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| Hortilonieres boats returning after the market. |
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| Women , in their national costumes |
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| Men selling produce in their national costumes. |
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| The light show at the Amien Cathedral |
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| Coucy Castle |
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| Barry at the Castle |
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| A peaceful evening on the Aisne River |
On Fri, 17th June we drove to St. Dizier in a rental car, to attend the wedding of French friends whom we met in 2003. There was a marriage service at the Marie(town hall) at Betancourt La Feree ( the suburb where they live) at 5p.m.
When Jean-Pierre arrived at the wedding ceremony he waved the black NZ flag which we gave him 2 years ago. He is an ardent rugby fan, They had arranged for people who speak English to talk to us.
The jovial Mayor officiated at the wedding service. When we went outside afterwards there was a fly pass of 5 jets from the French Air Forece, then 3 made a heart shaped vapour trail in the French colours---Blue , white & red.
The reception was held in the community hall nearby. Being in the Champagne area, that was what was offered to drink. The food, was various types of very nice nibbles, e.g. vegetables to dip, seafoods, pastries etc, & later in the evening an assortment of small cakes & sweet pastries.
We returned to the River Somme. The morning we took back the rental car was the 1st day the Hortilonieres (whom I have mentioned earlier) were selling their produce at a market which they do each Sunday at this time of the year. They load the produce onto the narrow boats & go down the River to the market place, dressed in their national costumes.
We stopped off for a night in Amien, to see the light show on the Cathedral which started mid June, each night at 10.45 when it is dark. This is when they show the colours of all the figures, as they have been in a previous era. It was interesting to see for a short time but was rather dissappointing, compared to other light shows which we have been to.
We were rather sad to leave the peaceful Somme River on 24th June & were back onto big waterways & locks again---on the Canal du Nord.But this was shortlived as we turned once again onto peaceful waterways. The canal joining the R. Oise to the R. Aisne is one of the prettiest & quietest French waterways which we have been on.
On Sat, 25th June, at Pont Mard we cycled to the nearby ruins of Coucy Castle. This Castle was originally built in 920, but was extended by several owners over the years, then neglected.In 1917 the retreating German army destroyed the remaining 4 towers & the Keep.
The weather has suddenly changed from showery warm conditions to hot sunny windfree days.
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