The Christmas season is approaching in Strasbourg 🇫🇷 France . Christmas decorations have begun to be put up throughout the city 🤶🏻🎅🏻🎄 Early October 2023 was filled with amazing sunshine and warmth, but since the beginning of this week, we have been experiencing cloudy and sometimes rainy days, which is a sign that winter is coming ☔️ Nevertheless, the maximum temperature is still around 14°C and the minimum temperature is about 8°C, which is still comfortable. And this week, Place Kléber (Kléber Square) has been visited by a heart-warming moment: the installation of the annual Christmas tree. The annual Christmas tree installation has begun, and the Christmas tree that will decorate Strasbourg's 2023 Christmas season is now in place. It is a whopping 30 meters tall! And weighing an amazing 6 tons, the tree is said to be 70/80 years old. Although the Strasbourg Christmas tree provides us with great moments, it has had a little trouble in the past: in 2013, the Christmas tree spent the Christmas season leaning. And in 2017, the tree had to be replaced in a hurry due to problems. It seems it is not easy to maintain such a big Christmas tree 🎄 By the way, the 2023 tree seems to be standing firm 😆 Some of you may have noticed from the pictures. Some of you may be thinking, "Isn't the silhouette beautiful?" Some of you may be thinking, "What? The tree currently looks like it has too many branches trimmed”, but don't worry. Over the next four weeks, the branches will be pruned and transplanted to shape and decorate the Christmas tree to enhance its original beauty🎄

France🇫🇷 Strasbourg is now in the season of the Street Arts Festival "Le Festival des arts dans la rue de Strasbourg". The Strasbourg Street Art Festival takes place in the historic streets and squares of Strasbourg's Old Town, where visitors can enjoy a variety of performances, including acrobatics, musical performances, street art, and more. Many artists and performers gather from France and abroad, and a variety of entertainment takes place throughout the city. The entire city is truly enveloped in an atmosphere of art and entertainment at this festival. While the Fête De La Musique is held on Midsummer's Day, the Street Art Festival is more like an art festival (theater festival). This year, the 9th edition of the Strasbourg Street Art Festival started on Friday, August 11, 2023. Heavy rain fell on Saturday evening, causing some performances to be canceled. Sunday morning also saw rain, but the weather cleared up after that and the festival drew a large crowd of spectators. The performances I particularly enjoyed were 1️⃣ Lampadophores - Picto Facto 2️⃣ Kraken Orchestra - Cie Système Paprika 3️⃣ Der menschen - fresser Berg ou La Montagne (Titre Provisoire) - Les Vrais Majore. All of them were very close to the performers and the audience, giving the audience a sense of unity as if they were part of the production, and I enjoyed them very much.

As May deepens, the sky becomes a calm canvas of azure blue, adding a romantic touch to the lush landscape of the enchanting Vosges Mountains. This natural wonderland, full of breathtaking attractions, continues to lure climbers like us in search of new heights and thrilling adventures. This time of year, many of my climbing companions embark on week-long to two-week adventures through the sun-drenched landscapes of southern France, the rugged terrain of Germany, and even the exotic wonders of Turkey. Finding climbing partners in Alsace proved difficult, but I eventually found my way to Langenfels, located at the northern end of the Vosges mountains near the German border. Langenfels is only a distant memory, and arriving during this wonderful spring season was truly a sight to behold. It was truly exhilarating to have the lush green world surround me. Despite the expected crowds due to perfect climbing conditions, I was pleasantly surprised by the small number of fellow climbers. Perhaps everyone's wanderlust got the better of them and they went looking for other strange cliffs and rocky terrain! Here in Langenfels, besides our group, only a couple from German-speaking countries and a few acquaintances joined us later. The quiet and peaceful atmosphere allowed me to savor the art of mountaineering without a care in the world. Located north of the Vosges Mountains, Langenfels caters to climbers of all skill levels and is an ideal playground for beginners and intermediate climbers alike. Surrounded by reddish-brown rock peaks and embraced by lush green trees, it felt as though nature itself extended a warm welcome, and an uncontrollable sense of elation welled up inside us. The anticipation and exhilaration preceding each climb epitomize the true essence of this adventure sport, wouldn't you say? Sweat-damp palms, hearts pounding with anticipation, and a strangely heightened sense of focus. With each step, the view unfolds in awe-inspiring glory. With each breathtaking panorama, a wave of accomplishment and joy permeates my being. Moreover, climbing brings us into an intimate dialogue with nature, allowing us to harmonize with its rhythms while pushing our own limits. Words cannot describe the indescribable feeling of becoming one with nature as I embrace the rock face of Langenfels with both hands. As the day's climb draws to a close, a sense of fulfillment and happiness envelops me. It was a day that embodied the irresistible charm of the Vosges Mountains and the essence of climbing. I am deeply grateful for the invitation that led me on this wonderful journey.

