Long day, train dramas, but eventually arrived in Blios. What a wonderful place - lots of exploring to do tomorrow.

Travel day today - bus and a couple of trains to meet up with the cycling group at Blois.

Earlier today Vicki was out looking for some new paintings for the back room at home.

Looks like there might be some planning underway for another ballon trip.

Returned after the footy and the house was open, but no sign of Jules. But it was good of his friends to let us in for a look around.

Dropped around to Jules Verne’s place this arvo, but it was closed up. Probably watching Rabbits v Knights, then Cats v Dockers.

These boulangeries are everywhere. Their bread and pasties are sensational. And when they have a queue like this you know they are good.

AbC - but this one, the La Citadel de Amiens, is probably the most impressive I have seen, from an architectural perspective. It is the largest Catholic cathedral in France.

Now for the 3km return trip - via the boulangerie (yum) and the Franco Australian museum.

The museum under the memorial is outstanding. Really brings home the horror - and stupidity - of war.

A solid climb to the top - especially after the 3km hike to get the there!

An impressive (and moving) memorial.

It was much better when we discovered the off-road path! (Pity no-one told Google!)

No public transport from Villers Bretonneux to the Sir John Monash museum and war memorial. Easy walk, everyone said.

Short train trip out to Villers Bretonneux this morning. The locals don’t need to worry too much about mowing the front lawn.

The driver of our delayed train was obviously keen to get back on schedule again. Our 1 hour 17 min trip was reduced to 1 hour and 5 mins. We were hooting along!

On our way to Amiens - after train delayed for 30 mins. Checking out the departure board during the delay, we may have found a shortcut home. Just checking if the 12h15 service stops at Kiama.

Which is not much different to understanding PA announcements when travelling on the trains at home!

Our biggest language hurdle is on the trains - all the PA announcements are in French, so we just have to keep our eyes on the destination boards and the app.

Every street here has one or two boulangeries, all stocked with filled baguettes - fortunately plenty of tuna, chicken and vegetarian options.

With me having to avoid red meat, ‘jambon’ (ham) has become a regular lookout word when shopping for a baguette for lunch.

Here in France, language is obviously the big daily change from home. We are figuring out food menus, often with the help of Google Translate. And we are pretty good with Bonjour and Merci. And most conversations start with Parlez-Vu Anglais! It certainly keeps your brain active.

The day to day stuff - While exploring all the touristy stuff is interesting, it is the regular day to day stuff where the real cultural learning and the real 'getting away from the normal' happens.

Wide range of options - though 75% of properties for sale in Lille are apartments. Long trip from Kiama too. www.green-acres.fr/property-for...

Just checking out options for a little pad in Lille for next summer.

Yep, I know - AbC (another bloody church/cathedral) - just wandering past, so had to drop in for a look. Much the same story as the others!

The flower gardens didn’t fare too well in the spell of 43°C days

The Porte de Paris was an entry gate through the city wall in the 1600s, built after Louis XIV took Lille from the Spanish.

Great view from the top, as you would expect.

This morning’s challenge - climbing the belfry in the Lille City Hall. 450 stairs, or 109 stairs plus a lift.