Carrefour European du Patchwork (Tom is a good sport) and then Toul.

Tom admired this quilt at the Carrefour European de Patchwork Show.

  Tom was an amazingly good sport.  Going to a quilt show probably rates up there with getting a root canal.  I had my heart set on attending the Carrefour European de Patchwork Show!  It was going to be a two hour drive.  It was pouring rain and I was nervous about driving that distance in terrible weather, in a country where I don't speak the language, and I'm not familiar with the area.  He drove me!  Not only did he drive me, but stayed with me through three of the four villages that hosted the show.  We skipped the last village.  He didn't complain and actually enjoyed and appreciated  the art we saw.  It was an excellent show and well attended in spite of the inclement weather.  People came by the busload.  The exhibits were spread out over the four villages in churches, and any large building available.  Tents were erected for food and venders.  I've attended many quilt shows over the years but I have never seen a show visited by so many couples.  22,000 people attend this annual show.  My guess is that a quarter of the attendees at the very least were men.

The towns hosting the patchwork show are in the Vosges Mountains occupying a V-shaped valley of the Liepvrette River.  These towns were famous for their mining industry.

Between rain squalls the clouds cleared long enough for us to admire Sainte-Maine-Aux-Mines and the area around the town.

Fiber artist Jane Gaskins transfers photographs to fabric and stitches extensively over the photograph.  Filling is added under the picture as well to add depth.

Here is a detail of her quilt.

Artist Ian Berry uses layers and shades of denim jeans to create his masterpieces.  Even looking up close it's hard to believe what he has created using only denim.

Another denim piece by Ian Berry.  There is no stitching, he glues the fabric down.

The towns hosting the Patchwork show are in a beautiful setting.  Another picture of Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines

The main streets of these towns are lovely and extremely well maintained.  This was on a side street.

Saint-Croix-aux-Mines is another village we saw while attending the Patchwork show.  There was considerable wealth at one time in these towns.

This was a 25 foot deep lock!  You can see Philippe carrying our line as he climbs back down the ladder.

We go under some low bridges!  Tom's head is just poking out.  Note the solar panels which cover the entire pilot house.

We share the rivers with some giant barges.  This one is 360 feet long.  Check out the two cars on the back.

Our next stop was Toul.   We tied up by some old ramparts.  The old walls were improved upon regularly and Toul was considered one of the best defended strongholds in Europe on the eve of WWI.

View from the ramparts looking down at Rabelo and some of the old walls.

Under an old bridge.

Note the date 1846

Storage rooms under the ramparts of Toul

Cathedral Saint-Etienne was built between 1221 and around 1500.  The west front built between 1460 and 1496 was constructed  in a flamboyant gothic style

All the statues adorning the front of the cathedral were destroyed during the revolution.

Inside the cathedral is the altar of the relics (16th century).  In gothic flamboyant style, this chapel contains a reliquary with the following skulls:  Saint Aprone who was the sister of Saint Evre, the 7th bishop of Toul.  She is famous for killing a dragon with her distaff, Saint Gerard, the 33rd bishop of Toul, who started construction of the first cathedral built in stone, and the skull of one of 11,000 virgin companion of Saint Ursula, the holy Martyr of Cologne.

The side wall of the Cathedral isn't as flamboyant.

I made this clafoutis with little plums.

The Beautiful Town of Nancy, France: Part Two

We continue to dine at new restaurants.

Our meal at Le V-Four was delightful.

Nancy is the former capital of the dukes of Lorraine.  It is an elegant 18th Century town that was well planned with aristocratic architecture and beautiful vistas, including the famous place Stanislas, a World Heritage site.

One of the pleasures of cruising is searching out new towns and villages to explore and new restaurants to eat at.  In Nancy we found a small but delicious place to dine one night.  Le V-Four seems to be another husband/wife owned restaurant.  The service was impeccable and the food worthy of showing you.

Dessert

More desserts

After dinner we walked over to see the laser show in Stanislas Square.  The lasers bring the buildings to life as picture after picture captivates the audience.

A forest grows on the building.

The sun comes out.

The lights and designs are brilliant.  

 The Basilique Saint-Epvre was built in the 19th Century in a Neolithic style.  The Rose windows are dramatic.

Rose Window

Rose Window

 Across from the entrance to the basilica is a delightful square filled with tables where people enjoy their coffee, a pastry, lunch and people watching.  A book exchange graces one corner where people drop off books they have read and borrow a new book.

Book exchange.

Nancy has various Portes

Street leading off of Stanislas square with beautiful shops on each side.

Side of Basilique Saint-Epvre

Street art in an alley.  Where's a dentist when you need one?

We wandered into the Ducal Palace which is part of the History Museum of Lorraine.  The museum is spread over several buildings in the heart of the Old City.  The collection of history shown is quite eclectic.  There was an excellent display of paintings by George de la Tour.  We learned how France perfected the art of moving large quantities of wood from the high forests down to the canals and rivers where the logs were then floated to areas where they were cut and milled.

Tom is standing by a sled that was used to move wood down the mountains.

This drawing shows how the sleds were used to bring the logs down from the forests.  The sleds were placed on tracks.

Rose window in the Ducal Palace

Rose window from the outside.

 Once in a while we need to take a break.  After walking past this pub a few times I had to go in and check out their wares.  I couldn't believe how many different types of beer they had on tap.  If only we had more time...

My beer was delicious! 

This pastry shop had many beautiful and unique pastries.  It was a shame we didn't need dessert that evening.

Charmes, and Nancy, France

Nancy, France

This is our sixth season of barging on Rabelo.  Until this year we have only once been stuck in a lock.  That changed!  On the Canal du Vosges we got stuck a total of six times!  What is happening?  It's not something we want to experience again.  We decided that Rabelo needed to lose a little "weight around the waist."  The previous owner of Rabelo (for reasons unknown to us) had added to the existing rub rail on one side.  Philippe removed the offending rub rail and a thinner one was attached.  The "fix" was a success.

Philippe is cutting away pieces of our rub rail.

Rabelo is getting her new rub rail welded on.

We had an unexpectedly good dinner at Le Dancourt in Charmes.

Wine wasn't shabby.

Beef with mushroom sauce

Assorted desserts

At Charmes we side tied to another barge and climbed over their boat each time we went ashore.

Beautiful tile roof

Another interesting building.

What happens when it floods?

On the Canal du Vosges crossing the Moselle River.

Stanislas Square in Nancy, France is possibly one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe.  UNESCO has it listed as an 18th Century Royal Square.  It was designed to link the medieval old town of Nancy with the "new" town built in the 17th Century.

Stanislas Square 

Another view of Stanislas Square

One of the gates with fountain in Stanislaus Square leading to a garden.

The Parc de la Peniniere in Nancy was featuring an artist who works in wood.  Tom tried out the bench.

 We visited the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Nancy in Stanislas Square  It is one of the oldest museums in France.  We always enjoy the eclectic selection of art being displayed.

My favorite painting of the day by Marinus van Roejmersalen The Money Changer

Detail of a wood sculpture

Such emotion coming from this wood sculpture.

Room of mirrors and lights.

The unique Musee de l"Ecole de Nancy is in the Villa Majorelle, an amazing building originally owned by the world-recognized Mr and Mrs Eugene Corbin.  This museum is dedicated to the Art Nouveau movement in the region of Lorraine.  The home is filled with French Art Nouveau created by artists from Nancy.  I'm in love with this style of furniture and art.

Art Deco Bed

Art Dec bedroom

Dining room

Art Deco Cabinet

More of Nancy to come.