BEAUNE

HI DUM proclaimed the bright yellow number plate on the big Black BMW labelled UK.  Appropriate, as it was heading the wrong way around Place Carnot.  We had skirted the ancient ramparts of this walled city and were enjoying observations and a post luncheon beverage at Le Chalet cafe brasserie.

There were just the two of us as Alicia and Moritz were unavoidably detained in Lyon where they had gone on a three hour cruise, "a three hour cruise".  Unfortunately the head gasket on Moritz's classic Peugeot had suffered a spack attack and they had to bivouac overnight in Lyon.  Our Friday night reservation had to be changed to Saturday. Fortunately, the colourful Beaune market day crowd had apparently opted for another of the myriad of available restaurants.

Compared to last Saturday's market in summery southern Pezenas, this morning's market of bric a brac and the entire oeuvre of Simeons' Maigret series were slim pickings.  Still, to each his own as was evidenced by the sighting of a couple wandering proudly past with their selection from a dealer specialising in outright ugly metal avian garden adornments.

Mon Dieu! What a mistake.  Exiting Place Carnot and it's Carrousel, we turned towards the historic Hotel-Dieu and walked straight into a pulsing Halles de produce.  Olives, tapenards , fresh home-grown vegetables and saucissons of every shape were laid out row upon row.  Yum!

Adjacent to the Hotel-Dieu was an indoor fresh meat market that included a purveyor who sold the pinnacle of poultry ~ the Brest chicken!  The symbol of France, it has a red comb, white body and blue feet.  Fantastique!a  Pausing only to purchase a baguette, we gather our luncheon selections and head back to Rue Hyppolyte for a well earned drink and lunch.

NB
L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la sante, a consumer avec moderation.