Now that we were firmly ensconced in our beautiful nook in Hardelot (see the list of previous posts on our epic trip to France, a micro side trip to Bruges in Belgium and tour finale in Amsterdam) it was time to explore the larger neighbourhood. We had wanted to visit the South African War Memorial in Delville Wood at its centennial in 2016 and had not had the chance, and on the way was the historic town of Amiens with its imposing cathedral. To the tourism chariot! Arm Waze (because the GPS still refused to speak in English, and what the heck, our local SIMs had 10GB of data on them)! Leave at the crack of 11:30 (again)!
What were we expecting?
We really didn't know what to expect as we had done precious little research. We knew from Madame Google that Amiens had an extraordinary cathedral and to expect gems such as this clock tower.
On the way
We enjoyed the rolling, woody, pastoral hillsides dotted with wind turbines and patted ourselves on the back for mastering the French toll road system. Emma was chuffed that French pop radio stations play the same, er, quality pop radio she's used to listening to in South Africa. Eh bien, c'est la vie....
Arrival in Amiens
This beautiful sight greeted us as we got out of our car. Look at that fabulous clock and the finial on top of the spire.
We fiddled and faddled with the parking meter, but couldn't understand why it was saying if we paid our few euros it would let us park there until about 13:00 the next day. A savvy local, stifling laughter, suggested it was unnecessary to feed the meter on a public holiday.
Public holiday?
Yes. Assumption Day. It turned out it wasn't just the parking meters which took a break on that particular Tuesday. More on that when we get to Delville Wood in the next post.
Towards the cathedral
It wasn't hard to figure out where the cathedral was. We walked past this central square and were delighted to find it decorated with origami birds above and colourful deck chairs on the ground. L'art de savoir-vivre - the art of knowing how to live! Anyone could sit in those deck chairs. What an inspired idea. Is this how Amieniens (if that's what they're called) live year round?
Here's what the origami birds looked like closer up.
The local tourism information booth in the square was open and we picked up this brochure - recommended for giving an overview of Amiens and some good memories.
We walked past this extraordinary clock tower - extraordinary not only for its appearance, but also for the accuracy of its time-keeping.
You can see the cathedral looming down the street. To get there we had to walk past a myriad of little cafes and restaurants, all selling delicious-sounding lunches. Many patrons sat at small tables outside on the wide street, dogs sitting peacefully at their feet.
As we reached the end of this cafe-lined street, this simple, elegant house took shape before us.
The cathedral exterior is simply spectacular. This is the view from that house as we emerged into the square.
And here are a couple of closeups to give you a sense of the detail which went into the construction of this building.
The sculpture work is worth much more detailed study than the few minutes we had.
Inside Amiens Notre-Dame cathedral
Spectacular architecture - soaring arches, inlaid mosaic floors, sculptures, artworks and stained glass windows throughout the building - would have been an incentive to worship in times of yore.
There's a lot of gold in them thar hills
There isn't a tactful way to say this - there is no need to worry about the future of the Catholic church if the amount of gold in this cathedral is in any way representative of other cathedrals across Europe.
Spectacular spectacularis!
Walking on dead people
You get used to it. There are a lot of graves in these churches, and it's not like there's anywhere else to walk than right on their graves. What was the thinking at the time - that it would keep the deceased uppermost in hearts and minds if they were forever underfoot? Personally, I'm not convinced.
View from the cathedral entrance
This is the view you get when you leave the cathedral. The house on the far left is the one I pictured earlier; I took the first photos of Notre-Dame's exterior from the sidewalk in front of it.
This square did make me wonder whether the families that live there now have lived in that location for centuries and just rebuilt as needed....
Apologies to those salivating in expectation of photos of food
No food was harmed in the making of this excursion. Not. A. Bite.
Images by @kiligirl, @tim-beck and Emma Beck except where otherwise credited.
