Postcards of Liverdun and beyond

We have visitors !
Looking down Moselle River from our mooring



18th Medieval Festival in Liverdun, amazing the number of people who like dressing up.
If you look carefully you can see Linquenda moored at Liverdun. A gorgeous stretch of the Moselle River
and so onto Metz, first day we headed to IKEA, needless to say came home laden.
Metz is a beautiful city, we are here for about 12 days so more about this stunning place in next blog.

Liverdun

Moved 10km along the Moselle River to Liverdun. Name of Liverdun is Gallic meaning fortress on a rock , so needless to say a village with fortifications perched on top of the hill overlooks the bend in the river. A long and chequered history spanning thousands of years.Finally became a French city in 1648. Now a town to about 6500 inhabitants.
A very beautiful Medieval town, very neat and tidy. I have a passion for flowers, doors and windows that you may have picked up on over the course of reading this blog , this town doesn't disappoint, camera went into overdrive.

Postcards of Villey St Etienne

Sunday in Toul, sun was shining , I went exploring while Knud spent hours on getting the navigation system to connect to the screen to connect to the computer to connect to the world. Afternoon there was advertised a concert at the Cathédrale Saint Etienne ( the one of flamboyant Gothic fame) 70 member choir, 2 solists, 2 organists and 15 muscians and all for 5€ , what a bargin. So off we set, prepared we thought wearing warm winter gear. But no, not prepared enough, we should also have had thermals, rugs, cushions because the pews were as hard as, personal heaters & space blankets. Cathédrale was freezing, like holding a concert in a walk in freezer only with beautiful windows. Music was interesting ( you can read that anyway you like)
Tuesday time to move on from Toul, didnt move far, just 10km north, downstream to a village called Villey St Etienne. Beautiful mooring , our own little jetty, with the village perched on a hill overlooking the Moselle River. A remarkably neat and tidy village, could take out the 'Tidy Town' award easily. We are not far from Nancy so suspect this is an out lying suburb. Here for a few days, summer arrived with a vengence , temps up to high 20's , now back to my favorite weather, cool and rain. Very changeable.

On the Move

A busy 10 days in Epinal, each day one step closer to departure. Our dear friends Barb & David Warner joining us for our first week of cruising. They arrive Friday 5th May , they bring sunshine ! Well for a day that is.
first thing first, a lunch with our friends in Port. John, Fredie, Ron,& Tom . Meeting of the UN, Aussies , Swiss, Americans & Danish.

now here is an idea for some interior decorating!

After our relaxing lunch it was time to head off to be tourist while the sun shone, so up to Parc du Château, imposing ruins of a castle that stand on top of hill overlooking Epinal




Sunday , departure day. Raining and cold. Normally not the choice of cruising weather but Sunday the best day to avoid the gravel barges that work a 10km section of Vosges Canal.
David on the ropes

Love this section, here we have a road, a railway line , a canal and a bike path all next to each other. Would love a photo with car, train, boat and bike but have had no luck so far.



So on we go, leave the Vosges Canal and onto the Moselle River. Weather continues to be eratic, rain, cool, breezy, then suddenly sunshine! Feels positively hot, then next morning ice on the deck.
On Moselle River we stop at Maron for the night. They have a fabulous lavoir. ( washing house)


Thursday we arrive to Toul, stop above the lock near the silos, stopped here many times before, handy to a big supermarket and fantastic view of St Etienne Cathedrale ( excellent example of flamboyant Gothic)
off for an explore of Toul
one last Champagne up on deck, actually have not been many times we could sit on deck this past week. So all too soon its time to say goodbye to Barb & Dave, been a fabulous week together.

First week in Epinal

Left Haderslev early morning of 25th, Anders kindly drove us down to Flensburg where we caught the first of a number of trains through Germany. Finally arrived evening of 25th April to Epinal. Rain, wind and 2° , delightful. Had already checked out weather and had made the not so very difficult decision to take a hotel for the first night. A wise decision as it turned out as it began snowing begore midnight, things could only get better.
Next morning down to Linquenda, Knud was a man on a mission , first priority was to get the heating going, next water and so the list has gone on for the past 8 days. Have bern thwarted by the weather somewhat, a rare day without rain, temps are a bit warmer now, last Sunday it shot to double digits! Positively hot! how will we cope with summer?
My first priority has been to apply for my new Carte de Sejour ( allows me to be in Europe longrr than 3 months) So off to the Prefecture first morning , got my number and waited in crowded waiting area. Number called and off to see Madame of Porte 10. Madame of Porte 10 has a lot on her plate, no time for a smile, gives me a list of requirements and sends me on my way. I might add this is the very same Madame I spoke to last September who could not possibly give me a list of requirements needed . Worked my way through the list, involved photocopies, lots of. Fortunately I had guessed correctly on a couple of things I would need from Australia and had those with me. 3 photos were also required, so into one of those photo machines, oh dear . As not only were the intructions written in French there were verbal instructions also in French, help. Finally to the point when the machine and invisable instructor seemed to be satisfied that I was sitting correctly etc now the photo was to be taken, oh I need to blink, can't blink, just stare straight ahead, keep staring, don't blink, result a hideous photo, look like a desperate criminal , they will never let me stay.
Next back to Madame of Porte 10, we go through the list, she smiles, even has a chuckle, is it my French that inspires such merrmient or that photo? Finally she says see you in one month when you can pick up your new Carte de Sejour. Oh happy days, almost giddy with happiness .
Getting things ship shape and working order for the coming season. One of the important things of course is getting the pot plants planted.
No sooner planted the pertunia and marigold than we had a sudden hail storm, had to protect the poor litte things with umbrellas
local council also very keen with their pot plants