Wow, can't believe we are into our last week here in Dieppe.
Bob's back is still giving him trouble, but despite that, we took a walk into town in the afternoon. There have been some Gazebos erected in the town centre for the past couple of days, so when we find a spot for coffee and lunch, we ask the waitress. Via hand signals and limited knowledge of what each other is saying, we get the idea, and then the waitress bring a booklet on what is happening. A sailing race is finishing here in Dieppe, and that is the reason for the activity. Which all starts on Tuesday through to Saturday. So the place will be jumping.
Tuesday, 25th June
Today we are on a road trip, after Bob has watched some cricket. After lunch, we go to the chiropractor to get Bob's back attended to. After that our next stop is Reims. Reading up on Reims, there is a Cathederial of some repute. After we find our which is very tastefully decorated. It is booked something like air b and b, but through booking.com. We take a walk to explore the local area, and find the place were it seems everybody goes to. There is so much going on, with people eating and drinking and walking and seemingly enjoying life. The street for two blocks, is full of life. Lots of different food styles, and drinks, and an absolutely wonderful vibe. The day has been a bit warmer today, and the unit, is not equipped for hot days. All in all a pleasant day.
Wednesday, 26th June
Before we leave Reims, we go to the Notre Dame Reims Cathederial. Oh my goodness. I wasn't going to come to this place, when we were talking about where to go when we got here, but WOW, so glad I did. It is renowned for being the Cathederial of which most of the Kings of France were crowned, and also for its stained glass windows. To take a picture of this is almost impossible to fit in one shot, and that's the building alone. It was built in 1211 - 1311, and is recognised around the world as one of the diving models of Gothic art. Understandably it is world heritage listed.
We e leave Reims, and head for Luxembourg, a small country next to France and Belgium. Travelling the roads in France, there are lots of road tolls, and you have to stop at each one, pay your fee, the continue. We leave France, and enter Luxembourg and you would not really know you have crossed into another country. But, there are no longer any road tolls, we did however travel though quite a few tunnels. We planned to go to Luxembourg city, but the navigation system, alias Karen( We have named her), took us via a different route to our next accommodation. A beautiful place called Buerschent. A very small community, which doesn't have any shops, only the hotel we were in and another hotel down the road plus the mandatory large church. We take a walk to see what's about, after we have settled into our room. What an awesome view to have.
Bob chose this place as it had air conditioning and after a very hot day here of 35degrees, it was well worth the drive and the view. Although, some of the roads we had to get here, were a bit, well, very ordinary. The couple who run this establishment speak 5 different languages.
We take our evening meal in the Resturant, and enjoyed the staff there. I got a bit more brave and tried to use some of the French that I have learned, all be it one word at a time stuff, and had to be corrected as I didn't understand what was said. But with a couple of glasses of champagne, I got better, and braver. The waitress knew just about as much English as I knew French. I ordered the drink, not knowing at the time that it was champayne. I saw the word Luxembourg and thought, it was something local, or a cocktail that they had named for the area. So I guess it was a local champagne.
Thursday, 27th June
We leave our hotel, after an in house breakfast. We are heading for Belgium, and on the way, stop to explore the castle that we could see from our room. This place, The Boursheid Castle, was built around the year 1000. It was a place for the Lord's of the time who came from the most respected chivalric families in the region. It was amazing wondering around this place, going up into the tower, and walking over steps 100s of years old.
Then we make our way to Belgium, and again, nothing to say, we have crossed the border. Our next place is Mons, and again, going down skinny roads and not sure if we are supposed to be going down them, we get to our next motel. Tucked away in a tiny street, was the motel, and we are lucky enough to get a park very close to the motel. We settle in afnd have a rest, as I woke up a bit unwell this morning. We go out to explore the surroundings and find the city centre, the oldest part of Mons. Lots of eating places, tables and chairs set up outside, over looking the old buildings and cobbled streets. We have dinner, and make our way back to the room.
Bob's back seems to be pretty good now, after his last chiropractor visit.
Friday, 28th June
After a hotel breakfast, we check out of the hotel and explore the local markets which are very conveniently at the end of the street. There are vendors of all sorts, some of them with gazebos, other with more elaborate setups. Trailers in lenght of 10mts fully extended, with cooking and refrigeration. Vendors ranged from lots of clothing, shoes, fresh fruit and veges, a butcher, lots of cheeses, hats, jewlery, belts, bedding items, beds. So much, and they stretched for ages. I purchase a couple of dresses, and Bob gets some fresh fruit, and we leave.
We are heading back to Dieppe, as our time in Dieppe comes to a close. After some wrong turns, missing turns, including having to reverse down a street, as it was a dead end, and driving on a back track around a field, we get onto the right roads.
This week in our travels, we have come across having to pay for the use of toilets a bit more often. We have experienced this before, but it is more common in these areas.
Saturday, 29th June
A day of rest and washing. Went into the shops for the last time, as we take the car back tomorrow. I got a pair of sandals to wear, and just like home, every where here is having sales, due to the end of the year. We take a stroll along the beach. It has been very hot here today, and there are people on the beach. In the evening we take a walk to get some pictures of the sun setting as it is a clear night.
Sunday, 30th June
Today we take the car back to Paris, no major issues getting the car back. Then we have a few hours to waste till we can get the train back to Dieppe. We find a place to have some lunch, and waited a good while for our meals, and my coffee didn't arrive until it was to late. We had a begger on the other side of the window watch us eat. Very confronting.
After we finish eating we decide to walk to the train station we need to catch, as it was not the one were we just came from. After some extra steps, and sightseeing we find the train station. We board the train, and it is late leaving, but we are assured that we will get to Rouen on time. We have to change trains at Rouen, and it is a mad dash when we arrive, a matter of minutes, as they have held the train to Dieppe until our train arrives. There are people running, and we just follow them, as we have no idea which platfom the train leaves from. We make it, and continue onwards. My new sandals have given me a couple of blisters, as I knew they were not good for walking, but the walk to the train station was not planned. We get to Dieppe, and look for a taxi. Unlike Australia, taxis don't seem to wait at the usual places, like train stations, so after a while I decide we can walk back to the unit. It's not like it is that far. So by the time we get back to the unit, I have an additional blister under my foot, and we probably walked around 6kms in total for the day. We cook up the left over food, and retire for the night.
No comments:
Post a Comment