Daytrippin': Metz

Maybe I have mentioned that we live about an hour from the French border. Several days ago, The Husband and I left the kids to relax, do homework, and fend for themselves at home (you can do that with teenagers), and we took off in the Mini to Metz, an hour and a half away. Our main destination that day was the Centre Pompidou-Metz.

This was our first visit, to Metz and to the museum itself, which was designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines. It looks pretty cool, don't you think?

The Husband did a self-portrait inside one of the Wander, Labyrinthine Variations rooms.

Part of the Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Bivouac design exhibit, this divider is made out of styrofoam.

Off to the right, you can make out Metz Cathedral.

I shot this through a divider made up of little plastic "branches" that clip together.

After a couple of hours in the Pompidou, The Husband and I were quite hungry, so I managed to take just one photo before we stopped off for lunch in a Japanese restaurant (with French-speaking Chinese waitstaff). And apparently I was too famished to remember to photograph our sushi and gyoza.

I did manage an interior photo of the Cathedral, our last stop before leaving Metz. Actually, our last stop was at a popular bakery, for tartes au citron and bread to appease our junior connoisseurs des baguettes. They (and we) were happy.

A Few More from Colmar

I know, I know--I've already shown you plenty of pics from our January day-trip to this cute little French town. But I can't help it--I just have to share a few more before I move on to something, somewhere, else (I promise, I will!).

Seriously, so sweet I could just eat it up! I'll leave some for you, though.

Happy Valentine's Day

This little Scottish dude brings heartfelt wishes from me (and him) to you for a lovely day. Wish I could give you some Belgian chocolates, too. We could, you know, share them, if you wouldn't mind taking all of the caramels.

But I'll just be here keeping warm and watching large snowflakes fall in my little corner of Germany, with a cup or three of tea and a snoozing lap-dog as my daytime companions.

Sunday Afternoon in Colmar

As promised, more pics from our recent weekend trip to Alsace: