Who has been to Alsace, France?
Dec 31st, 2011, 06:18 AM
#21
TW,
By "a week", if you mean 7 days and two of those are used for travel to and from Paris, you really don't have an awful lot of time in Paris. I don't think you said when you're going, but Paris is the most walkable city on earth, in my opinion. It's a great way to experience the city, but it takes time. My point being that there's plenty to do and see in the time that you're there.
I understand your wanting to take a trip to another area, though. Strasbourg is one of my favorite cities in France and the cathedral is wonderful. I lived near Dijon and it would also be a good choice for you; beautiful countryside in that area. Both are do-able by train in a day. Why don't you google some of the ideas on this thread and see if one place in particular peaks your interest?
This trip will be just a taste for you; you'll want to return!
Bon Voyage,
Ellen
By "a week", if you mean 7 days and two of those are used for travel to and from Paris, you really don't have an awful lot of time in Paris. I don't think you said when you're going, but Paris is the most walkable city on earth, in my opinion. It's a great way to experience the city, but it takes time. My point being that there's plenty to do and see in the time that you're there.
I understand your wanting to take a trip to another area, though. Strasbourg is one of my favorite cities in France and the cathedral is wonderful. I lived near Dijon and it would also be a good choice for you; beautiful countryside in that area. Both are do-able by train in a day. Why don't you google some of the ideas on this thread and see if one place in particular peaks your interest?
This trip will be just a taste for you; you'll want to return!
Bon Voyage,
Ellen
Dec 31st, 2011, 06:30 AM
#22
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Kerouac: "My 'Swiss German' friends from Zürich, Bern and Basel feel totally at home in Alsace and not at all in Germany."
Are these the same Swiss friends who told you it's in Switzerland's best interests for the country to join the EU/eurozone?
FWIW, my Swiss German friends and co-workers feel perfectly comfortable in both Alsace and Germany. And I sometimes hop back and forth between Switzerland, France and Germany on the same day and enjoy all three places.
Are these the same Swiss friends who told you it's in Switzerland's best interests for the country to join the EU/eurozone?
FWIW, my Swiss German friends and co-workers feel perfectly comfortable in both Alsace and Germany. And I sometimes hop back and forth between Switzerland, France and Germany on the same day and enjoy all three places.
Dec 31st, 2011, 08:05 AM
#23
No, all of my Swiss German friends want to stay out of the EU even though they think it is inevitable in the long run. They do not feel as comfortable in Germany as in France due to the "serious vs. fun" aspect of life. But of course that's why most Germans prefer France as well.
Dec 31st, 2011, 08:31 AM
#24
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>I find absolutely nothing in Germany that seems like Alsace.
The local German dialect of those older folks that still speak it, is the same. It still makes a big difference if you speak the same dialect on both sides of the border. So yes, everything in Alsace reminds me of "Germany" how it must have been a long time ago. Some negative parts of that mentality are very obvious, maybe because it's a small place where everyone knows his neighbor.
The local German dialect of those older folks that still speak it, is the same. It still makes a big difference if you speak the same dialect on both sides of the border. So yes, everything in Alsace reminds me of "Germany" how it must have been a long time ago. Some negative parts of that mentality are very obvious, maybe because it's a small place where everyone knows his neighbor.
Dec 31st, 2011, 08:48 AM
#25
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<i>Schweizerdeutsch is a lot more similar to Alsatian than to German. </i>
It depends on the locality. I understand someone speaking with the Freiburg accent (I do not claim to understand Alemanisch, which is the common dialect in that area) because that is what my father spoke. I understand a person coming from Basel (same upper Rhine dialect) but cannot understand a person from Aarau unless she speaks Shriftdeutsch, and even then I have problems.
I suspect that the Swiss German of St. Gallen is closer to Schwabisch than to Alemanisch.
It depends on the locality. I understand someone speaking with the Freiburg accent (I do not claim to understand Alemanisch, which is the common dialect in that area) because that is what my father spoke. I understand a person coming from Basel (same upper Rhine dialect) but cannot understand a person from Aarau unless she speaks Shriftdeutsch, and even then I have problems.
I suspect that the Swiss German of St. Gallen is closer to Schwabisch than to Alemanisch.