Did you know that the Christmas market in Strasbourg, in northeastern France, is being upgraded from time to time? The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates back to 1750 and is the oldest Christmas market in France. This Strasbourg Christmas Market is one of the most popular Christmas markets not only in France but also in Europe. In 2022, 314 chalets will be exhibited and 2.5 million visitors are expected ✍🏻 The Christmas Market in 2022 👉🏻 looks like this The Christmas tree at Place Kléber, the most famous Christmas market in Strasbourg, is decorated according to a different theme each year. On the other hand, the Christmas lights in the Old City of Strasbourg, which are displayed during the Christmas Market, are basically the same ones used every year, but they are upgraded on an irregular basis. In this page, I will look back the history of the illumination on the main street leading to the Strasbourg Cathedral (Rue de la Mercière), with the help of photos. Christmas lights in Strasbourg, transition of Angels adorn 👼🏻 (Rue Mercière) The Strasbourg Christmas Market, which I saw for the first time after arriving in France, was like an oasis of warmth in the cold and dusky city. I remember walking along this street many times, especially the illumination of the angels on the rue Mercière, with its warm and soothing light bulbs (incandescent bulbs). At that time, the angels were monochromatic and were located on both the left and right sides of the street, making a total of 10 angels brightly illuminating Rue Mercière. Illuminated Angels at Rue Mercière, Strasbourg 2013-2016 From 2011 to 2013, the illumination had the same design, but starting in 2014, it was changed to the type of illumination that is still displayed today (2022). This change in 2014 was made to coincide with the millennium event, as the following year, 2015, was the 1000th anniversary of the foundation stone of the cathedral, laid in 1015. That is why the word 1000ans is added next to the angel's trumpet. And for some reason, only in 2015, there are three angels on the left side and two on the right side facing Strasbourg Cathedral. Illuminated Angels at Rue Mercière, Strasbourg 2017-2020 From 2017 to 2020, the 2014/2015 Millennium version was used. I noticed when I put the photos side by side that in 2020 there are two angels on each side. Illuminated Angels at Rue Mercière, Strasbourg 2021-2022 And since 2021, the balloon has appeared from the angel's trumpet. I don't know what this change means, but for some reason I personally feel that it softens the Christmas lights. From the time I moved to France until 2014, the Christmas market in Strasbourg, which I thought was normal when the season came, suffered major events in 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2021. The warm, homey Christmas market feeling that I could feel in the beginning is not there now, but I believe it is still an indispensable event to get through this dreary, cold winter. ✍🏻 PS: I can't comment in general on the color of the photos, as much of it is due to camera changes.

