It took 45 minutes to reach Valencienne and we passed through seven little villages on the way. They are all very similar with the red bricks and masses of flowers everywhere. Even the power poles in some villages had hanging baskets on them with 1-1 1/2 metre long displays of geraniums and petunias cascading out of them. They looked beautiful. The road through some of them was so narrow though, and the bus seemed so huge trying to negotiate corners past the old buildings! The countryside between each village was as I'd seen everywhere else - fields of maize growing and acres and acres of ploughed land. As we arrived in Valencienne I realised that this probably was a city and not just a large town. Many buildings were more grand than I'd seen in Maubeuge and it is a very pretty city, well planted out with trees in the streets.
The train station
After I got off the bus, and walked down a street to the centre of the shopping area, I stopped to get my bearings. As my family would say, I have no sense of direction whatsoever! I needed to know where to return to! I then began a few hours of leisurely wandering around the shops. It was busy with people everywhere, so I clutched my handbag nonchalantly ( can you do that??) in case of suspect handbag grabbers, and joined the throngs, trying not to appear like a greenhorn tourist! ( You will notice fewer pics today! The camera didn't come out of my pocket very often - it's a dead giveaway! )
The clothing shops were fabulous with a real range of things for everyone, whatever your circumstances. Children and baby shops were prolific and absolutely amazing. Nearly everyone wears scarves tied around their neck here - men included. All the kids' clothes have co-ordinating scarves and sometimes hats, that look so neat. There is an obvious difference in labels with some being incredibly fashionable and just miniatures of adult clothing with the sweater slung over the shoulders and scarf, shoes, socks etc all colour co-ordinated. The little girls' puff ball hemmed dresses I could have bought a dozen of - in fact I could have dressed Heidi for an upcoming family wedding in November for a mere $250! That was just for a dress with matching embroidered cardigan! I refrained, thinking it was a tad too indulgent.
I enjoyed wandering around but it just isn't the same on your own with no-one to share your thoughts with. I have always been with friends or family on overseas excursions, even with Derek (who's not the greatest shopping companion!) ten paces behind me trying to keep up, or waiting patiently outside a shop for me, I still have him to chat to, so it was very different today.
Twenty minutes before my bus was due, I walked back to the bus stop to give myself plenty of time. I still had the last hurdle to overcome - getting home. The bus stop is next to the local train station so it was very busy. My perceived bus arrival time came and went and I stood waiting, waiting..... After a while a fight broke out on the platform just along from me between a couple of guys in a group of 18 yr olds. I quickly moved along willingly the bus to appear so I could get out of there, but no! The waiting continued. Soon after that, a guy of about 25 walked along towards us and spoke to a couple of girls who looked as though they were ignoring him. I was watching intently thinking this is passing the time well - watching interactions in french in real life situations! It wasn't till he came closer to me that I realised he was intellectually challenged! It takes me all my time to keep up with normal french people, let alone with someone who has difficulty with their own language! I just wanted to get right out of there and fast! It was entertainment for some I guess. He moved on after realising he wasn't getting anything out of me! I had been waiting for two hours by that stage and the chouquettes I had treated myself with at the patisserie earlier were rising in my throat with the apprehension. I knew Danielle wouldn't arrive by train from Paris till 8.30pm and I only had her cell phone number. That was obviously not going to be any help. I decided to ask the driver of a bus that had pulled in ( every bus known to man had pulled in by then, except my one!). He understood my french, which is always a thrill, and explained I was at the wrong bus stop and needed to go a street over! Well, I hoofed it over to the other bus stop, terrified I'd miss the last bus. After another half hour wait I was finally headed for home. What a relief!
Delights in the charcuterie - the third and last time the camera saw daylight.
School again in the morning but Le Quesnoy in the afternoon.
Looking forward to that.
As I read this post ... I felt your fear! Things always have a way of working out though don't they. xx
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