Goodbye to 2017

As another year comes to an end it is time to reflect on places explored, events experienced, the good times as well as the not so good. My travels this year took me across the pond to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, Ottawa, Montreal, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Across the Channel to Stockholm in Sweden and Lille in France. At home I walked the Dales Way in Yorkshire, explored Rye and West Sussex and managed to explore over 20 tube stations.

 But the year was one of sorrow with the death of my mother in June, closely followed by the death of a very close friend.

 In a few hours we will celebrate the start of a new year. One full of hope, new life and happiness. We await the arrival of my daughter's second child in a couple of weeks and my son is to be married in the Summer. So there is much to celebrate

 Happy New Year to all my friends and fellow bloggers.

Xmas decorations

The main square in Lille with its wonderful Christmas decorations. Unfortunately the Christmas market was not very good. Mainly poor quality items for the tourist.

Sharing with James at Weekend Reflection

French food

This patisserie was in Lille old town. You could see what was going on through the side window.

I don't know the names of what they were making but my mouth was watering.

  

The food market had a variety of fresh delicious looking seafood, cheeses, breads, meat and so much more.

On one side of the market were stalls selling cooked food.

We finished off the day with some scrumptious pancakes.

Old Town Lille

I have been taking a break from blogging as I had a few days in Lille, France and am now trying to catch up with Christmas preparations. I travelled with a group of friends hoping to visit some Christmas markets. We  go away every year just before Christmas. We were attracted to Lille as it only takes 70 minutes from London via Eurostar. 

This is the Grand Place, the centre of the town.

In the Grand Place is the Vieille Bourse, the old stock exchange built in 1653. Trading would take place in the courtyard accessed through the four arches, one on each side of the building.

This is where the trading took place. Nowadays you will find a number of book stalls here.

Restored in 1861, it is a wonderful decorative building.

                               

The Voice of the North newspaper office.

The frontage has 28 windows which represent the 28 different newspaper issues.

In the Place du Theatre is the highly decorative building of the Opera House with its sculptures of Apollo and the Muses.













Also in the square is The Chamber of Commerce and industry with its 76m belfry.

Cobbled streets of the Old Town




Notre Dame de la Treille Cathedral.

 The doors were created by sculptor and holocaust survivor George Jeanclos, representing a barbed wire vine of human suffering and dignity.







                               


                                 View of the doors from inside the church.               

  The modern rose window

This 13th century hospital is now a museum showing life in Lille during 15th - 17th century. It was founded in 1237 as a hospital and hospice for the needy.

                                                                 The chapel.

The box gardens outside the Museum.

Sharing with Our World Tuesday