Other posts to date on our trip:
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-5-team-beck-moves-from-paris-to-pas-de-calais-in-the-north-of-france-and-nobody-dies
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-4-in-paris-for-team-beck-notre-dame-the-musee-d-orsay-and-le-marais
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-3-in-paris-for-team-beck-hop-on-hop-off-bus-tour
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-2-in-paris-for-team-beck-boat-cruise-down-the-seine
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-2-in-paris-for-team-beck-a-visit-to-the-louvre
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/two-weeks-ago-yesterday-we-were-wandering-around-the-centre-pompidou-in-paris
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/paris-day-1-part-2-of-several-posts-on-our-trip-to-paris-pas-de-calais-bruges-and-amsterdam
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/whirlwind-tour-of-paris-pas-de-calais-bruges-and-amsterdam
Team South Africa banner designed by @bearone
your sharing gave me a chance to view them. Thanks
I'm so glad, @mohammedfelahi. Beauty should be shared. Thank you for taking the time to read 😊😊
very nice post, i love it...!!
Thank you, @stmitbackpacker! 😊😊
followed @kiligirl
Me too 😊😊
Great post, the cathedral is so beautiful I don't really know what to say, those sculptures are beautiful, and the roof is exquisite. I also don't know if it is a good idea to bury the people under the floor.
Thanks, @rynow, I would love to be a better photographer to be able to do it justice (I struggled with light levels all the time, but that cellphone camera of mine has some good smarts in it which really helped). We just decided to say "wow" everywhere we looked. It seemed appropriate.
And thanks - the more I think about it, the more I think it's creepy to bury people under the floor. I just don't understand the motivation so would need a historian to explain it to me....😊😊
Lack of space & grave robbing prevention ... Probably catacombs, , probably not actually right under your feet ... IDK ... "Like ...that's just like, my opinion man"
Read more, Reason more ... JTS
I have to admit I could have looked this up before mentioning it...but it was more fun to comment from the darkness of ignorance. Perhaps I should read more and reason more. What do you think? 😉
now THAT is a good conversation ... Let's work backwards, or bottom to top, instead of top down. "What do you think?" To me that is one of the best statements mankind (or womankind, IF your so inclined) can utter ! That is how I raised my 4 children ... "The question IS the answer." I must admit that I have regressed during my absence from steemit and DID think and reason and gave you the answer that I thought might be plausible instead of ASKING YOU what you "thought" the reason was for the indoor tombs was. Personally I think your response was actually a solicitation for real conversation instead of a "comment from the darkness of ignorance", that being the "fun" in it. From what I have seen so far of you, I know it was NOT a response from stupidity, for I do not converse with those that engage in the practice of stupidity. As far as looking it up, of course that is reasoning that makes you sexy !, lol, (Drop Dead legs, pretty smile ! Van Halen ..again) but of course it is more "fun" to have a "real" conversation.
Well Hon, if you don't mind me saying OR the "term" I am very much enjoying this "mutual mental masturbation" (mentally playing with someone) as apposed to "mental masturbation" (Just playing with myself)
OMG that was FUN !!! a HELL of a way to wake up ... Now for some breakfast !
well, what do you think about all that?, lol
Glad you're having fun! 🙃🙃
are you not ?
Yeah I don't know if I would do that either.
a special attraction to a sturdy old building and contains history and ornaments and paintings and art that is very meaningful of your journey is very good variety
Hi, @zainalabidin, thank you so much for reading 😊😊
thank you very much for sharing.
And thank you for stopping by, @nehapari! 😊😊
Hi @kiligirl, When I read your posts, I close my eyes and start seeing everything. Then I look at photos in the post and I start feeling as if I am there with you people. That's how good your writing is. Really enjoyed this post. Please never stop writing for Steemit.
Gee, you make me smile, @ugetfunded. Thank you so much! 😊😊
Nice post, i upvoted and followed you, please visit my blog and dont forget upvote me @rajarizki
Its plasticity is very pleasing ..
a very good post
Not totally sure what you mean by plasticity (maybe a translation issue?), but I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post 😊😊
yes best friend.
I have a post please visit also yes ..
Traveling is a cure for almost everything that ails us. It allows us to learn so much about other places and cultures. I have traveled a fair bit so far in my life, but just seeing your pictures makes me all itchy and thirsting for more travel. Have a great trip.
Thanks, @jasonshick, I'm glad I could itch your travel bug in some way. Would love to see tales of some of your adventures. Aaaaaand I wish I could say we're still on the trip, but we took it in August. One of the features of Team Beck's travels is to get going by the crack of noon, forget to eat lunch, then be desperate for supper by 9:00. That was not a great recipe for posting while we were travelling! 😜 Appreciate you stopping in and reading. 😊😊
Nice post, I live not that far and actually never got a chance to go over there.
