Day 21 Mon 5.8.18
We had been told that Bourges was a nice place to see and worth a visit, so we detoured off the main route home to have a "look-see".
Our campsite for the night had been in the centre of Bourges, so it was just a 20 minute walk, and we were there.
A beautiful place, with medieval streets and buildings in one part of town.
The cathedral had some wonderful stained glass windows.
But, there was no one about!
One of my assertions is that NOBODY lives in France! One can go to any town, and see houses all shuttered up, and not find a soul walking around, or shopping, or going about their business! It's unbelievable! Maybe it's because it's the holiday season of France while we are there, and they have all gone to the coast?
Eventually at about 11 am, we found a cafe open and had a cup of tea there. Even the cafe umbrellas were not put up!
In my best French I asked the owner of the cafe, "where is everybody?"
She informed us that Monday was a day off AND it was a holiday period. It would be busier "demain" (tomorrow).
After a cup of tea each, we went and found a department store that was open and went inside. It was about the only reasonably sized shop that was open.
There shoppers were outnumbered by the store staff by about 2:1.
Then we left and walked back to our campsite.
They were very relaxed about our departure from the site, so we had lunch there, before heading off to Orleans.
A glorious drive up through the countryside, hardly seeing another car for 2 hours, until we got to Orleans.
It was just a small road that would be just white on a map, but it was well kept and almost dead straight. Finding a campsite in Orleans was a bit of a problem. The first one we found was Complet. or full, in their language.
This was the first time in 3 weeks that we had encountered a full campsite.
Headed off to the municipal site at Checy, - Les Patures. They just had a few places left, so we booked in. just under 20 bucks for the night, right on the banks of the Loire river.
A great little site.
Our campsite for the night had been in the centre of Bourges, so it was just a 20 minute walk, and we were there.
A beautiful place, with medieval streets and buildings in one part of town.
 |
| Bourges |
The cathedral had some wonderful stained glass windows.
 |
| Bourges cathedral stained glass windows |
But, there was no one about!
One of my assertions is that NOBODY lives in France! One can go to any town, and see houses all shuttered up, and not find a soul walking around, or shopping, or going about their business! It's unbelievable! Maybe it's because it's the holiday season of France while we are there, and they have all gone to the coast?
Eventually at about 11 am, we found a cafe open and had a cup of tea there. Even the cafe umbrellas were not put up!
 |
| waiting for our cup of tea! |
 |
| from the campsite at Checy - the Loire |
In my best French I asked the owner of the cafe, "where is everybody?"
She informed us that Monday was a day off AND it was a holiday period. It would be busier "demain" (tomorrow).
After a cup of tea each, we went and found a department store that was open and went inside. It was about the only reasonably sized shop that was open.
There shoppers were outnumbered by the store staff by about 2:1.
Then we left and walked back to our campsite.
They were very relaxed about our departure from the site, so we had lunch there, before heading off to Orleans.
A glorious drive up through the countryside, hardly seeing another car for 2 hours, until we got to Orleans.
It was just a small road that would be just white on a map, but it was well kept and almost dead straight. Finding a campsite in Orleans was a bit of a problem. The first one we found was Complet. or full, in their language.
This was the first time in 3 weeks that we had encountered a full campsite.
Headed off to the municipal site at Checy, - Les Patures. They just had a few places left, so we booked in. just under 20 bucks for the night, right on the banks of the Loire river.
A great little site.
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