Jour 3 - Lille

I wrote this note in my pocket journal at the end of the day: “If the quality of my writing is going down, it’s because I’m now running on beer, cigarettes, and a sever lack of sleep.”

Train System of France

Ceren and I took a TGV (very fast train) to Lille this morning, which is about 250 km north near the Belgian border. It only took an hour. Ceren said France has the best trains in the world. The ride was smooth and relaxing, but every once in a while a “WHOOSH” sound and slight shock wave would disrupt my fixed gaze out the window as another TGV shot by in the opposite direction.

Salon Ceiling of Amaury and Sandrine

Ceren’s friend Amaury met us at the Lille train station and escorted us through the beautiful architecture of the city, to his apartment. There we met Amaury’s girlfriend Sandrine and new baby Milo. The ceiling of their salon has a wonderful painting and castings. The first thing I did was to lay on my back on the floor to take a picture of it. Sandrine said this art dates back to about 1900 and would qualify to be on a historic register (except doing that puts restrictions on their ability to renovate). We had coffee and tea and then headed out to find the Sunday market.

Amaury and Milo; Lunch at the Market

As we strolled through streets lined with beautiful architecture, I joined Amaury in having a cigarette. “What are you doing!”, exclaimed Ceren. “Nothing”, I replied, in my feeble attempt to hide the cigarette from her view. “You’re so stupid!”, she shouted back. (Hey, when in France, do as the French do! There's a lot of smoking here…) We quickly found the market and did a tour through the vendor exhibits. It was very multi-ethnic, featuring Arab and Turkish foods, as an example. We selected a table at an open café along the fringe and proceeded to enjoy Belgian beer, hard sausage, specialty cheese, Chinese egg rolls, and fresh berries – our individual food selections from the rich surroundings.

"Strange Animal" Expo

Later, Amaury took us to a nearby arts exhibition called “Paranoia” and something in French that basically meant ‘Strange Animals’. It was so weird that I hesitate to even try and describe it. Instead, here are some videos: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, Video 4, Video 5, Video 6

Palais des Beaux Arts

We needed to have beer and cigarettes after the exhibit, just to feel normal again. So we did that in a sunny courtyard nearby where two more of Amaury’s friends joined us. The group alternated between French and a slow, sometimes strained approach with English to keep me involved in the conversation. It’s very clear to me that the French know English, but since they don’t use it regularly it can be difficult and awkward for them. When I don’t have my Ceren with me later in this trip, I’m going to be the one feeling very awkward, having to approach people with the very little French that I know.

Amaury and Sandrine at Les Campagnons la Grappe

We rounded out the evening with another stroll through the grand architecture, cobble stone streets, and plazas of Lille to dinner at Les Compagnons de la Grappe, a traditional restaurant of northern France. The food was incredible and the surroundings calm and relaxed. It was interesting to be served French fries with such good cuisine. You know what they call French fries here? - Frites (pronounced “freet”).

I’ll run off the cigarettes, beer, and frites tomorrow.

Ceren Photographing at the Market

Sandrine and Milo with Milo's Birth Announcement Card

Première Expérience de la France

Jour 3 – Lille

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