Trip with F's on a BP. Firsts, family, Food and Fun.

[drron]

For breakfast we mostly went to the Arts cafe and had a pastry or savory baguette, bagel or focaccia. That first morning we steamed out of Southampton on a sea day. The wind certainly was very brisk so tendering would have been very difficult.






Past the Isle of Wight.


And Osborne house.








Then time for lunch.




I had the Penne pasta and Mrsdrron the ribs. Both good.

 

[drron]

Our second night's dinner.




W e both started with the beef tartare. Different from previous cruises.




I then had the lobster bisque. just OK.


Mrsdrron had the lobster. A tiny tail.


And I had the filet of beef. Very nice.




In the morning we awoke in the Port of Rouen.

 

[drron]

We went on an excursion which started at the cathedral, a lunch and after to Monet's Garden.
The Cathedral -Notre Dame de L'Assomption de Rouen has a long and somewhat turbulent history. It was from 1876 to 1882 the tallest building in the world.

Rouen Cathedral - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So my pictures.

 

[drron]

And we move inside. Impressive.































Now I have always looked up in historic buildings. However I found out this dat that those days are gone. If I look straight up I would end up on my ack. The only way I can do it now is sitting on a chair.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now I have always looked up in historic buildings. However I found out this dat that those days are gone. If I look straight up I would end up on my ack. The only way I can do it now is sitting on a chair.

with an iPhone, and I imagine most phones, you can switch to the backwards facing camera i.e. towards your face and hold the camera out in front of you. Actually easier to get a properly centred photo if you’re looking for that type of thing.

 

[drron]

The Cathedral continued.






















The coffin of Richard 1. Only his heart remains here.

 

[drron]

Now we move outside.




The archbishops palace.

 

[drron]

We then walked down a pedestrian street with shops food outlets and old buildings.












And looking back.










We then got to the markets.

 

[drron]

More of the walk.




























And the restaurant where we then had lunch. definitely a tourist place but at least it had a history- Restaurant La Couronne where Julia Child had her first French meal.

Her First Meal in France #CookForJulia - Taste With The Eyes

Julia’s First Meal in France with Husband, Paul Child (a re-creation) We rolled to a stop in La Place du Vieux Marché, the square where Joan of Arc had met her fiery fate. There the Guide Michelin directed us to Restaurant La Couronne. ✘O✘ Rouen is a 2000 year old city located in Normandy on …...

www.tastewiththeeyes.com

The bears appeared during the Covid lockdown.

 

[drron]

Once inside the restaurant the view ffrom my seat.






And our meal. A chicken dish and mille feuille. Nice but certainly not memorable.




The back to the bus and follow the Sine.

 

[drron]

We came all this way to see a somewhat overgrown late summer garden that an artist who dies just short of 99 years ago painted.


As we arrived the lines to go through Monet's house disappeared so we went through the house first.








Views from the house.

 

[drron]

Out in the garden again.

 

[drron]

Now headed down to the road and then use the ubderpass to the Japanese garden.




And here we are.

 

[drron]

And the last of the water lilies.
























And then the battery ran out of charge. So back to the ship.

 

[drron]

That night we ate at Indochine which is sold as Asian fusion and on the spicy side. However if I wanted a spicy dish I always asked for extra spice. Mrsdrron had no problems getting a non spicy meal. They always start with a coughtail sampler which varies each night. We enjoyed all of them.


The menu.






Then you get 2 dips - a mango chutney and a spicy sambal.


Mrsdrron usually started with the water paper roll which she liked.


This night I had the gado-gado salad. I rated this number 4 of the choices.


Then I had the hot and sour soup which I enjoyed.


Mrsdrron had the char sui pork with a side of saffron rice. She really liked this dish,


I had the chilli glazed ribs I really liked although there was no hint of chilli. I had the side of egg noodles. Didn't appreciate them.



We both had the creme brulee for dessert which was excellent.

 

[drron]

The next day I went on a walking tour of Rouen. fortunately we started with the market first and a different route to the Cathedral.




We went past rouen's oldest 5 star hotel.




Outside where Joan of Arc had her last moments at the stake ther is a monument to her.




And a church in her memory.










the exterior of the church.


Then past some more public buildings.

 

[kookaburra75]

Lovely photos - thanks for taking us along with you. Those of Monet's gardens remind me I have to start some planning for our next grande tour and sketch out a path that takes in gardens and a couple of churches.

When exploring churches, many a time I have laid down on the floor to be able to take in the features and photos. I've a few good chats with deacons and priests who have laid down too, and we've discussed the distinctive features. MrsK is not a fan of my approach.

 

[drron]

Next through some narrow streets to the Palais de justice. A magnificent collection of buildings.








At the Palais.

Palais de justice de Rouen — Wikipédia

fr.wikipedia.org

And on to the cathedral.

 

[drron]

When we reached the cathedral I had a chat to our guide. Initially she worried that I would not be able to keep but I had. Having seen the cathedral the day before I explained I would rather do it at my pace plus have a little more free time. I double checked the bus departure time and she was happy to let me go. So here is the second coming of drron to Rouen Cathedral.
























But i as able to sit and listen to some exceptional voices that I guess were having a rehearsal. I saw the group on the other side of the cathedral and no one stopped and listened. I felt I had definitely done the right thing.

 

[drron]

The last of the cathedral.















And now free time.