Day 36 ORLEANS 09.09.2022

So, now the full day in Orleans. I'm writing all of this today, already in Dijon, as an office file, of which I still don't know how to accommodate it at Vakantio!? But Dijon also disappointed us in terms of internet: We were lucky yesterday that everything worked without any problems here (even Netflix with Crown, etc.) but today nothing works. We can't even continue with our mobile data, even a consultation with the hotel reception (go to the first floor because better reception, the tram in front of the door is to blame, etc.) didn't help somehow. So, if Germany is supposed to lag behind in terms of digitalization, then France, at least for both of us, is not much further ahead! Although the young people here do everything with their cell phones. It is really noticeable for us how everything is managed with this device. Communicating with headphones and talking, finding directions, comparing restaurants, and paying with it in stores, all completely standard. We have already gotten used to constantly pulling out our Visa card and laying it on or inserting it into the reading device after almost six weeks! Usually, you only get a receipt if you ask for it and you only have to sign it for amounts over €50, but not always! I collect all the receipts I can grab so that I have a record at home. The stack is already very big! In addition, Karin writes everything down in parallel, which is not always easy either. Often in the evenings, we don't remember exactly when and why we used our Visa cards!?

But, we are in Orleans. The night was a little exciting because there was a relatively busy road around our conference center and we couldn't close the window properly. Nevertheless, in the morning I went shopping and bought baguettes and two cans of beer. No, not for breakfast, but for later in the evening. Somehow our leftovers are dragging through the whole vacation, because we always have spreadable cheese and green cucumbers and tomatoes and... and can supply ourselves with them. Even if the bananas are sometimes black, they still taste good! Then we walked towards the old town and found a city map downstairs in the house for that. Everything in this city is centered around Jeanne D'Arc, the French national heroine. In retrospect, after she successfully drove away the English (on the battlefield) and was revered accordingly, she was burned soon after (politically sacrificed)! We found all of this on our way through the city, which of course was also lined with many noteworthy buildings and facilities. After the Maison Cosolett, a city villa with a significant past, we were done. We only needed disposable washcloths! But they are somehow unknown or unnecessary in France, in any case, the search for them cost us some mood units and additional kilometers!? After several failed attempts in specialized hygiene stores and pharmacies and after several additional kilometers, we still didn't have the washcloths! But instead we found a huge Carrefour (last time we found them in a supermarket like this!), which only helped us with four cotton washcloths, but also with a frozen dinner! With our last bit of energy, we even boarded a bus line (tickets inside or buy them beforehand, take out your phone and manage everything), of which we only knew that it would take us to the front door, even if it meant being a fare dodger!

Everything went smoothly (we got tickets from the bus driver, but didn't validate them?) and we made it home. At some point, I went down to Wild Hilde in the parking lot and extended the parking time a little, because we wanted to continue the next day without time pressure!