Too bad you missed the Hortillonnages of Amiens, a nice mix between water and gardens which must be an amazing place from what I've heard.
Sorry but the only link I found is in french... http://www.hortillonnages-amiens.fr/
Hi, @bleader, I read about the Hortillonnages today in that brochure I included, and yes, what a pity we missed it! Thanks for the link (no problem re French - I come from Montreal). I must say I would really like to go back to that part of the world. The woods and rolling hills really appealed to me. Lucky you living near there. If you go to the Hortillonnages, please post so I can get some vicarious enjoyment.
Appreciate you taking the time to read! 😊😊
very intresying post will care you always
😊😊
Hi kiligirl...you have wonderfully depicted your France trip..the architectural works are so marvellous .. but it is difficult to believe that people used to walk over the graves..anyway, enjoy your trip...expecting your next post soon...till then ..bye and good day to you.
Hi @momi5, nice to hear from you! Thank you for the kind words. As for the architecture in France, we no longer have enough words to describe how awestruck it left us. And walking over graves - I remember doing that in Westminster Abbey in London, and probably did it in Notre-Dame in Paris as well, but it's not something I can get completely used to. Hope to post about the rest of Day 6 tomorrow. We went to a place called Delville Wood which is full of meaning to South Africans. I've started the post but need to do some more research to do it justice. An extremely moving place. Look forward to your next post! Cheers 😊😊
Cheers... have a nice day friend..
Thank you for the resteem! Have a lovely day, @momi5 😊😊
That is one quirky looking clock tower :)
Indeed, but I thought it was spectacular! I noticed most of my photos are leaning to the right. How doofus is that? 😜😜
On a more serious note, I must look it up and better understand the history, since much of that part of France was flattened in the Great War. I wasn't clear, given how much time we didn't spend reading up on the place before going, how the cathedral and sights such as that clock tower survived both WWI and WWII.
In any case, appreciate you stopping in, @luxurywalker 😊😊
Some photos are, not all :D
Did you had a tour guide to explain the history behind these structures and buildings for you?
Having a tour guide in Europe is like attending a history class. Lol
Hi @luxurywalker, no, we didn't have a guide and that day (because it was a public holiday) no guide would have been available anyway. I've used guides (both human and audioguides) in Europe before, and I agree with you, it's like having a history teacher next to you.
I didn't understand your comment about the photos...?
Cheers! 😊😊
Some of the photos are leaning to the right :)
I noticed that too!
upvoted from @neowne
Wow! it looks lovely........
I hope I did it justice, @faisal79. Thank you 😊😊
your post is great. your post touch in my mind your photograph and your writing is there example you are a smart photographer and writer thank you for your fantastic sharing
Thank you for those kind words, @adviser 😊😊
Nice clock and all that gold!
Thanks - and I only showed some of the gold in that cathedral. There was more. A lot more. Have a great day! 😊😊
Is it really real gold? 😎
Heckuva good question - it came up a lot in Paris, as you can imagine. Some of it is apparently gold leaf, and some gold paint. Does that make it less valuable? Probably. Less beautiful? Nope.
It looks real so who cares? If you gold something, you gold something.
So right. Well soothsaid.
Thanks!
omg, lmao .. your humor has got me literally ROTFLMAO ! btw, did i read somewhere that "You and Tim" ? is that your Husband in the pics, Ironic, I go by Tim also (The T in JTS ) perhaps i misread something? I did want to say how much I appreciate you sharing all of those wonderful pics ... I will never go, but I have seen ... thank You /bow
And btw, FYI .. AS a Systemic Wench, you do know there are NO systems, ONLY subsystems ... (Grist for the mill) I thought you might like that as a diagnostic tool. As a life long Electronics & Mech Tech it has served me well !
Please post more ! I will try to upvote anything you produce, it all seems to be of value !
Read More, Reason more ... JTS
Glad I could make someone laugh that hard, and that you don't have any stitches to pop! Yup, that's my guy Tim (@tim-beck), the one who got me onto this platform. Nice to meet you by real life name, Tim! I'm Linsey.
/bow Well met Indeed !
😊😊