Tournai

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May 2016.

Early Saturday morning I unloaded my bike and rode downstream along the banks of the river, a part of Tournai we had only seen from aboard Elle; what a pretty city. After reaching the 13thC ‘Pont des Trous’ arched stone bridge (it is one of the world’s three remaining military river bridges) I turned away from the river riding past leafy parks and some striking residences until I came to a major road where I turned down Rue Lille back into the city to find a market in the process of being set up mostly in a huge, elegant square which we had not even seen on our last visit.

Back at the boat I finally finished putting together our new flagpole holder

and then slowly but surely the party animals from last night began emerging. By 10h30 we had said our goodbyes to our cruising companions of the past week; cheers guys, safe cruising back to Diksmuide and a safe flight back to the Azores – hopefully we will catch up with you in France at the end of the year before we return home, or next year.

Onto our bikes and into town for a leisurely stroll around the market,

a beer at one of the many bistros and pubs dotted around the square and while the traders packed away their wares, cycled the few metres to a little Italian restaurant which we had wanted to visit in September but which was full, for lunch. Fortuitously we arrived just before 12h30 as ten minutes later the place was packed.

Tagliatelli Vognole and Lasagne

 A lazy afternoon spent reading and watching the passing traffic finished off a most relaxing day apart from an incident where I somehow managed to blow the fuse for the 12v computer charger (somehow I had contrived to leave the 220v charger at home) and had no hope of finding a replacement the next day.

Sunday morning dawned grey and drizzly but better than the pouring rain, thunder and lightning we experienced last night. But the drizzle was soon replaced by torrential rain so we decided to abandon sight-seeing and stay aboard – we ventured out once  during a break in the rain primarily to buy some milk but also to source the loud music we had been hearing. With some surprise considering the inclement weather we found a skateboard competition in full swing and the remnants of a second-hand clothing market which had been going the whole day. And later, despite the conditions, a rock band started up in the main square!

One negative about the Tournai mooring - the flotsam (and effluent?) which gathers between the pontoon and the wall is a real eyesore

but definitely not worth putting off a visit to this very old city.