Travels with Forty Roses

Sunday, 18 October 2020

Back to France

Strasbourg. . . a quite different city from Paris, but beautiful in its own way, despite a drought ridden summer in France. Canals were exceptionally low, weediness prevailed as there had been little or no traffic throughout the canals during this year’s early confinement. The VNF (the organization that manages the French waterways) were unable to begin canal cleaning so boats that did move faced issues. Our boat was moved from Paris to Strasbourg by two wonderful friends along with their 2 cats, Cosette and Hugo. We know they had a challenging trip and are deeply grateful they came to Paris after we left in June and travelled the many kilometres to our current location: The Port de Plaisance at Parc le Citadelle just off the Rhine. Strasbourg is right on the German border so we can shop for baguettes in France and sausage in Germany. Both France and Germany are seeing a rise in virus infections and in France, in many of the large cities, tough measures are invoked again. Here the infections are lower, and we have not hit the High Alert designation of other urban centers. But we are being extremely cautious. Our appointment for flu shots are scheduled this coming week.

Strasbourg is an EU Parliament city where the government moves from Brussels at least once a month for 12 plenary sessions. The Parliament buildings are quite modern and located in a beautiful setting along a waterway as the city is circled by canals. Being a university city, the student population is large and like other similar locations students are certainly not as careful as they ought to be during this pandemic. We steer clear of the most populous student hangouts which seem to be bars and restaurants.

Thanks to friends who returned to the USA we share the use of their car, a used Renault that we who share, drive very carefully as the clutch is possibly on the verge of demise. It has been a wonderful loan and as our friends who brought the boat are here along with another couple who have their own car, we can see something of this beautiful area safely, in our car bubbles.

Yesterday we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and shared some traditional treats with our neighbours. However, we followed the Ontario /Canadian rules and dined on our own along with Oscar who ate more chicken than we did. Sadly, no pumpkin pie or cranberries but a tasty squash, our favourite Brussel sprouts, and a delicious lemon tart for dessert. Today we enjoy the leftovers with no cooking involved.

As John and Oscar joined me here on September 16, we have taken several little trips with more planned. We make them easy day trips as home is here aboard Forty Roses. The Black Forest High Road to Baden-Baden, the upper portion of the Alsace Wine Route {the lower portion to follow), the pretty town of Saverne, the Lalique and St Louis Glass museums and surrounding countryside being the primary trips. Naturally, I have photos of most of these trips. Forgive the multitude of flower images but they are too hard to resist. Never have I seen such glorious geraniums.

For those of you good readers who have expressed concern for our health and well-being we say this. We do have a couple of plans if things here become intolerable. We either close the boat speedily and return to Canada or we move the boat to a yard in NL, which is not an arduous trip. There we will have its bottom cleaned and repainted, as being in the water since November 2016, it is due. We will then head home from Amsterdam.

All the little Villages Along the Alsace Wine Route have Delightful Flower Displays

We wandered along the roads and enjoyed a delicious lunch in Andlau

Geranium Tiers

Yet to be Harvested

These wagon loads of grapes were being inspected at the wine cooperative in Ribeauville. A delicious Riesling is produced here.

The Symbol of France- The Gallic Rooster

A Wooden Flautist

Village on our way to Baden Baden

Looking Downstream

One of Innumerable Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks

The Rhine Valley of Plenty

Oscar on Lookout

One of the Canals Encircling Strasbourg

Grandmother Mitchell's Restored Umbrella

(Peps in Paris completed a beautiful Restoration. They had never seen a handle like it)

How to Use a Few Wine Bottles

Autumn Flowers in my Boat Boxes

Thanksgiving Dessert, Not Made by Me

French Dahlias for the Table

Thursday, 4 June 2020

Living Déconfinement

The process of déconfinement here in Paris was a phased approach. Because we are a Red Zone, meaning a very high number of COVID-19 cases, restrictions here were greater as they were in other Red Zones, primarily in the North and North East. Some departments have experienced no COVID-19 cases and others were overwhelmed. Those were in the first phases labelled Green Zones. As of June 2 we are all green or at least greenish and many of the restrictions lifted throughout France.

As of May 29, Paris Parks were finally opened, and people did flock to the green grass and who could blame them? However, we have been without the requirement of attestations since May 11 so social distancing and masks have been prevalent throughout the month. Most people are respectful and concerned with transmission but as in any densely & heavily populated city the shock of people on the street was significant. We all rather enjoyed quiet Paris. Many residents had left the city and those left could go about the essentials of our business during lock down with very little contact. Now folks are back at work, the streets are heavily travelled with cyclists as more cycling lanes and streets are accommodating bicycles with no cars. Hurrah for Anne Hidalgo the Mayor as she saw the need since the Metro is overcrowded on the best of days. Shops are open with strict guidelines, Écoles Maternelles, offices, with employees who can work at home still continuing to do so, and of course all shops with groceries or bakeries, butchers etc. Additionally, as of yesterday June 2 cafes and restaurants with outdoor spaces in terraces or with street space are open. Tables are spaced out at least a metre (not far enough for me). Masks and hand sanitizer dispensers are everywhere. Masks are a must on all forms of transport and shops. Hand sanitizer stations are at every bus stop and Metro station and every store entry or payment station. Now it is up to all of us to remember that the virus is around and about us. It did not disappear. We have simply managed to slow the spread through strict adherence to the lockdown rules. Social distancing and masks and excellent hygiene are the only way to hold it at bay.

