I be lucky enough that it might start in November? Again, I continue to thank you for your photo essays.

The Christmas market starts on November 26th this year. There is a special website dedicated to Strasbourg at Christmas: http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu/index....275e56b13876ec

Oops, sorry -- that is the website for last year!

kerouac, thanks. I used that website & was able to locate the 2012 dates. The Market begins November 24th this year. I haven't booked my flight yet as I'm waiting for the sales that usually occur in October. So, just maybe I'll be able to book for the end of November & enjoy the market. Fingers crossed!

Spellbinding, thank you! It's been awhile and I must go back, if only for a tourte au Riesling!

The SNCF site shows the carbon footprint for all trips>

so you are saying "nonh-polluting" means that TGVs have absolutely zero carbon footprints?

well you if you could have gotten into a U-C school you may have realized what a daft statement that is - claiming that TGVs are non-polluting - less perhaps but not non-polluting that is for sure and if as you say the SNCF says it is totally non-polluting that is just not possible.

Well, let's look at it this way. A Paris-Strasbourg round trip by TGV has a carbon footprint of 3kg per passenger. A Paris-New York round trip has a carbon footprint of 2000kg per passenger.

We all have our own criteria of what we consider to be a significant amount.

I'm planning a trip that includes Strasbourg and just came across your report. Thank you for posting your trip report and beautiful photos. I really enjoyed your photos and am now even more enthused about our trip.

You will find that it is really an exceptional city.

We visited Strasbourg last summer for a couple of days, loved it! I remembered some places in your pics, I even recognized the patio and table where we had lunch!