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Published: September 29th 2016
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We took the metro directly to the train station for our day at Chartres. The weather was beautiful and the ride comfortable even though we were in "second class". Actually, all public transit here has been wonderful; prompt, clean and comfortable. There are no elderly people who ride the subway because......of the damn stairs. I must have climbed the Eiffel Tower since I was here.
Anyway, we arrived in Chartres and could see the cathedral from the train station. It was Monday and most of the stores and cafes were closed but we found one and Linda scouted out the TI and I ordered Cappachino for two. When Linda came back with a map she had a sandwich and I had a pastry. Yum!!!
As we sat outside school children of all ages ran by in groups. I have no idea where they were going or why thy were out but it was cool. BTW they were all heading in the direction opposite from the one they came from. They were going somewhere. Soon they arrived at their destinations and the streets were empty again.
We found the "official" Tourist Office and
learned that we could get the audio sets at the Cathedral so off we went down narrow cobblestone lanes. It was strangle deserted with few pedestrians, bicycles or cars on the street. A map here was unnecessary because we could see the building looming above us.
The Cathedral is being cleaned and there is a huge difference as you can imagine. What makes it interesting other than it's age and it's amazing stained glass is that the towers are very different. The right hand is in the Romanesque style while the left one is pure gothic. We got our headsets and explored from the ornate facade with carved images from the bible on the exterior, to the indescribable beauty of the stained glass windows.
The building was begun in 1194 when the old church burned to the ground and dedicated in 1260. This is an amazingly short time for building a church which can take centuries. The facade is from the original church and the existing structure was added behind it. Every statue every window tells a story of faith. Some are donated by the guilds of the time, the tanners, the weavers etc.
I wish I had a pair of opera glasses (note to self) so I could study the class close up. As it was, the colors and the intricacy of the design were enough to take one's breath away.
We visited the International Stained Glass Center. We should have asked about the 20 minute video describing the process but didn't know about it.
Later we stopped at a cafe next to the Cathedral and people watched. Then a short walk to the station and a ride back to the city.
Dinner was at a small restaurant down the street from the apartment. We were the only patrons when we arrived but soon the place was jumping. I ordered steak tartare. BIG MISTAKE. Not sure what I was served, could have been dog food but boy was I sick later in the night. Very sick....messy sick. So Tuesday found me in the apartment for the day.
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