Rouen Day Tour

Just came back from a French dinner at Carmelle's other host family. French stereotypes of being obnoxious brats is not real. Some of the nicest people ever, great conversations but man, it's no stereotype but the French really do love their cigarettes wine and cheese! Amazing food, great baguettes, I could live on this forever. I've also learnt that if one does not want anymore wine, it's imperative that they leave the wine glass full, because as soon as it's empty, it's inevitable that yours will be refilled.

Yesterday as we were having some cheeses, and being my first day in France I wanted to appear really really cultured, and all this stuff was going on through our heads as to how one takes the bread, where they place it, how they slice the cheese, and how they eat the two together. All within a very limited time space and whilst maintaining very pleasant table conversation within the bounds of cultured social norms..

French jardins (gardens) are really amazing too, I'm pretty sure they're made for social entertainment. Good grass, not the pretentious sort that's all identically equal and straight. But luscious, and sort of natural but green, just how I like it.

Today the bunch of us did a walking tour of Rouen, and had an audio guide tour us around so we could learn some of the history. The most amazing thing happened today and I walked into the doors of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Rouen. My first ever, legitimately old cathedral. It was dark and gothic in style, and absolutely marvellous and left me absolutely gobsmacked and lost for words. The stone, the stained glass windows, the orchestra, the old statues, it's grandeur, everything. We went on to see the great buildings, one whole street ravaged by gunshots from WWII, St Jean of Arc's tower of imprisonment and eventual place of death where she was burnt at the stake.

The Claude Monet museum was closed because most of them are closed on Tuesdays! But we went to another museum of European history, including French, Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures. We even saw a mummified cat. Can't even begin to imagine what more there is left to see, because these are some of the greatest monuments I've ever seen in my life, and really has been my dream for a long long time. I love it here. This was a relatively small museum, and I know there is so much more in store for me. This was only day 2.

Back to food, we were also treated to lunch. I don't know where that saying came from that French women eat everything in small portions, because these servings were massive. They even treated me to some escargots for lunch! Absolutely delicious! They taught me how to do it, using the bread to pick up the rest of the hot garlicy sauce thing. Tomorrow we are having legit French croissants for breakfast! Benoit wants us to teach me him how to eat vegemite properly so thinking to put vegemite on the nice buttery French croissant, and quite possibly ruining it for everyone. So excited for tomorrow, even though we have to wake up early for the longish drive up! Monet's garden, Giverny!!! Can't wait.