Fine and sunny, 12-28deg. No riding.
Beaut day to be out wandering around this interesting NE French city . It was worth every dump in the path to reach Metz, the place is magnifique, to say the least. It has a 3,000 year history and lucky for us they kept plenty of parks, gardens and open spaces when it was planned and built 100s of years ago. Being fairly close to the German border it has also changed countries several times.
We started at the 13th century St Stephens Cathedral which is one of Europe's biggest and highest, over 120m long X 42m high and it has an amazing 6,500m2 of stained glass. It's one of those cathedrals that you walk into and can't help saying, 'WOW'. And to think they finished restoration work (originally built in 1220) on it about the same year Cook "discovered" Australia, 1770. How did they build these enormous structures in "medieval" times, beyond us. As it was early there were no people about so it was also very quiet and peaceful inside. You can't help feeling close to our Lord when in a place like this.
As a doe longs for running streams, so longs my soul for you, my God. (Ps 42)
Even after leaving the Cathedral we'd look back from different locations and marvel at its size and grandeur.
Next we had a quick walk through the central covered fresh food markets but as we had only just consumed a substantial breakfast we couldn't face more food.
It was back onto a canal, this time on nice smooth walking paths, where we saw, but couldn't enter, the Opera House and the 20th century Protestant Temple Neuf.
Came across a manmade white-water kayaking venue right next to the city centre, where what appeared to be high school kids being put through their paces. To 'start' the white water they just open a couple of gates on an offshoot of the river.
Can't list everything we saw, be here all day, but the Pompidou Centre is worth a mention. A ultra-modern museum/arts centre opened in 1977. Interesting architecture, the roof is made of laminated wood beams with stretched heavy plastic/canvas sailcloth cover. Also Metz has the oldest (1220) church in France and one of the biggest mall areas in Europe.
One spare day doesn't do the place justice.
Dinner, which consisted of all local produce, was at Chez Gregoire. Of course it was good.