The day started with croissants from the bakery in Rouvroy. The suggestion that the French take their bread seriously isn't a stereotype or exaggeration. Lucie told me her family prefers to buy their bread from a boulangerie because the quality is important to them. Even if shopping at a supermarket they will make a separate trip to the boulangerie for bread.
After breakfast I helped Lucie feed two Icelandic horses she cares for. Her doctor took them in after they were horribly neglected and they now live in a giant yard behind his house and surgery. They are old (25 years old!!) so the yard is just enough for them. Lucie pops in once a day to feed them, give them some medicine and just cheer them up a bit.
By the time we got back it was time for lunch. I've mentioned it once and I'll say it again: Lucie's mum is an amazing cook. Lunch started with a cucumber and dill salad and then we had fish cooked with a vanilla and orange sauce. Amazing!! Lucie will be disappointed if she ever visits Australia and I make her a jam sandwich for lunch.
The north of France is a neglected part of the country. The south, with it's sun and beaches, is favoured and people usually only travel in this area to get from Paris to Belgium or perhaps Calais for the tunnel to England or Lille for the Eurostar. This afternoon we visited Arras, the closest "big" town to Rouvroy. It's a beautiful place. We climbed the belfry of the town hall and the view reminded me of a rows of dolls houses. We walked around the Place des Heros and the Grand 'Place. A huge concert used to be held in Palce des Heros (think acts like Coldplay, Greenday, Placebo etc) but the residents in the houses that line the square complained and it's now held at the Citadelle. This year the three-day event will feature Sting, Greenday, The Prodigy, Thirty Seconds to Mars.
We visited a new crepe restaurant to celebrate World Nutella Day (Feb 5), bought some macaroons from one of Lucie's favourite patisserie and a selection of amazing looking treats from her other favourite patisserie for dessert.
At home Lucie's mum cooked vegetable soup with polish sausage, and then we had bread, ham and cheese. This has to be the only country where bread and ham is such a quality meal!!
After dinner Lucie and I went for a drink with her friend Bertie. Bertie was travelling with Lucie when I hosted the two of them in Vancouver in September 2011. Bertie flew back to France from LA but Lucie returned to Vancouver so I saw her again. It really is such a small world. Who would have thought I'd see either of them again let alone catch up for a drink in their home town!!!
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