walkabout

A long walk through the old town of Besançon today showed the beauty and the liveliness of the town. There is life on the streets everywhere, schoolchildren, old people, all sorts of people. There are an alarming number of beggars about as well. In the morning, the streets are all wet and washed. They are paved with a pale stone, which has a smooth surface.

In the morning, inspect the Time Museum. It is well done, with pleasant displays everywhere, and paintings and tapestry on the walls. Some have more others have less connection with time and the measurement thereof. There are numerous watches made in Augsburg on display. There are only two electromagnetic clocks.

The midday meal in the same place as yesterday is splendid. It is just the Plat du Jour, but everything is perfect. Today there is a Creme Brulee for desert, and this is splendid too. And it is not expensive either. The restaurant is full of French office workers. They all seem to have some vouchers with which to pay for part of their meal.

In the afternoon take pictures in the park, and then walk to the other end of the town to admire the clock in the church that shows all kinds of data relevant to time, it even has an astrological orrery. The cathedral has a barrel shaped cieling, this would  probably be called a roman arched roof or something like that. It is quite unlike the Gothic cathedrals 

After a cup of coffee in a cafè in an arts centre, all full of parents with their children, walk around the town following the river and arrive at the Art and Archaeology Museum. The content is pleasant and relaxing, there are few very modern pieces but it is well curated. It is parly a show of historic artefacts. partly a collection of paintings and partly a show of graphics and historical papers.

After a beer in a cafe go home.

Take a few pictures on the way, one passerby objects, he says that pictures are being taken of him and he does not want that.