Today we explore, some rain is expected mid afternoon. When I set up trips, I look for interesting things that we might do in the places we are staying. Dijon has some affinity with owls, and has an “owl trail” that goes around the city, identifying points of interest. Our mission is to find the “owl trail” and follow it around the city.
The first part turned out to be quite simple, the trail crossed in front of the hotel (although it took us half a block to figure that out). The “trail” is little brass arrows in the sidewalk. Sometimes when they redo the sidewalks, the markers are missing. When you come across a point of interest there is a larger square with a number or letter on it. If the point of interest is on a spur, and the trail ends, and sometimes there’s a fork in the trail, and you have to pick one. A little confusing, but very French!
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| Cathedral Saint Benigne |
Somewhere on the trail is Church of Notre Dame. A Gothic church bedecked with three row of seventeen gargoyles on the front. Actually, the original gargoyles were removed in 1240 after one of them broke off and killed a parishioner. They were not replaced until 1880. On the side of the church, at eye level is a stone owl which is suppose to bring you luck if you rub it. Of course, after being rubbed for 600 years, it’s a little hard to tell what is.
France is currently in a bit of turmoil because the Prime Minister quit. There are protests called “Block Everything”. In sympathy, the railroads are having a strike which may or may not affect our train travel tomorrow. We shall see!
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| Follow the Chouette! |
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