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Published: September 4th 2011
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Raclette supper
Lily and myself enjoying our raclette First weekend off
This week, I was working Monday to Friday at Beaumont-Hamel. Finally, we got some nice sunshine - which somehow led to fewer visitors. I am becoming more and more comfortable giving my tour. However, I still haven't had the chance to give one in French. Bound to be interesting to have to translate all the technical terms...
We had our new director on site this week, and after a game of rock, paper, scissors, it was determined that I was going to give her a private-VIP tour. Turns out that she is from Sturgeon Falls, where my parents were raised and my grandparents still live. We haven't found the connection yet, but I'm sure that somehow, we're related.
I've also had to give tours to a few Newfoundland visitors. I've realised these are the hardest tours to give, since I have no real family link to that province. I always get a look of disappointment when I tell my tourists "I'm actually not from Newfoundland myself, I'm from Ottawa"... I always try to give them the best possible tour to compensate for being born in Ontario.
I've been asked about 3 times now,
while on tour: "Why is there electric fence?" To which I respond "It's for the sheep." The inevitable question to follow is something along the lines of how many sheep have exploded in the past. Answer: none. Truth is, we have sheep on site that act as lawn mowers in areas where they may still be unexploded bombs, etc (ex: No Man's Land). We call them "moutondeuses" for French tourists. They are quite cute and entertaining, especially when they escape the electric fencing which isn't running at full current at the moment. The sheppard on site is a super friendly old man named M. Shiettequatte. Yup, pronounced "Shitcat". He has brought us plums, apples, peaches and pears from his home, shared recipes with us and offered to bring us horseback riding at his home. One of the nicest people I have ever met.
I've been driving to and from work quite often lately. The house I live in has a parking right in front, so in the morning it's up to us to pick up the guides living in the other house, our supervisor and get to work on time. This makes it so that I get lots more
practice driving through the tiny streets of Arras and its surrounding villages. The speed limit is constantly changing from 90 km to 50 km. We have plenty of roundabouts to go through on the way to work. Thinking back, I can't believe the detours I took at home in order to avoid the roundabout they just put in Orleans - no way to avoid these ones!
Since arriving in France, I have many single days off, but this weekend was the first time I had two days in a row. I decided to use Saturday to explore the touristy side of Arras, with its Saturday market and spend Sunday at the Braderie in Lille.
Arras Woke up really early Saturday morning, in order to have time to see all Arras has to offer and still be on time with my Skype date with my sister.
I arrived at the Office du tourisme (about a 10 minute walk from my house) at 10 am and bought myself a City Pass at a student discount. I took the elevator and then the 43 winding stairs leading to the top of the belfry (beffroi) to start. From here, I
saw a great view of the city and the markets in all the "Places" (Grand'Place, Place des Héros...). Met some British tourists up there who thought I was American. After I'd clarified this, he mentioned having visited Vimy and thought it was very cool that I worked with them (though he had no idea what Beaumont-Hamel was, or even what Newfoundland was for that matter).
Went back down to meet with my guide for my tour of "Les Boves", underground chalk quarries, used during the First World War by British troops. They run 12 m deep, right under the Petite Place (Place des Héros) where the market is set every Saturday.
After this, I took advantage of the gorgeous weather (may have gotten a bit of a sunburn...) and shopped in the market. There is a mixture of goods being sold in Arras every Saturday: fruits and veggies, jewellery, antiques and lots and lots of knick knacks. Got myself some lunch (a panini), a desert (chocolate, of course) and tried my luck at buying fresh fruits and veggies. Turns out, the man I approached loves the Canadian guides and so gave me a really good deal. I got
a head of lettuce, tomatoes, bananas, melon and nectarines for 5 euros! Oh, and the typical French greeting of two kisses on the cheeks.
I had to head back to my house in order to drop all my food off before venturing out for some more tourist attractions. Headed to the Wellington Quarry for a guided tour of their tunnels during the afternoon. Turns out, my guide at "Les Boves" also worked at Wellington and so I got her as a guide again. She was really nice and tried as much as possible to integrate links to Canadian war efforts. The tour here was really well done and high tech.
Made a quick stop at the grocery store on the way back home. We have 2 trips to the grocery store per week, when we are allowed to take work cars and fill them with food. However, those two days are Tuesday and Saturday. Since I was off, I was on my own to buy food. A twenty minute walk with a bag filled with food, beers and wine (sorry Mom and Dad, but yes I am legal!) can seem much longer. Well worth it though - good
eatings to come.
The evening was filled with Skyping my sister and cousin, catching up on the happenings at work and hanging out with the house mates.
Lille Today (Sunday) I took the train to Lille along with 3 of my coworkers, in order to shop at the famous Braderie. Basically, a city-wide flea market. Managed to purchase 2 scarves, a purse, earrings and a pasta-seasoning-type-paste for quite a low price. Even used my haggling skills when purchasing the purse (ironically from a Senegalese man) reducing it from 40 to 15 euros!
For lunch, it's a tradition to eat mussels during the Braderie. My co-worker Steph got some for herself (which I got to sample), the rest of us keeping to more conservative options. Within 2 minutes of speaking to the waitress, she asked if we were from Québec. I was quick to specify that only Steph is a québecoise!
Mid-afternoon, we stopped for gauffres and crèpes with Nutella, and again (this time out of lack of anything else to do) we stopped for coffees.
Around 6h, it was time to take the train back to Arras...along with the entire market-goers it
seemed. The train station was full and the announcement of the train line was late. Outcome: everyone trying to get their tickets checked at the same time and fighting to get a seated spot on the train. We got lucky to be given seats together by a French young man who claimed to love Canadians.
A quick walk home from the train station and we were ready to prepare for our first weekly family supper (2 housemates prepare food for the 4 others). We had quiches and pasta salad tonight - yummy!
Tonight was the annual "Embrassement du Beffroi" in the Petite Place of Arras and so at 10h, we got to see amazing fireworks. What a great way to end this lovely weekend!
Back to work tomorrow!
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