We got taken to the ferry by bus, with two stops to get off, first for a passport check (signs saying ‘silence’ - no questions asked just a serious look at our face and a stamp), then second for a security check, like at airports. It was interesting seeing cars going through - looked like only one in ten was checked. Foot passengers must be specially suspicious!
The ferry was ginormous. A group of British male foot passengers made a beeline for the bar and equipped themselves with morning pints for the journey. After watching them each consume between five and six pints, I found out that they were going over for the day to see their French soccer friends, whom they hadn’t seen since the start of covid, play an afternoon match.
It was rainy and foggy with zero visibility, so it was a good thing that yesterday was clear and the coast of France clearly visible over the 21 mile wide channel (at its narrowest here).
The sky cleared in the afternoon in Calais. Determined to find a bookstore, I walked a fair way to “Le Channel”, a display area, restaurant and bookstore in renovated industrial space.
A hand-made merry-go-round using old furniture. Can you see the man climbing up amidst the children?
Way too much choice in the bookstore, so I ended up getting a book by an Icelandic author whom I enjoy, “Ör” by Ólafsdóttir. As I’m writing this on Sunday, I’ve finished the book and will regretfully leave it here for the next reader.
Calais was almost totally destroyed in WWII. The city hall, built in 1911, survived. Gorgeous flower beds in front of it.
Saturday is a day for weddings, and in France most of them are civic weddings. Here at city hall is one wedding party taking photos on the steps, and a second wedding party waiting to go in. Red and blue - easy to tell them apart!
I’m in a tiny flat tonight, so I bought some groceries for supper. Look at this gorgeous lettuce! Not from a market, but from a little chain grocery store. Local, huge, and earthy, so obviously grown outside. Delicious.
nice
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