English Spoken Here...Perhaps. Cherbourg




I figured I would check out just where the Ferry Building was located. I was leaving on the 6:30 pm ferry from Cherbourg, France to Poole, England.
I had plenty of time so I walked the quay in Cherbourg...figuring it to be a couple blocks away from my hotel.
I walked and walked...I had seen one sign that the Car Ferry was...that way...down the street. But I had seen nothing for a number of blocks.
Once again, I say, they really don't mark things real well in this country. After awhile, I was doubting that Navy Seal Team 6 could find the Brittany Ferry Building.

Alas, I found it. About a mile or more from my hotel.
Clearly I would be taking a Taxi this evening to the port when I have my luggage to carry.

                            

This was the first time ever that I was creeped out upon entering a church in mid-day.
It was extremely bright today in Cherbourg after two days of torrential downpour. I walked around the rather charming but not-trying-too-hard downtown area of the city.



The church was big and old and had a suspect side entrance but the door was open and I pushed aside another door and then another and found myself inside a very dark church. After a few seconds I realized my photo-Ray sunglasses were quite dark. I decided to give it a few minutes to stabilize.

     
What I began to see was a...well, it was still rather dark....and there were a few issues that needed attending to in the structure and paint and frescoes...but besides those things....it was a fascinating church. It clearly had seen better days...and that always saddens me.

                 

Cherbourg has a very large boat population and the harbor is thriving with lots of shipping too. It being Monday...there wasn't a lot of activity but there were probably a thousand or more sailboats and motor boats and fishing boats in the harbor.


  
The port here played a significant part in the WWII effort after the Normany landings. It has one of the largest natural ports in the world. (I guess that means that many ports...much larger ... are artificially constructed, not natural.)

 

I walked through the city late on Friday night when I arrived. It was dark and all the bars and restaurants were filled with locals enjoying the night out. Today I got to see those streets in daylight. For the most part....it is an old city....the stores may be modern but the buildings that house them are old. I recall seeing one building say...1877...and I think that is typical of the age of everything. It was probably one of the new buildings.

           

The French seem to make lunch...even on a Monday...an occasion. Most of the restaurants were set with wine glasses and were filled with folks having a fine lunch. I considered several but on said very clearly on the front window "English Spoken Here."

I considered that a good omen and went in...asked for the English Menu....was handed a French Menu and we proceeded from there. I think what they meant by "English Spoken Here" was that at one time, on one day, some Englishman or American woman walked into the place and spoke English...because it was certain that the waitstaff knew very little English...and I knew very little French.

Still, I ordered charcuterie and a cappuccino and everyone smiled.

"Au Revoir!" I said to the staff as I left an hour later.
"Très Bien!" Replied the head waiter with wave.

The Brittany Ferry is ready to sail and I am on the 6:30 pm sailing to Poole, England, where I am pretty sure...English is spoken there.


Peace,   Bob















Comments

  1. Forestdale Press, LLCSeptember 25, 2018 at 4:57 AM

    Love the mix of color photos with black and white. Also the shadows and reflections - colors on the pillar, sailboats, Maison Groux... A feast for the eyes.

    ReplyDelete

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