Campanile - Nancy - Laxou Maxeville

This is an incredible place...but I don't have any pictures... when I got there my camera stopped working :( But I really think it was a blessing because I just saw everything and didn't worry about getting pictures of everything for later, I just saw and took it all in. It was a much needed get-away and it really blew me away, especially the Cathedral! Mass there was unbelievable...and I have a new-found love of French...and their pastries :)

... King version of Super Size Me!

We arrived at our hotel in Metz and spokilly enough Rick has been here before. we booked in and then we were confronted with the tasteful decor in the room. I was worried for a nano second that this had been planned and Rick was going to tell me something but thankfully this did not happen.

It was then that we carried on with tradition and headed off to the bar for a beer on the terrace.

Regards

Baz

We got up fairly late and I went with Ben on my parent's grave ... hard to stand there and not feeling emotional. Anyway had to get some flowers as we were invited for lunch "again" at an old friend place have known Phil since as far as I can remember we used to live on the same floor of the housing commission building so we go way back . It was ...

Got up this morning and after our ablutions we took the road for "Domremy-la-pucelle" birth place of Johann of arc. Great trip and pics taken. We then decided to go to the local cathedral to check it out ... this is when we saw he sign for: " ruine gallo-romaines de Grand". Of we pop following ...

... he got dethroned because of the civil war. He tried to get into many countries around Europe but France was the only country to accept him. He funded the building of place Stanislas which would have cost quite allot considering the majority of the iron gates are covered in gold leaf.

We got back to the hotel and had a nap. We then left to have dinner at my uncles house in Point Saint Vincent which consisted of horse steaks and rillettes (pork patte ...

... have a shower when my wife of 16 years remembered that today was my 45th birthday. We went to place Stanislas had a great time and we opted for a light lunch at "l'arrosoir" nice little place close to place carrier. I drove back Marg and the kids back to the Hotel for a rest and I went shopping for the goodies needed for my birthday dinner. Andouillettes, horse Berliner, rabbit pate, and 6 different kinds of cheeses.... not a veggie in sight, this should be a great dinner.

... two towns. There was originally a statue of King Henry the 14th in the plaza, but during the French Revolution they tore this down, used the statue for cannon balls, and then erected a statue of their beloved duke in its place. Anyway, I really liked that bit of history and thought it was kind of funny. Hopefully you did too. After seeing the town some (my camera battery died, so sorry, but my pictures are limited!), Liz and I did ...

... places, the island of Elba. Only one store is apparently allowed to make the famous Bergamotte (with two t's - the second t distinguishes them from other wannabe's) candy. A box of their goodies was featured in the film "Amelie" and since both Mitch and I loved the movie, a box was bought. They're being brought home for anyone who's interested to sample :) We spent most of the 26th and 27th wandering the streets, admiring ...

Our first exciting barge experience was attending Roger Van Dyken's Barge training course.



Roger and Marlene took three couples, Laurel and I, Brad and Nancy and Steve and Pei Shan (interestingly we have now all bought barges!) and with much patience and good grace taught us all how to run a barge. We left from Toul in Lorraine ...

... we had passed since Alsace were predominantly bland and uninteresting. Even the countryside, flat and monochrome, was uninteresting except for a few patches of forest. Perhaps we had been spoiled by Alsace with its pretty scenery and Franco-German villages reminiscent of Switzerland. Back in our house in Rue Patton I left Margaret reading in the garden while I walked down the street to buy some pain, vin and soft drink. The barman was thrilled to get his ...