Vigy, to Metz

Arriving in Vigy, I was very muddy.  Indeed, the next morning my room had little clumps of mud over the floor which had fallen off my shoes.  My trousers were also very muddy, but with no plug, I decided I wouldn't wash them - save it for a laundromat!  I am so glad I did because I hadn't gone very far the next day when I started repeating the previous day's journey, trying to stay upright as I negotiated the mud.  If it wasn't mud it was high grass, sometimes knee high, that I had to push through.  
Mud..... 
.... and more mud

After this, a supposed short, easy day, but one that actually covered 22.7 kilometres, I was very glad to arrive on the outskirts of Metz, but still with about an hour and half of walking!  Stopping in the Cathedral, I got a stamp in my credencial, and tried to purchase one for Joan, without success.   I was quite surprised that in such an important pilgrimage place credencials were not readily available. 
St. Etienne Cathedral 

For those who don't know, Joan is my sister in law, and had flown in from Auckland that morning to spend a couple of weeks walking with me.  It was lovely to see her, and we have been busy catching up, while we have been exploring. 

Metz is a beautiful city, on the banks of what is now a markedly slower Moselle.  It is quite a way upstream now, and the water is so shallow in places that yellow water lilies grow.

Just part of the Circuit des Ramparts 


The path enters the city passing along the circuit des Ramparts, before eventually arriving at the Cathedral.  A visit to the Cathedral  was a highlight.  It is the third tallest Cathedral in France, and has an extraordinary display of stained glass.   We were fortunate to be able to attend a concert there.  We heard the choir, the two amazing organs, a flute quintet, and finally a brass ensemble.  Hearing this music as it rang around the building was a treat indeed.
This Renaissance organ is called the swallows organ.  I wouldn't want to play it, and one would hope it is firmly attached!
The larger, modern organ.


The Protestant Church

After a day exploring, with me in need of a rest, and Joan suffering jetlag, it was an easy decision to retire early.



Comments

  1. Nottokyomnotosaka10 July 2024 at 05:05

    You've re written the first pages of Dicken's BLEAK HOUSE, by substituting fog with mud

    ReplyDelete
  2. Janet10 July 2024 at 23:06

    Oh - interesting, haven't read it. Will have to look it up.

    ReplyDelete

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