Reading My Way Around the World

Thursday 12 May 2016

Rouen in the rain


It feels like only a few days since we landed home after the last trip and here we are off on the road again.   Frankly it's hard to stop thinking that we're getting too old for this craic.  (For those of you in America - craic is not some kind of drug - it is an all encompassing Irish word which can mean fun or nonsense or this sort of thing - in fact now that I think of it, craic has many many uses).  But we'll fight the urge to say it's time to give up and motor on - for another while at least.

So we got off the ferry in Cherbourg yesterday evening - beautiful crossing - I'd forgotten we were on a boat and got a shock when I looked out the window and saw we were moving - and then a stopover in Rouen.   It poured with rain so there was no chance to get any decent photos - I love this city - this is our second time for a stopover here and we've seen slightly more of it each time.   The Seine runs through the centre - these huge European rivers are magnificent.
This shop front looked like a sweet box
One thing I love about being in France is that French people let you try out your few words of French, no matter how bad it is.  In most countries where people speak English they'll step right in and take over in English.   It's much more fun having a go in another language without correction.
Lights reflecting in the rain

Now we're heading towards Germany - as our first night's concert isn't until Saturday we have plenty of time to make it up the country.   So tonight we think we'll head for Holland and stop over in Eindhoven perhaps.   We're not sure if we've ever been there - at one time we travelled a lot in Holland and then the folk club scene dried up and we haven't been back much in nearly 10 years. It'll be nice to see another architecture for an evening.
The old centre of Rouen

Before the single currency in Europe it used to be great fun coming home - to leave Berlin in the morning, change currency and have lunch in Holland, change again and stop for coffee in Belgium and finally have dinner in France.   That used to tickle me pink :)   Isn't silly the things that make you smile.   Life's undoubtedly a lot more practical with one currency, but not nearly as exotic.

Not a great picture but I thought - there's a French car -
pink furry dice, pink steering wheel, pink car!
What else would a girl need :) 

 As the old blues song says "Further on up the road!"




12 comments:

  1. Dear Fil, ooohh, I am writing from bed, after a year without a cold (I used to be the queen of colds in 2013), I caught a bad one - but can still read :) I loved your posts, I learn so much! Cherbourg is really sweet and the crossing is special, indeed. True, when I lived in Germany sometimes I had breakfast there, lunch in Brussels and dinner in France - and I felt exotic :) I hope you have a lot of fun and no, you are not old for any craic :) Someone said that fun starts when we leave our comfort zone - I know you do this a lot, so now enjoy Holland and Germany again and later on your way back, France once more! An international musician, that's so cool!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. Aw I hope you feel better soon Denise - I've taken your title this year - too many colds and flus.

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  2. You have caused me nostalgic longings for Europe Fil. It is such a long time since I was in Rouen or Eindhoven. As for Germany, I only know/knew the coastal towns. Enjoy your time in Germany.

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    1. Which towns in Germany Jo? We're heading to the coast at the weekend.

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    2. whew, Fil, long time ago. I remember Borkum on the Friesian islands, and Emden. I also know we went through the Kiel Canal stopping in Kiel - I met my German penfriend there. We went on to Denmark after that. I wasn't very old though and as I say, it was a loooooong time ago.

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    3. I love this part of the country. We're you part of the Coventry exchange?

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  3. Hi Fil - have fun .. and lovely to take a relatively leisurely drive through parts of Europe ... one day you'll have a dry time to take a good look around .. cheers Hilary

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  4. Oh lovely Fil! Those beautiful rainy photos have me now wanting to snuggle in and watch The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Wishing you a wonderful time, with Singing in the Rain only if you want. :-)

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  5. I like the look of that fountain! I always paddle in those! So naughty! Hope you have a nice time! Yes, there was something about having that foreign currency that was so exciting!!x

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  6. Sounds like a great trip. I miss the closeness of it all.

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  7. Beautiful shots and I agree t hat it is hard to give up this travel addiction! I often think I will end up going on a stretcher. Beautiful shots!

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  8. Looks like a great trip. I love the pics!

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