Checked into our apartment and tried to find somewhere to eat but a lot of places were closed on Monday so settled for a takeaway pizza supplemented with salad, beer and wine from the supermarket. Did a walk round Verdun on Tuesday. Started off by the river.
Then up to the cathedral.
There was the sound of monks singing somewherebut it was actually being piped through the partially disguised speakers.
I assume the paintings were stations of the cross. Just along from there was the grandly named Centre For World Peace.
Apologies for the dark shadow my phone case is falling apart. We then found ourselves in this park/fortress area.
There were some weird statues.
We then went to the Citadelle Souterraine which was part of the old fortress. The highlight was a virtual reality experience in a motorised buggy where you followed the fortunes of a group of soldiers from the 1st World War on leave in the underground citadel. It was kind of OK but went on a bit and the sound was very tinny. We had to wear hairnets under the apparatus.
We then did quite a scenic walk back into the centre by the river and had a coupe of beers in the sun outside a bar on the quay. We'd spotted a likely restaurant the day before but it was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Looked at a few other places but decided to eat in with tortellini and salad. Hired electric bikes on Wednesday to cycle round the battlefield sites. First up was a trench memorial.
Then a destroyed village.
Then the Ossuaire du Douaument.
We thought it was just a memorial building for the cemetery until we watched a film and realised the cellars were full of bones that were visible through the windows.
We then went to the Citadelle Souterraine which was part of the old fortress. The highlight was a virtual reality experience in a motorised buggy where you followed the fortunes of a group of soldiers from the 1st World War on leave in the underground citadel. It was kind of OK but went on a bit and the sound was very tinny. We had to wear hairnets under the apparatus.
Then the Ossuaire du Douaument.
Then the Fort du Douaumont.
Then back to Verdun for a couple of pints in our favourite quayside bar. Ate in again, pesto pasta and salad. We travelled back on Thursday but still had time to visit the victory memorial and gardens of the Centre For World Peace where wespotted a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Andy went on the rest of his Interrail trip and me and Kelvin headed home. We got to Paris and had a pint outside the Gare Do Nord.
Then suddenly realised our train left in 10 mins. We got to the first Eurostar gate but weren't allowed in as you need to be there at least 30 mins before. Managed to get tickets for the next one but had to pay £44 each.
0 comments:
Post a Comment