Every year on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, the patron saint of children and the model for Santa Claus, is celebrated. In France, Saint Nicholas is most frequently celebrated in Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, and l'ex-Franche-Comté. In Alsace, the Grand Est, there is a tradition of eating Manala (man-shaped food) on Saint-Nicholas. Manala is a brioche dough, milk-filled bread, but it comes in many versions, from simple to chocolate chip-filled, cinnamon-flavored, fried bread, and more. In 2022, I think I see cookies more often, especially in patisseries, instead of brioche dough. Did you know that Manala is called differently in different regions? The name "Manala" varies from region to region, even within Alsace. Männele : In the north of Alsace, Bas-Rhin, where Strasbourg is located Männala : In the south of Alsace, Haut-Rhin, where Colmar is located

The weather in Strasbourg, France, has been cloudy and rainy since November, but the annual Christmas market (Le Marché de Noël de Strasbourg 2022) began on November 25, 2022, and the old town of Strasbourg has returned to a festive atmosphere. The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates back to 1750, making it the oldest Christmas market in France and one of the most popular in Europe. 314 chalets will be exhibited in 2022, and 2.5 million visitors are expected. Every year, on the Friday night when the Christmas market begins, a Christmas illumination lighting ceremony is held at Place Kléber with guests invited. The illumination is turned on after a grand countdown by all the participants, but in 2022, perhaps because I was on the backstage side, I could hardly hear the voices of the guests and the host 😬 and the illumination started suddenly. People around me were hurriedly clicking their shutters of their cameras (cell phones) because of the unexpected opening 🤣 In a way, it was a very homemade and quiet lighting ceremony, which was nice. Still, Place Kléber was crowded with many people…. 😅 The difference from previous years was not only the opening ceremony, but also the memorial service at Place Gutenberg for Pierre Bardet, the longtime director of Strasbourg's Christmas Market Illuminations. But I don't know much about him 😅 Another of the biggest differences from previous Christmas markets is the response to rising energy prices. Strasbourg's lighting decorations have been cut by about 20% and the hours of the Christmas Market and Illuminations have been shortened. The goal set by the city hall is to reduce electricity consumption by 10% during the event. Residents who are familiar with the Strasbourg Christmas market will notice a difference in the lighting decorations, but for those who are not familiar with it, "Is this really a reduction in lighting decorations? 🤔" and they are surprisingly vibrant 😆 🎄 Le Grand Sapin de Strasbourg 🎄 The theme for 2022 is "celui du flocon" (snowflakes) The Christmas tree 2022 in Place Kléber is a huge Christmas tree, about 27 meters high, weighing about 6 tons, and about 50 years old. The project for the Christmas tree usually starts in May and the tree is delivered to Place Kléber one month before the Christmas market starts. The tree is then transplanted, shaped, and decorated with lights. The Christmas tree is the symbol of the Christmas Market, but sometimes it is not always a straightforward process: in 2013, it was tilted, and in 2017, the Christmas tree that was originally brought to Place Kléber was found to be faulty and was replaced by a spare Christmas tree. The 2022 Christmas tree was cut down in the National Forest Park (Forêt domaniale de Champ), located between Saint-Dié and Gérardmer in the Vosges department, and the Christmas market was held without any major problems. The Christmas tree at Place Kléber 🎄 flashes every hour from at least 5:00 p.m. for about 5 minutes with music. The flashing starts without warning 😁 So if you happen to be in Place Kléber at the right time, be sure to pay attention and take a look at the Christmas tree. Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg) The rose window by German architect Erwin von Steinbach is lit up after 18:00. The whole Strasbourg Cathedral is lit up is spectacular, but the Strasbourg Cathedral after the rose window is lit up is especially worth seeing 😉 There are so many ornaments for the Christmas tree that I never get tired of looking at them. But there are so many, it's hard to choose 😅 Oeuf de cigogn I recommend Oeuf de Cigogne as a souvenir. It is a chocolate with a stork's egg, the symbol of Strasbourg. It's a great idea 😂 Vin chaud in Christmas Market, Strasbourg La Tribu des Gourmets The specialty of this store is vin chaud made with Alsatian wine. Alsatian wine is white wine. About 90% of the wine produced in Alsace is white wine. Vin chaud is generally made with red wine, but at this restaurant, you can enjoy Vin Chaud Blanc. It might not be a bad idea to try a white wine, Vin Chaud Blanc, at least once in Strasbourg 🙄 Chez Mathilde (place Broglie, à côté de l'Opéra) They sell vin chaud, but the main thing is that they sell spices for making vin chaud. After having a glass of vin chaud 🍷, you may be able to make your own vin chaud at home by choosing spices 🙄 BRETZEL & Choucroute Local food unique to Alsace is lined up in the chalet. You may be able to endure the cold Christmas market if you eat local food while drinking a glass of vin chaud 😂 Christkindelsmärik de Place Broglie Place Broglie is the place where the Christmas market has been held since 1871, when Strasbourg became a German territory. Since the number of stalls in the market has been reduced since 2021, the market does not have the crowded tourist atmosphere of previous years, but this is a good thing. Hermès In some ways, the Hermès decorations at the new Hermès store may be the most talked about item at Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022. The Hermès Orange-colored advent calendars also show a sense of style. Galeries Lafayette It seems like every year there was one Christmas tree in Lafayette, but in 2022 there will be 3 trees and it will be more gorgeous. I wonder if LACOSTE is sponsoring for the second time since 2020 🤔 This time LACOSTE mark is easy to take pictures 😁 Baccarat chandelier: Rue des Hallebardes Gorgeous Baccarat chandelier, not on display in 2021 for some reason, but it was back in 2022. But it is hard to photograph this beautiful Baccarat chandelier well 😅 Top Patisseries in Strasbourg 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄 Christian Address: 12, rue de l'Outre, 67000 STRASBOURG The decorations are elaborate every year, but Christian in 2022 looks gorgeous. NAEGEL Address: 9, rue des Orfèvres 67000 STRASBOURG Negel is a popular patisserie, but the decorations for 2022 seem to be the same as last year's. Maybe it means "sustainable" 🤔 Strasbourg's most popular bakery (boulangerie) 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄 L'atelier 116 Address: 116 Grand'Rue, 67000 Strasbourg This boulangerie was established in 2016 and is always crowded and very popular. Until lunch time, there is a wide selection of sandwiches, and in the afternoon there are many cakes. Au Pain de mon Grand-Père Address: 58, rue de la Krutenau This boulangerie is said to be the best in Strasbourg. Personally, I think their brioche is very good 😋 My friend says that the main store is better than the one in front of the Cathedral. Les mains dans la farine Address: 16 rue du 22 Novembre 67000 Strasbourg Since 2019, les mains dans la farine café is attached to the restaurant and there are also two branches. I thought the taste of the baguettes had changed with the new store, but I don't know 🙄 When does the Christmas Market start 🤔 For how long 🤔 Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022 Dates: Friday, November 25 - Saturday, December 24 Every day: 11:00am - 20:00pm Friday, November 25: 14:00am - 20:00pm, Saturday, December 24: 11:00am - 18:00pm Illumination will be turned off at 23:00pm every night. The fir tree and the cathedral will be illuminated until 25:00pm. ✍🏻 France 🇫🇷 Strasbourg Christmas Market "Le Marché de Noël de Strasbourg 2022

