Plus conduire, Metz, Luxembourg et chambre d’hôte

Gare de Metz

Aujourd’hui (28 avril), je suis allé à Luxembourg.  Il est environs 60 kms nord de Metz vers l’autoroute. Avant, j’ai marche autour de la centre-ville Metz.  Les bâtiments de cite était très grande, dans le style d’Allemagne pour la plupart.  J’ai mangé un petit déjeuner lequelle était très bon, mais simple comme mes amis avait eu au Marche Français samedi matin. 

Luxembourg

Luxembourg était un surpris ; une ville ancienne situe dans une vallée et la ville moderne est au-dessus sur un escarpement. Je m’ai amusé marcher autour la ville ancienne. 

Presque j’ai été dans Luxembourg, je suis allé un magasin qu’il vend des choses pour la cuisine.  J’ai vu une série des poêles par Tefal qui était demi -prix.  En NZ ils auront été deux fois le prix au prix normal en Luxembourg. Je les ai acheté !

Une eglise ancienne

Ce soir j’ai reste à une chambre d’hôte à Montauville près Nancy.  Monsieur parle français et Allemagne mais ne pas Anglais. Je dois parler français maintenant.  Il devrait aider mon confiance parler français.

La Moselle a Pont a Mousson

Aussi, ce soir j’ai mangé au Restaurant le Petit Gourmandin à Pont à Mousson.  Le restaurant a recommandé par le propre de Chambre d’hôte.  Le repas a été très bon.  Premier, j’ai manage les demi-douzaines d’escargots de bourgogne, puis j’ai mangé un fricassée rognons de veaux aux champignons.  Il a été très gout.  Finalement j’ai mangé un nem du chocolat sur la recommandation de serveuse.  

Yesterday I had a quick walk around Metz.  It was a grey misty morning with a bit of drizzle.  An interesting city in that it is a mixture of Germanic and French styles, not surprising since it was part of Germany for a while.  They built the train station in the early 1900’s and it is really immense as you can see from the photo. 

I had a very nice breakfast, light and in the French style. 

I then headed for Luxembourg.  It is only about 60 kms from Metz up the motorway.  No tolls!! It took me a couple of circuits of the city of Luxembourg to find a place to park and eventually found a parking building.  It has been interesting being a new city regularly because you have to do everything slowly yet all the signs are set up infrequently and I think assume that one has a working knowledge of some sort of the city and only need a small reminder.  That is because the sign makers see, naturally, the city from their knowledge of it, not from the perspective of a stranger.  Hence you make a decision too late because you have just seen the sign and cause mayhem to the traffic behind.

The city seems to comprise two parts, the old part in the valley below and the newer part on the escarpment above.  Both have their charms.  I spent a pleasant couple of hours walking the streets looking.  The city is a bit schizophrenic, there are signs in French and German, and then some with English added.  Even the populous seem to speak several languages as I heard more English spoken than I have for quite a while.  French though is the primary language.  The other thing was that I thought it was really only a city like Monaco but it does seem to have some countryside as well.

While walking I popped into this shop that seemed to sell everything from electronics to kitchen ware and saw a couple of Tefal frying pans at half price which is about quarter the price I think I would have paid in NZ.  So not wanting to miss a bargain I bought them.  Heavens knows how I am going to fit them in my bag but I will worry about that later. Now all I need is a lid for them.  There was a deep one that had a lid and I almost got that one too.

I had decided to stay at a Chambre d’hote for the night and had searched out a couple on the internet and so headed for it.  I was lucky enough to find it, through some persistence.  They are a nice couple who are trying to do things environmentally.  The room was very nice and they only spoke French so I have been forcing myself to speak it and to ask questions.  I think they understood what I have been saying. 

Last night I went out for dinner to a restaurant they recommended.  It was very good food and there was even 20% off the price.  The restaurant was humming clearly the price reduction worked because the one across the road was virtually empty.  I had escargot, a fricassee of veal kidneys with mushrooms and on the recommendation of the waitress a nem du chocolat which was very rich and consisted of chocolate in a pastry case that was fried.  It was stunning and very rich.  The waitress was adorable and had this wonderful smile as described how much she liked the dish. 

Today I am off to Verdun and Nancy.