Travel to the European countryside for an authentic experience

Travel to the European countryside for an authentic experience

COVID travel restrictions could remain in place for a while. But there is nothing wrong with making plans for the next trip and looking for places.

Don’t try to see “All of Europe” on a London – Berlin – Paris – Madrid package tour. You won’t see all of Europe, and these cities are just the showcases of their respective countries. I think it’s more worthwhile to focus on one region and get to know it without a guide, even doing some quirky things for a truly local experience.

Take Alsace, for example, the easternmost part of France, where the Rhine forms the border with Germany. Do you like cheese? Found in Gainesville’s supermarkets, Munster is a mild, white, almost tasteless cheese that doesn’t offend anyone. But 16 km west of the historic French city of Colmar is the city of Münster, whose name means “cathedral” in German. Alsace is bilingual, although not officially. My first taste of Munster cheese was right there. It made for a unique culinary surprise. When I unpacked the cheese, I thought the smell would make the flies fall off the wall. It stank. But money was tight, I’d spent a few dollars on the cheese from my tight college budget, so I decided to at least give it a try. The second surprise was the taste. Authentic Munster cheese smells unpleasant and tastes delicious. Some other French and German cheeses offer the same effects that are best enjoyed in their regions of origin.

Historic Colmar is next door, with museums, rustic architecture that combines Tudor style with fishermen’s huts, and unique Alsatian cuisine. Garlic Sauce Snails are not for everyone, but I can certify that they are delicious. A wine tour through the hills of Alsace proves that not all top wines come from the south of France. Even better, the area that includes Strasbourg, Wissembourg and Haguenau is full of little chain-free restaurants with their own signature flavors. They all serve a great “Soupe a l’oignon”, the famous onion soup that is served with melted cheese and fresh white bread as a side dish.

This is available at a fraction of the Paris price. Don’t limit yourself to trying French dishes at the airport while you wait for your flight to Madrid. Go to the countryside for a real local experience. The locals are friendly.

Rudi Kiefer, Ph.D., is professor emeritus for physics at the University of Brenau. His column appears over the weekend and on Gainesvilletimes.com.

The post Travel to the European countryside for an authentic experience first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

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