France - Cruising to Les Andelys and Chateau Gaillaird

Hi, I got things out of order, for which I apologize. This post covers the stop prior to Caudebec, the subject of the prior post.

We spent part of the morning cruising, passing some very picturesque villages (above and below).  In fact, the further north we went the more photogenic the villages became.

Chateau Gaillard (Chateau was a castle) was built on a hill overlooking the village of Les Anedelys.  I joined a group climbing to the top of the hill overlooking the ruins of the Chateau and the town.

These views (above and 2 below) are of the town of Les Andelys.  The domed building, above, is a hospital.

Here is a view of the side of the Chateau overlooking the Seine.

Looking south through one of the Chateau's windows.

Plants will grow anywhere they can find a niche.  These were growing along the Chateau's walls.

After lunch I took a walk around town.  Many of the buildings exhibited typical Normandy construction.  The framework of beams is erected and then the space in between is filled with, as I recall, a mixture of mud, lime, and gravel.

The local cafe provides a social center in small towns.

All of the buildings are well cared for.  Window boxes were prevalent.

Here is view of the castle from the town.

Thanks for looking. 

France - Cruising to Caudebec, the Cliffs of Etrat and the Benedictine Brandy Distillery at Fecamp

Hi, The morning of April 5 was spent cruising to the town of Caudebec. During the afternoon we took an optional tour to visit the town of Etrat and view its famous cliffs, and the town of Fecamp to visit the distillery of Benedictine Brandy.

While cruising we passed through a number of fog banks.  Here are some views of one of the towns we passed while a fog band was lifting (above and 2 below).

The town is very picturesque with numerous places to dine, some al fresco (above and below)

and buildings of typical Normandy construction.

The cliffs were very interesting and photogenic (above and two below).

On our way to Fecamp our bus stopped so we could photograph this private beach with the cliffs as a back drop.

At Fecamp we toured this former Benedictine abbey which had been converted into a distillery for Benedictine Brandy.

There was a display of advertising posters in a small museum attached to the distillery.  Here are two of them (above and below).

The brandy is distilled using stills such as those above

and then it is aged in casks.

The town of Fecamp also is a fishing port (above and below).

Thanks for looking.

France - Rouen

Hi, Our next port of call along the Seine was Rouen. This city is famous as the site of the execution of Joan of Arc in 1431. We took a walking tour of the city in the morning led by our guides from the ship.

Our first stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral (above and 2 below)

As we walked along with our guide there were many street scenes that caught our interest.

This gentleman had his workbench where he makes violins right inside his window.

This clock was installed on an archway over a gateway in the ancient Roman Walls of the city in 1409.

The clock does not have a minute hand, only an hour hand.

These buildings front the square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

In the window of a store that sold musical instruments I spotted these slightly worn Clarinets.

My wife, Ruthe, and I always try to locate synagogues in cities we visit and Rouen still has a functioning one.  This building was constructed in 1950 after its predecessor was bombed during WWII.

The windows are the work of Marc Chagall (above and below).

Here is the Bema from which services are conducted.

This is one of the towers of the keep.  Joan of Arc was imprisoned in a tower like this prior to her execution.

Thanks for looking.

An afternoon at Jones Crossing in Woodford, VA

Hi, I spent the afternoon of Friday, July 11 with friend Stan Short along the tracks of the former RF&P (now CSX) at Jones Crossing just north of Woodford, VA.  Our first train came along at 1:58 PM, shortly after we arrived. Most of the trains we saw were southbound.  For the most part all I will add is train designations.

Q439.

Q741, the southbound Tropican Orange Juice train, now carries containers on its head end.

South bound coal loads.

Q033.

Q130.

Q401.

P080, the northbound Carolinian.

P053, south bound Auto Train.

B779, the Frederick Local returning to Acca Yard in Richmond.

P091, the south bound Silver Star.

Our final photograph was taken at 5:25 PM.  Thanks for looking.