22-23-24 August: city visit to Orleans
There is still a long road ahead of me. To keep at it, I think it would do me good to take my mind off cycling every now and then. That's why I decided to spend two days/three nights in Orleans to stay. I have passed Orleans many times by car, but had never visited the city.
Actually, I had come here to visit a Tibetan centre, but the phone was not answered and at the hour of the announced group meditation no one gave home either. The centre is apparently located in an old church, along the outside there was nothing Tibetan to notice.
I stayed on a B&B basis in the duplex flat of Christel, the person in charge of the youth hostel. It was cheaper because only double rooms were available at the youth hostel. I had all the amenities you normally have at home. Christel even put some of my clothes into her washing machine 
Orleans pleased me. The old centre is well preserved and all sights are within walking distance. There are many cosy terraces and also some 'beach bars' on the banks of the Loire, which were all well-filled because of the hot weather. There was a cosy atmosphere in the evening.
What struck me was the cleanliness. Even in the late afternoon, in busy shopping streets, there was not a piece of paper on the ground. Neither, for that matter, in the smaller backstreets.
I strolled many laps photographed some beautiful, but sometimes the not so beautiful scenes in the city. Furthermore, I visited the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix, the Hôtel Groslot and the museum of fine arts. There are still interesting museums in the city, such as the house of Joan of Arc and the Musée-Mémorial des enfants du Vel d'Hiv, about three World War II internment camps in Pithiviers, Jargeau and Beaune-la-Rolande respectively, from where Jews and 'undesirables', were interned and transported to Auschwitz. I would have liked to visit the latter museum, but I spent too much time in the fine arts museum.
The cathedral is one of the five largest in France. Its two towers are 86 metres high. A piece of the holy cross on which Jesus died is preserved, hence the name. It was built between 1287 and 1829, but remnants of older churches were found under the floor. On 8 May 1429, Joan of Arc came to pray there and there is also a separate chapel dedicated to her with her statue.
The Hôtel Groslot dates back to the 16th century. From 1790 to 1981, it served as Orleans City Hall. Seven rooms can be visited free of charge, including the city council meeting room, the mayor's office and the wedding hall.
The Museum of Fine Arts houses a large collection of art from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries by mostly French artists. The basement houses a small collection of 20th-century art, almost all by artists unknown to me. It also ran a temporary exhibition of the work of German contemporary expressionist painter/sculptor Markus Lüpertz. Statues of him were also set up at various locations around the city.
In short, Orleans is definitely worth a visit, but after two days wandering around in the heat, I was still glad to get back on my bike this morning. Mission accomplished.
16 September: Opening the door at Diamondway Buddhist Centre in Tallinn The centre's meditation sessions are open
