Music and sirens

Had a leisurely morning recovering after all the activities yesterday. Headed off - just as the rain was starting - to go to La Saint Chapelle on the Ile de la Cite. Arrived at the bus stop to discover that all routes had been cancelled due to the latest Saturday demonstration of the gilet- jaunes. We sat and waited for a while to see if there would be any update and while we waited we were subject to police vans by the dozen and police motorcyclist in their dozens tearing past us, sirens blaring. See extra.

I have never seen so many police on bikes before. I did begin to wonder whether they were going round a few blocks just to make their presence known. If not, there must be hundreds of police bikers in the city! At one point we saw them queuing up at the lights and putting on their sirens when the set off. Once in motion they have no time for anyone in their way.

The upshot was that we set off on foot to get to the centre of the city. Just as we arrived there the buses started working again!

Visit to La Sainte Chapelle was stunning. To see so much stained glass forming the chapel was astonishing. And the fact that it had survived centuries and retains its vivid colours. - which photographs don’t quite capture - was wonderful.

Visit over we had an early dinner (of confit de canard) before heading back to La Sainte Chapelle for a concert. The music and singing were superb and the acoustics in the chapel were terrific.

Bus on time for heading home!