Last Day in Strasbourg 5-25-15

Today was a little more ambitious in that Elizabeth and I decided to climb the cathedral stairs up to the base platform for the spire,  66 metres and 330 steps.   When we got to the door that admits one to the stairs the door was closed and locked, with a sign that said "complete" which means that there are no vacancies.  The cathedral only admits 50 visitors to the platform at any one time so that there are not big traffic issues, as there are spiral stairs both ascending and descending which are really only one person wide.  We were second in line waiting and as the line behind us continued to build people would walk up to the door and look at us, then try the door to see if it was open and we were simpletons who couldn't be trusted to try the door. Then some would tap on the window to attract the attention of the person in side and point to their watch, as if to ask when would it open.   No response from attendant would result in an expulsion of breath in the classic Gallic manner and they would wander back to their place in line.  But finally the door opened and we commenced our adventure.  

There is old graffiti up on the bell tower and it's interesting and beautifully carved into the stones.  If it were done today the person would be fined thousands of dollars and publically castigated, just a sign of the times.   Of course the old girl looks a little like a tattooed lady at the side show.

I have to say that the view from
the top is gorgeous and that it was well worth the effort, as you can see the Vosges mountains on one side and the Marne river on the other which is the German border I think.




After we got back down, we went in to the cathedral to see the animated medieval clock which is and was a marvel of it's time.  Probably 30 feet tall it marks the hours and quarter hours with animated figures that move around tracks in front of either and animated Christ figure or a skeleton.  It also tracks the movements of the planets, each Saints day during the year, the rising and setting times of the Sun, probably others as well.  It also has an animated rooster that crows at various times.   Each day at 12;30 it goes through the whole process which goes on for over 5 minutes, beautiful and impressive.
After another really good lunch, we wandered over the the Museum of the Alsace, which houses a massive collection of all things Alsacian.  Housewares, clothing, furniture, tools, religious articles, and wine making equipment among others, set in rooms that were taken from earlier edifaces and reconstructed in the museum, definitely worth the time and effort to see.
We stopped at the corner of indecision again today for a little afternoon entertainment, but since the weekend was basically over it was peaceful with only a couple cars performing for us.  Back to the hotel and get ready to leave tomorrow morning.