Tuesday 3rd July Nancy

We enjoyed a Late breakfast of crumble yoghurt and cheese mushroom and tomatoe omelette

It was Baking hot day so after coffees we had showers and settled in.

We caught up on all the gossip from home and related many of our adventures and soon it was lunch made up of classic bread and cheeses and pâtés washed down of course with some fizz.

Starved of sun, the guys were keen to catch some rays ( I believe is the phrase) and it was a beautiful afternoon. Suddenly it was 5 pm and we still had not seen anything of nancy. We readied and set off for first the old cathedral. The pope john paul had prayed there in 68 I think it was and there was a weird sort of balcony window affair in one corner of the cathedral with the popes motif and flag hanging from it. It just looked strange in such a grand old building, more like a set from Romeo and Juliet than a great cathedral interior.

We strolled into the legendary stanislas place. It sort of prepares you for what's beyond as your first sight is of the dazzling gold gates.

The square is possibly one of the finest I have ever seen with a statue of stanislas himself in the centre. The corners adorned with beatiful fountains and then the exit towards the place carriere. You could not help but imagine the carriages rattling towards the place carrying powdered wig topped aristocracy to the opera house.

We strolled into the oldest street in town, the grand rue. Stunning gargoyles and steep slated roofs ensuring craned necks and photo frenzies on our way to the graffe arch.

We were reminded of robin and Debbie with one particular gargoyle.

Rose managed her first purchase, not a bad start. Tone and I were now getting desperate as we had passed so many interstitial bars. We had actually entered one Belgian beer specialist bar but about to order, the girls arrived and no tables for 4 so we moved on.

We settled eventually for drinks with warnings from the girls that we should be thinking about a restaurant as the son et lumiere starts at 10.45. The setting for the bar was a delight though and we were in no hurry to move

They had kasteel rouges a cherry beer with a fab glass. I wanted one for the boat. We were amazed that many people were bringing take away food to the bar and eating that while they drank. The girls enquirer about the glass. The waitress got the owner who insisted we have one for free. Nice touch. Rose having a beer glass hoarders disease grabbed the glass saying she wanted it and we were too embarrassed to ask for another. I would be making plans for retrieval.

We left the bar and unbelievably 30metres round the corner found the Belgium beer bar with a table for 4 available. An opportunity not too be missed. We saw a couple with a nice plate of cold meats and bread. Let's have that for dinner we suggested as too little time to warrant a restaurant meal now. We got stuck into the beers and ordered the girls some food. What came was a surprise and we had clearly had language difficulties. The only compensation was dinner had come in at 2€. We would not be living this one down in a hurry.

Tony appeared unflustered by the whole affair

Whilst the girls were giving me cause for further concern

We arrived at the son et lumiere to find the square packed. Suffice to say that the 30 minute display on the four sides of the square was brilliant in concept and stunning in artistic technological presentation. We all absolutely loved it. A brilliant start to tone and roses holiday. The pic below is just the normal nighttime lighting and not from the son et lumiere.

We got back to he boat all a little tipsy and I decided to try some German spatzl pasta. It was abominable. Overlooked starchy and completely bland. In the chefs defence he wanted to add some ingredients but was held back by the 3 crew.

Tone and rose were holding up well after yesterday's long journey day and it was after one when we retired well satisfied with a fabulous first day of there hols.