I got a call out of the blue, completely unexpected from an acquaintance, whom I had not been in touch with for years since I moved to France, to go bouldering at Fontainebleau on short notice for the weekend. To give you an idea of how sudden it was, I got the call around 10:00pm the day before departure, started chatting around 7:40am the next morning, took the 10:44pm TGV, and were in Fontainebleau just after noon, around 3:00pm. I had never done such light footwork on a climbing trip before 😆 Since it had been a while since we had met, we had a good conversation and had a fun bouldering tour. On the first day, we went climbing in the popular Èléphant area 🐘, which gives the illusion of being on a sandy beach on the coast. Personally, this was my second time climbing in Èléphant 🐘 since my first visit to Fontainebleau (2015). That means it has been 7 years since I climbed Èléphant 😲 It was a little after noon, I think. After climbing some easy problems, we moved around the area a bit and happened to run into some climbing friends I sometimes meet in the Alsace-Vosges Mountains in my home-climbing area in France. I had no idea they were in Fontainebleau, or rather, that they bouldered. It really is a small world 😂 On the second day, I got in touch with a climbing friends I met yesterday and we went to climb in the CUVIER (Bas), which is very popular due to the variety of challenges and ease of approach. It had been four and a half years since I climbed in the CUVIER (Bas). I expected it to be very crowded on a Sunday, but it was much less stressful than I had imagined. On this day, I was invited to join a group of climbers who were climbing Marie Rose (6a), the most famous route in the CUVIER (Bas), and with their advice, I kept trying and finally managed to climb Marie Rose (6a) 🤣 After I finished climbing Marie Rose (6a), I was able to get a video of me climbing it from a climber who was attempting this challenge with me. I had no idea it was being filmed 😅 I was grateful because I rarely film myself climbing due to equipment problems, even though I like taking pictures and making videos. Thank you for the valuable video. As I watched the video, I thought to myself, "He's climbing while mumbling 🤣” That was the end of my fun bouldering at Fontainebleau. We had a really nice reunion after a long time, and I also happened to meet some climbing friends from Alsace, and the weather was beautiful for both days, making this a memorable tour. Thank you very much for the invitation. I was happy to climb Marie Rose (6a), the most famous climb in the Cuvier (Bas) area of Fontainebleau, but personally, Les Frites (5c), which I climbed before, was more memorable. That's what climbing is all about, isn't it? 🤔🤣

Wine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of France, a country of gastronomic delights. French wines are made from grapes grown according to the soil and climate of the region where they are produced. As a result, a wide variety of flavors and tastes are produced throughout France. 🍇 Lire ce blog 👉🏻 en français Before I moved to France, I rarely had a chance to drink wine 🇯🇵 I knew about Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Beaujolais, but I didn't know that Alsace is famous for white wine 😅 I'm ashamed to say that my personal wine knowledge was like that 😅 In case you are wondering, in France, wine-producing regions are divided into 10 main regions Alsace, Lorraine Champagne Bourgogne Jura, Savoie Loire Bordeaux Southwest Rhône Provence, Corse Languedoc, Roussillon After coming to France ✈️🇫🇷 I started climbing in the Vosges Mountains of Alsace and every time I saw a small village surrounded by vineyards, I wanted to try harvesting grapes used for wine at least once. Harvesting grapes for wine is called "vendange" in French. This blog is a reminder of my first vendange experience in the vineyards of Climbing Friend, "Domaine Moritz" When are the grapes harvested? Most French wines are made from grapes harvested between mid-September and early October, when the holiday season ends. However, in recent years, the grape harvest has tended to be earlier due to global warming. In 2022, France had an unusually hot summer due to the effects of global warming. The grape harvest is earlier than usual, starting in late July in the southwestern part of France (Languedoc-Roussillon), depending on the region. According to "Domaine Moritz" who helped us this time, about 20 years ago in Alsace, grapes were harvested in October. Who picks the grapes? Vendange workers come from many different countries these days, including French nationals. According to Domaine Moritz, before 2020, i.e. before the outbreak of the new coronavirus, it was relatively easy to find seasonal workers to work as vendange. However, after the restrictions imposed by the new coronavirus, it has become more difficult to find seasonal workers to work as vendange. How are the grapes harvested? In France, there are two ways of vendange: the traditional hand-picking of grapes and the more recent use of tractors that can pick grapes. In Alsace, some tractors are used to harvest grapes, but in Champagne, for example, mechanical harvesting is forbidden in the name of Champagne. The process of harvesting grapes by hand is divided into two main parts. 