Diary Entry
I leave my idyllic campsite by the lake early in the morning in search of a decent breakfast. The closest place nearby is a small town called Luxeuil-les-Bains. The town is in the southwestern foothills of the Vosges in what was formerly Franche-Comté. I put it in my navigation app and cruise through the fields.
The world is still asleep.
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No one is out on the streets yet. I stop at a small town just before Luxeuil-les-Bains. There is a lovely little church in Saint-Sauveur which is worth a quick stop.
Then it’s time for my coffee. For that I have to go to the city where the rush hour has just started. With a little more than 6000 inhabitants, this is limited.
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I leave the tiger in front of one of the historic buildings in the old town. Later I find out that it is the Maison du cardinal Jouffroy. The cardinal doesn’t mind.
I stroll to the center. The houses look old, but everything is neat and clean.
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The town is small and I’ve never heard of it before. But it looks like the backdrop from a French film that wants to serve all clichés.
Flower shops in old buildings, patisseries and cafes. The sun is shining and the flags of France are flapping in the wind.
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I find the nice, but poolry named “Café Français” on Rathausplatz and order a couple of croissants and coffee with milk. My French is at least sufficient for simple conversations in the restaurant.
I enjoy the atmosphere and the pure French life around me. There are no tourists except me. Then I move on and look for a route to Burgundy and the city of Dijon.