Rouen, France

We left Cologne on the train headed to Paris.  We were on an express train that only stopped in Brussels, Belgium.  We were in Brussels only long enough to exchange passengers so we didn't really "see" Brussels, only the platform and train yard.  But we can say we were in Belgium.  It was a lovely train ride and we had an excellent meal on it, too.  Not a bad way to travel, at all.  Once we reached Paris, we rented another car and drove out to our timeshare in Connelles. 


Getting out of Paris was a challenge.  What should have been a short, simple drive out turned into something much more.  We went wrong and when we finally got back on track we had to go through an intersection that was a comic's dream material. 
Two intersecting roads, one block from the highway entrance, three lanes each way on each road so 12 rows of cars.  Traffic was backed up from the next light, which entered the highway, and drivers were not happy.  The traffic lights were totally ignored and cars were every-which-way.  If a two inch space opened, someone moved into it.  Motorcycles were weaving between cars and horns were honking.  There was a fender-bender beside us and after the one driver got out and yelled at the other for awhile, he got back into his car and they both continued on.  We just had to laugh, it was so ridiculous.  Doug finally plowed his way through the intersection amid much cursing and honking from other cars and we made it out of there.  Unreal.

I had thought our timeshare was within an hour's drive of Paris but it turned out to be 90 minutes out, in the country, plus a whopping 13 euros in tolls, about $18 or so.  It was a pretty place but not conducive to driving back and forth to Paris each day.  Change of plans was called for.  Doug picked it to get to Normandy as it was about half-way between Paris and Normandy so that was fine.  I just adjusted my thinking on Paris.

We did some local touring which was very nice.  We saw more of the French countryside and less of Paris which wasn't a bad exchange, at all.  Rouen was relatively close-by and we spent a day there.  Joan of Arc was burned at the stake there and they have the St. Joan of Arc church which is both a church honoring her sainthood and a civil memorial honoring her martyrdom.  It was decided to build a modern design resembling flames.  Very pretty, actually, built right next to Roman ruins.  There is a big cross on the spot of her burning and a beautiful flower garden around it.




The stained glass is from the former Church of Saint Vincent dating from the Renaissance.





















Rouen is a pretty town and we enjoyed walking around it.  They have the Great Clock which comprises a Gothic belfry, a Renaissance archway and clock face, and an 18th century fountain.  The belfry houses the city bells and one of the oldest clock mechanisms in Europe, which was in operation from the 14th century to 1928.  It had more than 5 million hours without stopping once.  It was fully restored  in 2006.


There were also some beautiful old churches that we toured as well, and the inevitable street performers.

The last stop we were going to make in Rouen was to the Hotel de Ville.  It was reputed to have a wonderful lobby, worth the look-see.  When we got there the block was cordoned off and fire trucks were everywhere.  There was a fire at the hotel and firemen were pulling off the roof tiles to get to the source of the smoke.  We didn't see any flames but we did see smoke escaping.  Police were directing people and cars away so we didn't stay long but I so hope they got it under control fast.  There was already extensive damage to the roof as the firemen were pulling it apart.  It would have been a shame if the place burned down.  We never did hear what the outcome of the whole fire was but it definitely would need some repair.