Dec 31st, 2011, 10:15 AM
#26
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I know Alsace reasonably well and Strasbourg is one of my favourite cities in France (indeed in Europe). The TGV from Paris to Strasbourg takes about 2 hours, so a one-day trip is possible, but an overnight would be better. However, 7 days to see Paris and Strasbourg is not much time at all, and I think it would be too much to try to cram in a trip outside of Strasbourg as well. However it will give you a taste of Alsace.
A friend in Strasbourg recently sent me this website in which you can wander through the central part of Strasbourg as it is lit up for the Christmas season (click on the arrows to move from one area to another):
http://www.rando-noel.com/index.php?...NoelStrasbourg
Now as to the "Alsace is similar to Germany" discussion, of course Alsace is nothing like Oberbayern, or the Lueneberger Heide, or many other parts of Germany. It is, however, very similar to southern Baden just across the Rhine. The German villages in the Rhine Valley and the foothills of the Schwarzwald are very similar to those on the western side of the valley and in the foothills of the Vosges. On both sides of the border one will see half-timbered buildings and churches and cathedrals built from the characteristic red stone. The vineyards and castle ruins are similar, and even the cusine in south Baden is much like that of Alsace. The variant of Alemannisch spoken there is closer to Alsatian than either of them are to Schwyzerduetch. Having lived in that part of the world for some years, I can see many similarities as well as the obvious differences. No, Strasbourg is nothing like Berlin, or Munich or Hamburg, but it and Freiburg im Breisgau have much in common.
A friend in Strasbourg recently sent me this website in which you can wander through the central part of Strasbourg as it is lit up for the Christmas season (click on the arrows to move from one area to another):
http://www.rando-noel.com/index.php?...NoelStrasbourg
Now as to the "Alsace is similar to Germany" discussion, of course Alsace is nothing like Oberbayern, or the Lueneberger Heide, or many other parts of Germany. It is, however, very similar to southern Baden just across the Rhine. The German villages in the Rhine Valley and the foothills of the Schwarzwald are very similar to those on the western side of the valley and in the foothills of the Vosges. On both sides of the border one will see half-timbered buildings and churches and cathedrals built from the characteristic red stone. The vineyards and castle ruins are similar, and even the cusine in south Baden is much like that of Alsace. The variant of Alemannisch spoken there is closer to Alsatian than either of them are to Schwyzerduetch. Having lived in that part of the world for some years, I can see many similarities as well as the obvious differences. No, Strasbourg is nothing like Berlin, or Munich or Hamburg, but it and Freiburg im Breisgau have much in common.
Dec 31st, 2011, 11:12 AM
#27
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That's the point.
There's no "Germany". there's just a bunch of states which all have a different history and local dialect. Just like their history is different, their traditions are, those dialects are usually understandable, sometimes, you have to ask and the other person will repeat using some high German words mixed in. Everybody speaks his own dialect more or less and everybody else usually understands. Why? I think it's because you've been trained that other people speak differently from you since you were a child.
There are s zillion differen versions and pronunciations of "Morning" in each and every dialect, yet they'll all be recognized as a "good morning" greeting.
There's no "Germany". there's just a bunch of states which all have a different history and local dialect. Just like their history is different, their traditions are, those dialects are usually understandable, sometimes, you have to ask and the other person will repeat using some high German words mixed in. Everybody speaks his own dialect more or less and everybody else usually understands. Why? I think it's because you've been trained that other people speak differently from you since you were a child.
There are s zillion differen versions and pronunciations of "Morning" in each and every dialect, yet they'll all be recognized as a "good morning" greeting.
Dec 31st, 2011, 12:00 PM
#28
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<i>Everybody speaks his own dialect more or less and everybody else usually understands.</i>
My cousin in Freiburg claims with great glee that the math professors at the University insist on teaching in dialect, and it's sink or swim for the students from elsewhere.
Things have undoubtedly changed, in great part thanks to radio and TV, but within my lifetime I can cite incidents of non-comprehension among Germans from different <i>länder</i>.
My cousin in Freiburg claims with great glee that the math professors at the University insist on teaching in dialect, and it's sink or swim for the students from elsewhere.
Things have undoubtedly changed, in great part thanks to radio and TV, but within my lifetime I can cite incidents of non-comprehension among Germans from different <i>länder</i>.