1️⃣ The person in charge of harvesting the grapes 2️⃣ The person in charge of collecting the harvested grapes 1️⃣ The grape pickers The pair of two people across the hedge pick grapes one by one and cut them off with scissors. They cut the grapes from the branches and put them in the bucket at hand. Basically, European vineyards are not the "trellised vineyards" that we are familiar with in Japan, but "hedged vineyards. The height of the vineyard is about 100 cm. Harvesting grapes is quite hard work, involving squatting, standing, and stooping. 2️⃣ Collecting the harvested grapes. Carrying a large bucket on their backs, the grape pickers collect the grapes that have accumulated in smaller buckets and carry them to the back of the truck. It's hard work, carrying dozens of kilos of grapes on their backs up a steep hill and back again and again. The grapes are harvested by hand in the vineyards of "Domaine Moritz." Roughly speaking, there are about 13 people who cut the grapes and 2 people who collect the cut grapes. Vendange work time flow 8:00am Morning grape picking begins 12:30pm Lunch 1:30pm Afternoon grape picking begins 5:00pm Aperitif after the work is done ⚠️ The harvested grapes are pressed on the same day, so the daily working hours depended on the amount of grapes to be harvested (vineyard area). ⚠️ If it rains a little, the grapes are harvested. "Domaine Moritz" has a variety of grapes, including Riesling, Pinot Noir, Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, etc., So they were harvesting while watching the ripeness of the grapes. We did not work every day for a week straight (Monday through Friday), but at most 4 days/week. Lunch at Vendange If the weather is fine, we eat lunch together in front of the vineyard as if it were a picnic. Basically, we start with soup, followed by the main course, cheese, and dessert. Coffee is served at the end. Wine is of course served at lunch. The full course meal, eaten outside while chatting about trivial matters, is very tasty and energizes the afternoon's work. The grapes are harvested and pressed on the same day. The Alsace region is famous for its white wines, but red wines made from Pinot Noir are also produced. ✍🏻 The Pinot Noir grapes are destemmed on the same day and sent to tank. The grapes (Pinot Noir) are placed in a drum-type machine to separate the berries from the stalks, as shown in the picture. ✍🏻 For white wine, the juice is pressed without de-stemming. Although there were days when it rained cold and the grape harvest was difficult, I learned a little about the unique culture of France through the vendange, I understood a little more about wine. For example, the "Grands Crus" classification, which is often heard of in French wine, is used differently in different regions. In the case of Alsace, there are 51 sub-districts "terroirs" and wines made from grapes harvested in these "terroirs" are recognized as "Alsace Grands Crus" 😁 ⚠️ Grands Crus in Burgundy are defined by vineyards. And now that I have actually done a Vendange in one of these 51 "terroirs", I understand more about "Alsace Grand Cru" 😆 I met people I would not have met if I had not done the vendange, which was a good experience. It was great to get a glimpse of the vineyards where the wines of my climbing friends are made and the process of wine production. Contact form 📩 The wines of my first vendange experience will be available from "Domaine Moritz" from 2023 onwards. If anyone reading this blog is interested in Domaine Moritz's wines, please send a message directly to "Domaine Moritz" or contact me through the "GET IN TOUCH 📩" on this blog and I will forward your message to "Domaine Moritz". 1️⃣ Directly to "Ms. Domaine Moritz 👉🏻 Send a message 📩 2️⃣ The contact form on this blog 👉🏻 GET IN TOUCH 📩 ⚠️ If you send a message, please include the title of this blog "Les Falaises de Grès" even in the body of the message, so we can better understand the situation. For example, "I read your blog "Les Falaises de Grès" and I am interested in...". ⚠️"Domaine Moritz" has wines made from Riesling, Pinot Noir, Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner and others. Please note, however, that on the day of the Sylvaner harvest, I was out climbing in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and did not participate in the harvest 🤣 If you are ever in Alsace, why not stop by Domaine Moritz's winery? If it is convenient for them, they would be happy to give you a tour of their winery. It will be a different experience from the usual sightseeing. Climbing friends speak English as well as French. ✍🏻 Vendange 2022 à Domaine Moritz

