Lille

Lille

Le Grande Place Lille

I think I'm slowing down a bit at the moment. I went into Lille today but was home by 3.30pm... need a rest after all that tourist stuff!!!

Having made the practice run yesterday to get into Lille by train, I decided I would do that again. I described in yesterday's post how it took me a few goes to get to the station. Well today, getting there was a breeze. The only thing was I couldn't find any parking. (Yesterday, St Anthony worked, today he was a bit slow to get going!)
So I had to go around a very big block of about 5 kms to get back and have another try. Eventually I found a park right at the very back of the parking area - about 10 mins walk to the station, but that was OK.

Didn't have to buy my ticket today, and knew how to authenticate it etc.... Piece of cake!!!! I think public transport has some very good things going for it. Tomorrow I'm back on the trains as I head for Bruges, so I wonder if I'll still think that tomorrow!

Actually it was interesting looking around at the clientele on the train. If nobody spoke and gave away their language we could be in Melbourne or Perth. Had a very happy fellow get on at one stage with a very big bottle of wine. Sad thing was he was quite young.

I know there are lots of homeless in Australia, but I have to admit I don't go into the city that much, so maybe our paths don't cross, but I'm very conscious of all the homeless and people who beg in the cities I have visited in France. And may be inner city, especially train stations, are places where they can be found...  Feel very sad for them.

Anyway, made it very easily to Gare Lille-Flandres and have discovered my train tomorrow goes from Gare Lille-Europe which is about 500m away. It's going to be interesting tomorrow negotiating my luggage. I have to park the car in an underground car park, then walk quite a distance to the station, so I think there might be a few challenges ahead. But I've made it this far.... so I'll just keep going!!!
 This is one of those times though that I wished I had packed a lot less luggage!!!

As usual I thought the best way to see the city was to do the bus tour.
It's not hop on and off here - just does a circuit for 50 mins. Also, we were inside the bus, which was also good because it was a bit chilly today. They said 16 degrees, but the temp thing in the city was showing 12 degrees - a bit closer I think!

Place Rihour - now the Office de Tourisme

Couldn't get many  pics on the bus tour, as they wouldn't have come out through the windows.

This is another view of Le Grande Place. In the middle is the column commemorating the city's resistance to the Austrian siege of 1792 topped by Le Deesse (the goddess).

A few interesting things I learnt about Lille

• Population of the actual city is about  220,000 but with the outlying villages and region around it is close to 1 million. As I said earlier I have underestimated the size of some of these regional cities. I guess they're like our Capital Cities in Australia.
• It is France's 5th largest city
• Le Grand Place is officially known as the Place de General-de-Gaulle who  was born here. We passed this house, but if I had gone back to have a look it  would cost 5 Euro to get in. Needless to say, I chose not to go back!
• There is an old town which we drove through, but because the bus went via a roundabout route, I couldn't find my way to get back to there....
• Lille is famous for its Universities and student life, which the tour guide told us really gave a buzz to the town and a perception that the town was really alive.
• It has some wonderful and ornate architecture. I think this building was the stock exchange..

Stock Exchange

And of course I had to stop and have lunch..

Today I just felt like pasta, especially as it was getting colder... so this restaurant had a bowl of Spaghetti Bol and a glass of red for 11 Euros 90.
I was in...!!! Followed by a nice cup of coffee. I love the dining in these towns how you can sit on the edge of the square and watch the world go by...

You wouldn't believe how many school groups I am seeing ....I think every school in France takes their kids on excursions.... Everywhere I go there are kids of all sizes going on excursions... I guess if you had these kinds of venues in Australia we might take the kids out a bit more often...

The other place I made a beeline for today was the  Church of St Maurice. Having missed lighting my candle yesterday, I was not going to miss today.

Church of St Maurice

This is not the Cathedral - the Cathedral is a little further on and as I mentioned, I had the go-slows a bit today and was happy to settle for this Church. Mind you, it was a beautiful Church. There is something very majestic about the Churches in France. It is obviously a very Catholic country, where the Church is central to each village and town . As I walk into each one I can sense  the atmosphere of prayer. Maybe it's the Gothic architecture of maybe it's the expectation I have that I will be able to pray there. So many questions... so few answers....

My candle buying is getting more discerning as I go along. The choice today was a simple red candle for 2 Euro or one with a picture of St Rita (same size and shape) for 3 Euro.  Sorry St Rita, but I don't think your picture makes it worth the extra.... Is this heresy...???? Mind you, I did cough up extra  for Our Lady of Mercy! Maybe my values are a bit coloured by past experiences...????

So, that's been the day. It's nice to be home reasonably early as I have to repack everything, and I'm still waiting for some of my washing to dry. Had to leave it draped around my room, because it is not drying quickly. The heating in the room doesn't work- the aircon is set to cool and won't change, so I quickly turned that off. This motel is not the best I've ever stayed in but hey it's clean and I slept well last night, and the meal was one of the better ones I've had since I've been in France.

You can't win them all....  :)