Drive south - Frankfurt to La Rioja

The drive from Frankfurt to La Rioja was done over four days. On the first day we were greeted in Germany by snow. The cameras on the plane showed fields of white as we approached Frankfurt airport. We got to Karlsruhe on the first night. The next day we stopped briefly in Nordweil, the village that the Schmeider family immigrated from before heading on into France and the inevitable motorway tolls. Again more snow and a beautiful trip through the mountains of the Parc des Volcans d'Auvergne. All of the villages in this area consist of sandstone buildings and it is picture postcard perfect. The 1000 year old commune of Saint-Angel was a great surprise discovery with an imposing hilltop church. The door was wide open and we had the place to ourselves... the fact that it was -5 C may have had something to do with the lack of people. From here we moved onto Bordeaux which is a stunning city. Paris was remodelled in the 1800's and the buildings of Bordeaux were used as a blueprint. On every street, intricately carved details on sandstone buildings can be found. The original medieval Cailhau Gate still stands, multiple cathedrals and museums.