We are readying the boat for departure and leave Paris on Sunday June 7. We must fly to Frankfurt from Charles de Gaulle with Lufthansa then on to Toronto direct. We are keeping fingers crossed that all goes according to plan.

In the meantime, our friends are slowly departing from the marina to new summer locations as the VNF has allowed pleasure boat traffic on the canals from June 2 as well. It is bittersweet to see the great exodus of boats depart the écluse and turn right or left on the Seine. We had so looked forward to cruising to Strasbourg in April. However, by the greatest of good fortune our friends Chris and Liz, already onboard their boat in Strasbourg, will arrive in Paris the day after we leave and, after a few days, begin that journey on our behalf aboard Forty Roses. We are so grateful for their help. We hope they enjoy her as much as we do. And coquette Cosette and handsome Hugo will accompany them so the ship will not be without a cat.

We look forward to our return and the wonderful life we enjoy here.

And right now, we look forward to coming home to family and friends, our beautiful house in the woods, the lake, the clean air and freedom of fewer people, my very late spring planting of the garden, 14 days of Quarantine, and especially Canada Day this year. All of us have been through a very strange time with much more ahead of us. We feel the need to connect with our home turf and surroundings and to count our blessings.

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Word Just in This Morning: Our Verdict From the Dutch Court is in : We won. The Court Rejected All Cornelissen/Euroship Claims for € 100,000 plus " Extra Work". He Owes us Court Costs and €'s for Items not Provided. We are Feeling Pretty Darn Fine!

The Nurse You Want Fighting COVID-19

Isolation Coming to an End

Missing You was Everywhere with Everyone

And Now We are All a

Great Deal Closer!

Poignant Pillar Display

Stacked Chairs in Closed Cafes

Fashion Masks with French Flair

Designer Rodrigue & Christine in his Atelier

Blooming

Out for a Walk

Day Before Phase 1

Best Box Cake Ever

Déconfinement Day for Bea's Cats

Oscar on an Ice Pack - It is a Hot Day

Cooled off Cat Sitting on John's Door Cover

My English Class Girls Now Able to Practice their Music Together

Lucy, Bretonnia, Jeanne (hidden), Lily in Concert on Helique (Arielle, another oboist had left)

Empty Park as Gates Were Locked until May 29

Always a Pastry Confinement or Déconfinement

Kelly, First Boat Departing

Friends Gathered to Celebrate the First Departure

Street Art

Oscar's Girlfriend Plume

Jeanne Tending her Garden

Departure of Oribi

Unfurling the Flag

Turning toward the Marne

Sunday, 3 May 2020

Ending Week 7

Today is Sunday and I write this looking out at the park across the canal that we cannot enter. The trellises are loaded with roses where I would simply love to go and cut a bouquet. But , although I see a guy across there has just done so and actually filled a bucket with them I will forgo. The park has been contentious with the marina office and rightly so. All parks are closed across Paris and if there is one thing Parisians love it is their lovely parks. Usually a sunny day this time of year finds scores of families under gorgeous flowering, towering chestnut trees chatting, picnicking, and just enjoying the spaces. To have that all denied on top of our severe lockdown is pretty trying. However, people are respectful and abiding by the rules along with more and more masks appearing as purchase of these are now possible at pharmacies and grocery stores across the city. But back to the park, or our park as we like to claim. It is part of the Port de Plaisance which is an enclosed & gated location right now. One side of the canal is green trees, paths, rose arches, flower beds a children’s playground and park benches. We have lilacs, wisteria, flowering crab trees and all sorts of greenery. We must stay out as the street above can look down over the wall and it is not deemed fair to other Parisians that we should have access to a park when they do not. So we are outlawed. Not to say that some have not attempted quick forays onto the paths as the foliage comes out fully and the blossoms beckon. As they apparently did today with my neighbour across the way, who from here on in will be known as the Rose Thief.

May 11, 2020 some restrictions will be lifted. New cases are diminishing each day as are hospitalizations, so the hope is that we can strictly manage social distancing, careful hygiene and masking to avoid a resurgence. Travel will be possible within departments within France for trips of 100 km or less, people who are working at home will continue to do so, crèches and elementary schools will open but with restricted numbers via alternate days to keep classes small, shops may open but masks will be necessary and only a certain number of customers will be permitted to enter at a time. Many other aspects surround the opening up relative to work place safety and Metro travel where riders will also follow social distancing, and compulsory masking. How that will actually work is yet to be seen. It is a day we look forward to yet fear. No one in this marina is under any delusion that the world, regardless of “opening up”, is changed. We cannot indulge in mystical thing about the novel coronavirus. It is with us until there is a vaccine and worldwide inoculations have been completed. In reality that may take a minimum of 2 -3 years. There is a French expression fitting après 11 Mai: avoir peur donc être en sécurité.