Day Eleven - Vernon - Rouen

By 7:30 am we are enroute to Rouen --- at 10:30 am -- a presentation on France and its people by Eliana, our Cruise Manager.

On arrival in Rouen -- it is a walking tour with Marie Helen where our first stop is the cathedral of Notre Dame built in 1120 -- ceilings are 97 feet high. Although we have seen more churches than I can remember in Europe -- this one is impressive. Claude Monet felt the same way as he immortalized this cathedral in his paintings.

We continue through the city passing a yellow timber house dating to 1466 and the 16th century Clock Tower which still tells accurate time -- at least on one side.

I was stunned as we entered Place du Vieux Marche' (Old Market Square) where Ste. Jeanne-D'Arc was burned at the stake. The church built in her honor in 1979 is extremely contemporary --the shape looks like a dragon. Marie Helen explained that even though this church is a modern design, the stained glass windows date to circa 1530. Originally the windows were in St. Vincent's Church in Rouen which was destroyed in the World War II bombings. In the early 1940's people in Rouen had the forethought to remove the stained glass windows from their churches before the bombings began. Since St. Vincent's was completely destroyed there was no place to return these beautiful windows so - as the church was being built for their beloved St. Joan someone remembered the windows proposing a new home. Each of these windows tells a story since many people in the 16th century could not read. Some things just work out for the best --- this is one of them.

A stop at the Euro Cafe for some people watching before going back to the ship is our last stop in Rouen.

The evening entertainment was very enjoyable pianist who specialized in show tunes -- it was a lot of fun -- the perfect ending to a good day on the Seine.

Thanks for Reading.