ROUEN

We left the Connelles at a fairly reasonable hour so we could get to Rouen in time to see all there was to see.  Bags packed, we left the resort knowing we had to face our biggest challenge yet - returning the rental car.  Trip to Rouen was uneventful, we had directions to the Hertz and we were confident,  well pretty confident, well pretty sure we could return the car to the right spot.  Everything went according to plan until the GPS said "you have arrived at your destination".  We were in front of the train station and not one sign said " return rental car here".  Sharon found a spot, well a space, rather illegal, while I ran into the train station to talk to the agent at the Hertz Offfice to find out exactly where to return the car.  OH!  A French holiday and the office was closed.  So, next step. I retraced our journey to get our rental car and when I got to the area I ran into someone who was returning a rental car who spoke English and after commiserating  about our dilemma he advised me to  enter the train station parking area , park 2. and go to level 2 and good luck finding a spot to park the car!  I was so excited to tell Sharon everything was easy.  All we had to do was get to  the train station parking lot and follow the sign to "park 2" and we would be able to get rid of the car.  We found our way to Park 2 and than nothing was easy!  I ended up getting out of the car, running up and down ramps looking for some sort of sign that said Hertz.  Finally, after doing my three mile run, I found a sign which indicated  that rental cars needed to proceed down this particular circular ramp.  You would not believe   these ramps - always take out full coverage insurance when renting in Europe.  If nothing else it give you peace of mind that when you run into a wall - you're covered!  Sharon did an excellent job of getting down the ramp and "Hallaluia" we had found the rental car return.   We drove to the Hertz area and even found an empty spot.  Was it big enough to fit a car into?  Question of the day.  Maybe before they put mirrors on the outside of the automobiles.  We unloaded our bags and while Sandra and I closed our eyes, Sharon backed the car into the space.  Actually all three of us wanted to shut our eyes but Sandra and I directed and Sharon orchestrated a perfect entry into the space.  We were so elated we almost wanted to have champagne to celebrate but refrained - it was a little early!  We were ready to get rid of the car and drop the keys in the drop box  but wait.... we forgot the form telling the milage, gas level.etc. in the car so off I went again.  Got the form and finally we were free of the car and its trappings!

Hertz office with the closed sign. " just put your keys and paper work in the drop box".

Through the train station, out the door, through this area...

along this ramp down the elevator and back to where we had picked up the car.  Now I reversed my journey and got back to 

Sharon to relay th info I had learned.  

This is great if you are travling by foot.  If we could have gotten the car in the elevator we could have gotten right to the Rental Car parking area without any trouble.  Why didn't they have something like this for cars.

The circular ramps I was running up and down  to find what ramp we needed to drive down to get us to the rental car return.

Hallaluia Hertz!!!!!!!

Our car -  in a space  at last.

Yes, that is our car jutting out just a little.  So...?

We got a cab to the hotel and of course it was too early to check in so we parked our bags and walked around.  Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy and was the scene of the martydom of Joan  of Arc, convicted and then burnt at the stake in 1431 on the Place du Vieux Marche.  Rouen is also the town with a Hundred Spires, and over the centuries different parts of the town blossomed with jewels of religious architecture.

Found a little street maket on our way to  the cathedral.

We thought we had found it, experts that we are at recongnizing churches.  We were wrong, this is the Palace of Justice.

A sculpture within the fence that looks like a "lunch break".

The undersdie of the arch.

The other side of the archway.

Isn't that a church steeple I see?

Passed a flower market on the way.

Decorating for Halloween or maybe its just an old skeleton hanging around with the cobwebs.

                                      

Now this is an interesting building.  We weren't sure what we had found.  As it turns out it is the Church of St. Joan of Arc - L'dglise Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc).  The church was completed in 1979 and is on the Place du Vieux-Marche, where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake.

Lovely garden aroound the monument.

Saint Joan.

The cross marks the spot where she was burned.

Very interesting lines.

Now we were on our way to the Notre-Dame Cathedrale.  This cathedral is "remarkable for  the juxtaposition of all the periods of gothic, especially in the front."

                         

The Notre-Dame cathedral inspired Monet to paint his Catedral series.  

                                              

                                                 

                                  

                                        

I love all these sculptures. They were throughout the Cathedral.  I chose just a few to photograph.  

                                         

                                     

An effigy Many were located in the Cathedral but I couldn't find any of an historical person that I knew of.  

                                          

The next pictures are of a chapel for silence and contemplation.  It was so lovely.

The main altar.

                             

The organ.

      Again, beautiful stained glass windows.

The outside garden.

The day was still early so we walked around a bit more awaiting the 3:00 check in at the hotel.

                                       

We were all captivated by these unusual  looking mannequins.

                                                        

                                                  

We found these cute little hand towels hanging on a little street corner as we wandered around.

                                                   

                                                            

                                 

                        

 It was just around two and we were ready to head to the hotel so Sharon studied the map and off we went.  When we got there the young lady who checked us in wasn't there, in fact no one was at the desk.  So we sat in the lobby and waited and waited.  A woman looked at us and said keys, or something and we nodded and she left.  So we sat some more.  She finally came back and got behind the desk and we went up and asked if our rooms were ready.  She was so surprised that that's what we were waiting for.  We explained in English  that we had checked in but were told to come back at 3:00.  She asked our name in French and than she couldn't find it on the computer.  We pointed it out to her and she then  gave us the keys.  I tried to explain to her that we would also like to book some dinner reservations for the night.  Well, she didn't know if or what was open, it was a French holiday and she didn't live anywhere near the area of the hotel and only had one recommendation.  (When we found it it was closed).   We just finally took the elevator to our room and decided we'd just find a place on the square on our own.  Language was a problem but that was the first time and it is something we are probably going to have to deal with.

We did find a little place for dinner that was open early - 6:30.  Hard to find a place to eat in France that serves  dinner before 7:15.

Food was OK. Nothing to blog about.  Sharon stopped  and talked to some people as we were leaving the restaurant. 

Found our way back to the hotel and turned in.  We had an eaqrly departure for the train station.