Finally the day for multi-pitch climbing in Chamonix ☺️ Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has been sunny and clear since morning ☀️ The sky is blue and clear, enhancing the whiteness of Mont Blanc, the queen of the European Alps covered in snow. This time, at the request of my partner 👱🏻🇫🇷, we decided to climb Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) in Aiguilles Rouges, across from the Mont Blanc massif. The approach to the climbing site is by Gondola lift from Chamonix to Planpraz (2000m), then walking toward Lake Cornu. From the Gondola lift station Planpraz (2000m), it takes about 40 minutes to reach the base of the climb. Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) Cocher-Cochon Topo : TD- 6a>5c, 250m Website : D+/II, 6a max./5b obl. (L1:4b👱🏻‍♂️🇫🇷, L2:5c🐢, L3:5b👱🏻‍♂️🇫🇷, L4:6a🐢, L5:5a👱🏻‍♂️🇫🇷, L6:5c🐢, L7:5b👱🏻‍♂️🇫🇷, L8:6a🐢) 8:50 Planpraz (2000m) 10:20 Start climbing 17:00 Rappel down from the end point 18:00 Planpraz (2000m) 19:40 Walk back to Chamonix Climbing ToPo : face au mont-blanc les aiguilles rouges 1 The topo is a climbing area in the Aiguilles Rouge massif (Aiguilles Rouge), on the other side of the Chamonix valley from the Mont Blanc massif. There are two topos in this series. 1️⃣ Aiguilles Rouge 1 (southern part): Le Brévent to Chezerys slabs 2️⃣ Aiguilles Rouge 2 (northern part): Col des Montets to Passet and Barberine Valleys You can find Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) and Les Chéserys (1980m) in (Aiguilles Rouge 1). Materials: ・Rope: double rope 2 x 50 m ・14 quickdraws ・Slings and carabiners Personal comments It is an enjoyable route for climbers who want to climb around 6a/b. Topo says L4:6a, but the website says L4:5c/+. L4:5c/+ seems reasonable for L8:6a. The last route, L8:6a, is a route that is enjoyable both in terms of scenery and climbing. My impression after climbing it was that the wait was longer than the time spent climbing it anyway 😂 It was a clear fall day, a popular beginner route, and with the gondola ending this day. There were probably 10 parties (20+ climbers) climbing this route. We waited over 40 minutes to climb the first pitch and over an hour to climb the second pitch (L2:5c) and last pitch (L8:6a) 🤣 In the end we didn't catch the last Gondola lift (the last one was at 17:00) and we walked the whole way back down to Chamonix 😬 I guess in a way we had the best experience of multi-pitch climbing in Chamonix 😂🤣 🏠 Accommodation Le Chamoniard Volant Our initial plan was to stay at the Auberge de Jeunesse HI Chamonix Mont-Blanc Hostel, but it was fully booked. We decided to stay at Le Chamoniard Volant, which was our second choice. The advantage of Le Chamoniard Volant is that you can easily walk to downtown Chamonix, and unlike Auberge de Jeunesse, breakfast is not included, but you can use the kitchen. If you are not picky, there are pots and pans, plates, cups, knives and forks, a refrigerator, etc. The room we rented was a bunk bed. The room we rented was for 6 people with 3 bunk beds. Pillows and blankets are provided, but you have to bring your own sheets. There were two power sources in the room to charge cell phones and other devices. There was also a locker in the room that could be locked. Restaurant 🍔🍺 MBC Chamonix Microbrewery Recommended by my climbing partner who has been to Chamonix many times, this restaurant serves delicious Chamonix microbrews and hamburgers. Even if you don't speak French, the staff speaks English. I mean, I don't think there were many customers in the restaurant who were speaking in French. Not only in this store, but also when we were climbing, eating in a restaurant, or relaxing in an inn, there were more than a few groups conversing in French. Boulangerie Le Fournil Chamoniard This bakery was also recommended by my climbing partner. It was very popular and people were coming in without a pause. ✍🏻 Panorama of the Mont Blanc massif seen from the climbing sites of Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) & Les Chéserys (1900m)

