Busy-ness

Lots of activity in town

Drained for cleaning

There's been quite the buzz of activity here in Carcassonne for the past week or 10 days.  There was an editorial in last week's paper lamenting all of the traffic sticky spots due to all of the construction and works projects underway.  The biggest and most inconvenient traffic mess is on Antoine Marty, and has forced rerouting of traffic to the train station---especially inconvenient because there aren't so many ways to get across the Canal.  I think they are replacing water or sewer pipes.

Just a little trickle

Upper gates of the lock hold back all the water

Hinge pin for the lower lock gate

Gates removed for inspection and cleaning

And they have drained the Canal to the east of the port.  It's interesting to thing that those two lock gates are holding back all the waters of the Canal.  The lower gates of the lock have been removed from their hinges and are resting on trestles or workhorses or tables under their own tent.  I imagine that they will be examined thoroughly for soundness,  and given a brisk scrubbing before being re-hung on the posts on which they pivot.  The last time I saw the Canal empty was in Castelnaudary, and the bottom there was littered with dead fish.  I haven't seen any of THAT here, but maybe any fish carcasses have been removed.  The Canal looks forlorn without all the water, but there's a certain beauty to its contours, too.  And I am even more impressed with the manpower it took to dig this ditch 350 years ago!  

Image digging this with shovels and pick-axes

Andre Chenier looked deserted and torn to bits

I stopped by the park, Andre Chenier, which has been closed and fenced off from curious eyes for months now....and poked my nose through an opening in the fence sections to see how work had progressed.  It looks mightily unfinished to my inexperienced eyes.....piles of dirt everywhere I looked.  The local paper that very day had an article in which the mayor promised that the park would be unveiled this week....I think they have a way to go....and even today there didn't seem to be a worker in sight.

Finished this week?  Really?

Red sky at night......

The weather has been cooperating, too, to get all of our "chores" done.  Sunsets are burning orange and giving proof to the old saying, "Red sky at night--sailors' delight." The days have started out cool in the mornings, but sunny and warm by mid-afternoon.  Perfect weather for working...the city is busy putting up Christmas decorations and the huts have started arriving at Place Carnot for the Christmas market.

Neptune has his icicles

                                                                                                                          The ice rink will go up soon and Neptune has his icicles ready to greet the skaters.   I noticed today that the rides for the Magie de Noel are being set up on Boulevard Barbes....but I see no sign of the Ferris Wheel, which, since the renovation of Gambetta, has been twirling at Chenier, overlooking the Canal and the Bastide.  Where it will be this year is still a mystery.   We are all busy getting ready for upcoming holidays. 

Huts for the Christmas market have started to arrive

I will be cooking an "American Thanksgiving" meal for some French friends.  I now have dishes to serve from, thanks to a great find of antique Digoin porcelain in my favorite antique shop.  Thanks to my sister, I have the ingredients now for a mince pie.  And today---score!!!!!  Fresh cranberries at Carrefour.  

Ready for mashed potatoes and cranberry relish

I think I have started a choir at the Protestant church, but it's too early to tell.  And that first meeting/rehearsal will have to wait for another blog.....when I have had time to process the events,