We missed the mardi gras parade today, even though they were lining up right across the street from our balcony. However when we got home from Creusot there was a great costumed drumline playing outside the bar. Hugh, you and Scott would be impressed. Not quite Sunday music but really loud and great rhythm. What I like most about parades is a good band.
Fortunately the level of the river, though very high, was not enough to flood any major roads or spoil the party. The town did put up flood barriers along the river at some of the lower spots, which are only a block or two from our apartment. We assume that they use sandbags on those barriers to keep the water out.
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| Another meter and the road would be awash |
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| I normally run here but the trail is under about 7' of water |
It has been a tiring week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Lyon for exit and entry dinners and assignment day. We had only two sisters leaving so invited a mother who was picking up her missionary to join us. Raclette is much easier to cook for 12 than 50 and we enjoyed a more intimate evening. Wed. the plane from Provo MTC was late so the lasagne warmed in the oven an extra hour but no one seemed to mind. As the rain and flooding continued, all the trains and planes were cancelled to most of southwestern France so 9 of our 12 new companionships are staying in Lyon until they start running again.
Friday, Tom and I drove to Dijon to check out apts. for a new équipe (team). We did find a never-lived-in one, twenty minutes by tram to the church. It was the best of the five we saw and rents unfurnished for 830 euros but included all utilities. A good price we are told.
We had two hours between a couple of appointments so drove into the old town to go exploring. WOW! Stunning architecture. We walked a couple of km and found the streets as captivating as those in Paris. What a surprise! How did we not know about this part of the city before? I definitely want to go back. The Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne seemed to be built in the same style as Versailles but not as grand. It was stunning with embossed walls, indoor cenotaphs, sculptures, oil paintings from the last 700 years, and decorated salons with fabric walls (an idea imported to Russia by the Czars).
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The Palais
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| A wall in City Hall |
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| The cenotaph, i.e. memorial (the bodies are buried elsewhere) |
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| A square in the old town |
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| Maillé mustard shop. Note the plaques: 1747, Antoine Maillé |
Today in church one of the speakers couldn’t come but Pres. Etienne gave an excellent talk to replace him. He has worked as a prison guard for several years and makes an effort to treat the inmates with respect. When he worked in Grenoble, one of the tough prisoners asked him, “Hey Tahitian, how come you treat us differently than the other guards?” He pulled out a crisp 200 Euro note and said, “If I offered this to you, would you take it?” Of course, was the reply. “What if I crumpled it up, smashed it in the mud with my boot, and spat on it, would you take it then?” “Sure”, he replied, “It’s still worth 200 euros.” Etienne then said, “My father taught me to not look on the outward appearance to judge the worth of a man, but to value everyone as if they were a child of God.”
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