Queen Mary 2 to Xmas markets - day 4

Day 4 – Le Havre

We spent the night alongside and by morning the weather had improved and it turned into a lovely but cold day. We had to meet for our tour to Rouen  at 7.45 so we were up by 6.30 and had a light breakfast in Kings Court. It took just over an hour driving through the Normandy countryside to the pretty medieval town of Rouen. After a very short walk from the coach drop to the Joan of Arc church, we were left for two hours to explore on our own.

We set off around the church initially, past a small food and bric a brac market before heading up the Rue de Horologe towards the cathedral.

This has the tallest spire in France. Outside was a small Christmas Market with white-painted chalets and xmas trees decorated with white bows. The stalls were just opening so we entered the Cathedral. I was very surprised to find a tomb to Richard the Lionheart - although it transpired that only his heart is buried there.

 

 

On coming out we worked our way round the Xmas Market after some Caribou to drink (mulled wine fortified with brandy and sweetened with maple syrup, last tasted by me in Quebec!). W both bought some small cakes as gifts and I purchased a slice of a spiced orange cakebread. Then I started slowly working my way back while my friend set off for more exploration. I loved the old timbered buildings and little alleys off the main street. Reaching the small market with Christmas trees on sale I went into the Joan Of Arc church. It had not been open when we first arrived. This is a modern church with a sweeping tiled roof resembling an upturned boat. Inside there are ancient stained glass windows rescued from a bombed church but otherwise it is very simple and very moving. Rather incongruously there was a small fair outside with ferris wheel and stalls.

Our time was soon up and we boarded the coach for the drive back along the same road, past high cliffs on one side and the river on the other. Many buzzards were circling high overhead the cliffs and there were chateaux and castles periodically spaced. Past Harfleur, once on the coast but now inland due to silting of the river mouth, and we were back in Le Havre.

 

I had really enjoyed this short break and it was good to be back with Cunard again after a break of three years, although I did feel the standard of food had declined and was very disappointed by the choices on offer in the evening.  The ship looked lovely decked out in her Christmas Decorations. The highlight for me of that last evening was a carol concert in the atrium.  As we all sang well-known carols and Christmas songs, we got to White Christmas and ...it began to snow!...from a snow machine concealed high up in the Grand Lobby. Cheesy? - perhaps, but I loved it and we all clapped and cheered before it was time to head into dinner and prepare for our journey home. That night, the weather forecast proved correct and we had a bumpy crossing back to Southampton - the first time I could remember ever feeling any movement on QM2 - in fact something fell over in the cabin that night and woke us up, but for the main part of the cruise the weather had been perfect - so what more could we ask.