Day two, what a day!!!!

 

Day 2 started with a lie  in after a really good nights sleep, then up and out the door by 7.45am and down to Place de Halles for the Saturday market. I did my shopping of food that I will need for the next couple of days and then went to find something for breakfast.

An alfresco brekkie of Croque Monseiur and coffee was just what was needed and I headed back to the apartment to drop off my provisions before heading straight out again.

I walked back up to the Musee de L'Oise which is a chateau in the centre of the city the grounds were beautiful with a stunning knot garden, 

The history of the place is that it was originally a fortress then turned into a religious house and then in 1981 turned into a museum

Many wonderful artworks and treasures. Worth a visit. And anyone who knows me knows I love  a museum, this is quite a normal museum for me to visit.

Next stop the stunning Cathedral Saint-Pierre, which I have seen from all angles on my  walks and my window.

Inside did not disappoint and totally took my breath away. so much so that I had to sit in a corner for 5 minutes as I seemed to have some dust in my eyes

I also found out that the choir I heard last night in the apartment were English, Brockham Choral, who performed a programme of Rutter, Schubert, Mozart, Chilcott, Howells and Tallis. I have to say listening to them last night was wonderful 

As I walked through this stunning building it became very obvious that there is major works going on to keep the cathedral standing. ( my construction and architectural geek getting a look in here)

and this is inside, outside from my window I can see more evidence of the amount of work that has gone into keeping this beautiful building standing.

And then there was the astrological clock...........

the lighting in this area seems to be set so that you can never get a good shot of it.

here is the history blurb ( thanks google)

The clock was built between 1865 and 1868 by Lucien Auguste Vérité. It is 12 metres high, and 6 metres wide.

The 52 dials display the times of the rising and setting sun and moon, the position of the planets, the current time in 18 cities around the world, and the tidal times. The clock also displays the epact (i.e. age of the moon in days on January 1) and the golden number used in calculating the date of Easter.

The hours and minutes are shown in the large central face which depicts Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.

I have to mention the stained glass windows of which there are too many to photograph, but I got some

Two signs in the cathedral  brought a tear to my eye

So by the time this was all done and I had cleaned the mascara that had run down my face I thought I had best go and get some wine from the supermarche.

I filled my 'vinbutin' bag ( bought in Iceland at Vinbutin, taken all over the world since), and headed off to the restaurant I had got the pizza at yesterday. and had Plat du Jour for €13.

excellent!!

Head off home via the huge hydrangea bush and I took a couple of cuttings ........................then

I spot 3 credit cards laid on the ground. I pick them up, they all belong to the same person. One was a colour of American Express that I will never be able to have that's for sure!!!

Head back to restaurant and they phone the police, who turn up like 30 seconds later ( take note Aycliffe police).

They ask me to accompany them to the police station. OMG was I being arrested!???? ( answer was no)

Into police cars ( no selfie allowed), take me to the station ( no selfies allowed), lots of chatter about M Gilbert. apparently M Gilbert is a grande fromage in these parts! ( only me ffs!!!)

10 mins later M Gilbert arrives at station.

He didn't know he had lost his cards he had been in that area whilst I was eating,

Police ask me what I was doing when I found the cards, well I was hardly going to say, nicking foliage to try to propagate it! Just casually said , walking to my apartment after lunch.

M Gilbert is so happy he offers me €500 and a lift home, I decline the money and I accept the lift home as I have bag full of wine. Only in his full spec ' boules de chien ' Porsche Cayenne ( would have been better if a Maserati but OK I'll take the Porsche) He was still bartering with me as we pulled up at the apartment.

€500 was way too much to take and to be honest I just stumbled upon the cards. In the end I took €100 and said I would buy something to remember this trip, not that I need a reminder.

He said I was a rare person.

I've been called some things in my time but rare is not one of them.

I made it up the 2 flights of stairs and took to my bed with a cold glass of rose!

I need a 'normal' holiday!!!

I didn't leave the apartment after that and sat in watching Netflix and drinking wine ( not the whole bag of wine may I add)

Regardless of anything else, honesty is the best thing, I always hope that if it was my cards someone would have handed them in.

I also found out what the salamander was for, you follow the gold cobbles on a trail of ancient historical monuments.

Today I am off to the ancient ramparts before I just wander aimlessly and see what mischief I fall into.

And if you made it to the end of this epic, very well done!

Have a wonderful day