Big decision – Walk another long wet muddy day or take up our hosts’ offer of a tour of what a lot of the north is famous for. No chance to visit these enormous memorials to the English, Canadians, New Zealanders, French who died defending freedom. There were also graves for the Germans who had little choice other than disobeying orders.
We decided to be kind to ourselves and were driven to these very emotive sites by our host at the Auberge. Well, he offered, but it was his humorous father in law, with his grandson, who took time out. Leopold even seemed to enjoy my company as we chatted in the back seat guessing what the other was saying by expression. What I found yesterday with the 2 young girls, is that the best way to communicate for me, with small people, is by taking and sharing photos. Corrie the big person communicator, sat in the front with the very tall person exchanging light hearted French phrases.
They took us right up to the edge of the famous Arras Squares where I quote from the tourist info booklet: “the uninterrupted run of 155 Baroque facades surrounding the Grand Place and the Place des Heros form an architectural ensemble that is without peer in Europe providing a sumptuous setting for the Town Hall and Belfry.”
Our walking today consisted of pack free strolls through and around this ancient town soaking up its distinct atmosphere. Another day would have us exploring more especially the underground limestone ‘boves’ or galleries that were used to shelter its citizens from air raids.
But now it’s time to return home to Corrie’s unusual find on booking.com – Les Trois Luppars, the oldest house in Arras. The House of Three Leopards was built in 1467 with its sparrow stepped gable made entirely of brick which was the basis for the alignment of the houses on the Squares. Now my little sparrow has returned with our SIM card so we can call our room provider for tomorrow night so she can collect us from a church in a village somewhere in the North of France. But that is a story for another day.