“Boy, those French, they have a different word for everything”
I don’t know why but people keep asking me to go on road trips with them. I mean, they’re not random strangers but still… Could it be that I am a scintillating conversationalist? No. Nope. That’s not it. Could it be my dazzling personality? No. I am certain I only have approximately five good mins of razzle-dazzle in me per day. Maybe, it’s because I own, what I call, ‘a snazzy beret’. Whatever the case, it’s still nice to be invited.
After a merry two-and-a-half hour drive from Switzerland, I was in Colmar, France. Colmar is a quaint little town in many ways. If Paris is Beyoncé, Colmar is Michelle Williams, (hold on, let me explain), the third, lesser known member of Bey’s ex girl-band Destiny’s Child. Not as globally famous or shiny but does pretty well with what she has.
Colmar has the spirit of a village but the shops of a town, which makes it an interesting place to visit. There is a fine balance between kitchy little restaurants stuffed with knick-knacks, polished and well-run artisanal patisseries and slick Michelin star restaurants all withing walking distance. I am pretty sure it has no less than three Sephoras; unless my companions and I were walking around in a circle, which after a boozy brunch, is entirely possible.
For the exceptionally ghoulish, there is the restaurant Wistub La Petite Venise, where the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain dined before, sadly, taking his life. The Alsatian eatery has become somewhat of a tourist attraction for those who like that sort of thing. Not for me though.
There are some places that elicit a deep chill, like that mellow, ambient playlist you didn’t know you liked until you got to the end and realised every song made you feel good. That’s Colmar. It’s laidback and everyone I encountered was incredibly friendly or, at least, courteous; which isn’t always the case when you’re TWB (Travelling While Black!)
