Didn't even wake up until 10 am today! We have electric shutters in our room and they block out all the light.
We've had a carless day today, just walked around the town looking at Points of Interest. The cathedral of Notre Dame was spectacular, but a little 'cold'. It did have some modern day sculptures with some thought provoking words, which I enjoyed.
We've seen a bit of Joan of Arc history, including the spot where she was burned to death accused of being a witch, at the age of 19. I found it interesting that she was 'famous' at such a young age, when we had learnt that William the Conqueror was leading an army at the age of 15. There was a Cathedral of Joan of Arc which was starkly modern in comparison with everything else we have seen.
I had a little moment when I walked through the open gates to the Palais du Justice - very ornate, quite old and currently still used as law courts. Everyone else went through the front entrance and got bag searched and had to walk through the metal detector. Realising my error, but unable to leave the way I came in, I slunk through the exit and re-entered through the correct entrance and submitted to the appropriate searches!
As we had seen further north there was evidence of the war, with the Palais very pockmarked by bullet holes. I like that they have left damaged parts intact so that the memory and the reality of war are not lost.
Rouen is much more 'big city' than most other places we've stayed, so very busy. Our hotel is a little out of town, so we've walked nearly a kilometre or so to dinner and the other attractions - sometimes in the rain, which continues to drizzle on and off.