After a hot summer with daily temperatures exceeding 30°C, the mornings and evenings in Strasbourg are cooler, and we can now feel the brief signs of autumn. The summer of 2022 is probably the hottest summer since I came to France 🤔 Perhaps due to this heat, I could hardly go rock climbing in this summer. On a sunny weekend when the weather finally cooled off and my climbing buddies were back from vacation, I went to climb Rocher Hans du Lac Blanc, one of the most popular multi-pitch climbing areas in the Vosges Mountains (Massif des Vosges), for the first time in four years. Rocher Hans du Lac Blanc has about 15 multi-pitch climbing routes and 15 single-pitch routes. The multi-pitch routes can be combined with various routes, so there is a lot of variety. les larmes de printemps (L1:4b)-(L2: Nouchy, 6a+)-(L3:6c) m.lead-TO I had already climbed les larmes de printemps last time I was here, but this time I climbed Nouchy (6a+) instead of the original route (L2). I was afraid of the tension in the middle part of the route. les larmes de printemps (L3:6c) was as bad as the last time, but I couldn't stick to it. I should have traversed to the right side after climbing straight up a little more. Frantispice (L1,6b+)-(L2,6b+) m.lead This is the first time to try this route. The original route is up to (L3,5a), but we did not climb (L3,5a) due to time constraints. (L1,6b+) is powerful with a slight steep wall. (L2,6b+) has a traverse at its core. It is an interesting route with a lot of variety. I lead climbed all pitches of both routes but could not finish them. It seems I still don't have the mentality to endure granite 😅 ✍🏻 View from Rocher Hans du Lac Blanc

During my first summer in France, I asked a climbing friend of mine what climbing areas he recommended to go climbing in the summer and he told me about Ulm, a town in Germany. I still remember how surprised I was at that time because the recommended climbing area was so local. The climbing area I was told about was actually in Blautal, an area west of Ulm. I have not been able to go climbing in Blautal yet, but I was very interested in the Ulm Cathedral (Ulmer Münste), which has the tallest cathedral spire in the world, in this small town of Ulm, and I wanted to visit there at least once. It's been a long time since I was interested in the city of Ulm, but suddenly I got a chance to visit Ulm 😂. I had planned to go climbing in Italy in the summer of 2022, but had to abandon my plans at the last minute due to bad weather. So, all of a sudden, I decided to go to Ulm 🤣 Ulm Cathedral (Ulmer Münste) Construction began in 1377, and the cathedral was dedicated in 1383. It is a Gothic-style cathedral. The height is 161.53m including the remarkable spire. It looks smarter than I expected, not intimidating, which surprised me. But the interior of the church had a high ceiling, giving it a sense of spaciousness. "Ulmer Münste is so similar to the Strasbourg Cathedral, French 🇫🇷 " I thought, and to my surprise, this Ulmer Münste was Ulrich Enzingen, one of the designers of the Strasbourg Cathedral, was the general director of the cathedral. Incidentally, the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral is 142 meters high. Completed in 1439, the spire was the tallest structure in the world from 1647 to 1874. After seeing Ulm Cathedral (Ulmer Münste), I strolled around the Fischerviertel, one of Ulm's most popular tourist attractions. I walked along the Danube River past the Ulm Town Hall (Rathaus) and the Butcher's Tower (Metzgertrum). Schiefes Haus, one of Ulm's tourist attractions, was crowded with people waiting for their turn to be photographed 😆

Strasbourg's established summer event (Le Festival des arts dans la rue de Strasbourg 2022) took place this past weekend (August 13-15, 2022). While Midsummer is a music festival, this August event is more of an arts festival (theater festival). Like the Music Festival, this event is centered around the Old Town, where performances are held. Grette ciel's "Place des Anges" at Place Kléber was an outstanding performance. The angels moved all over the Place Kléber, and at the end it was a big dance party 💃🏼🕺🏼.