Day No. 21 - Citadelle de Blaye - Blaye Citadel

Today starts somewhat abruptly. The wailing of an alarm system wakes us from our sleep. - Ours? No, it's a camper that's a bit out of the way. - When the alarm sounds for the second time, I jump out of the bus wearing only a bed sheet to go and have a look. - An elderly lady is struggling with the alarm system. I can't tell what frightens her more, the wailing alarm system or the strange, scantily clad man. I'm glad it ended so lightly. However, as the rain is pouring down, my bedding is wet for the time being. But what worries me all the more is that no one else has looked except me. In the big city, I'm used to nobody looking when an alarm goes off. But in the country, I had hoped for more. Was the investment in our alarm systems supposed to have so little effect? It would be a shame, but civil courage seems to be dying out more and more. - What a shame, really!

Woken up accordingly, we shower and drink coffee. - As it's not due to clear up until midday, we use the time to complete yesterday's blog.

The climate here seems to be changing by the hour. - Speaking of climate change, I just read that Donald Trump shared a video of Greta Thunberg's speech at the UN Climate Summit on Twitter and wie folgt kommentiert hat: „Sie scheint ein glückliches junges Mädchen zu sein“  – „Sie blicke auf eine glänzende Zukunft“. Früher habe ich immer gedacht Reagan wäre der größte Komiker, nicht nur Schauspieler, sondern vor allem ein Komiker, der zum Präsidenten gewählt wurde. – Doch was wären Komik, ohne den amtierenden Mr. President? Im Vergleich des besten Komikers im Präsidentenamt, liegt Trump um Längen vorn. Oder? – Zurück zum Wetter, wie angesagt klart es auf.  - Time to take a closer look at the citadel.

The citadel was completed in 1689 under the direction of the fortress builder and architect Vauban. His client? None other than the Sun King, Louis XIV originally intended this strategic defensive base to protect the city of Bordeaux from enemy attacks. The citadel of Blaye dominates what I have now learned is the largest estuary in Europe, the Gironde. Today, the citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building, which is also known as the "star and key of Aquitaine", is enthroned on a rocky hill and our Hector stands in the middle of it, deeply impressed.

Before Vauban, many other master builders had already put their hands to it. The Name stammt vom römischen Castrum „Blavia“, dessen Namen zusammengezogen wurde aus Belli Via – „Wege des Krieges“. Und gekämpft wurde hier wohl reichlich. Roland, Heerführer Karl des Großen und vor ihm Normannen, Westgoten, Vandalen und halt als erstes den Römern. „Veni, vidi, vici“

So, jetzt genug der Kultur, wir machen uns auf, zu einem kleinen Spaziergang, erst durch die Zitadelle, dann durchs Dorf.- Im „Lily a la Vanille“, dem Glacier de la Citadelle gibt es erst einmal ein kleines Eis. – Pistazie ist sehr zu empfehlen! – Dann geht es zur Bank und anschließend While Torgit is pleased that she is currently polishing up her school French, I am delighted that my hairdresser and I can communicate without words. Communicating with hands and feet is simply international. - Haircut and beard trim for €14. - I'll probably have to take a closer look at myself in the mirror tomorrow. 

The next stop is the ferry. After studying the timetable, we decide to take the ferry tomorrow. This will depend on the weather, so we'll see. 

Neben dem Fähranlieger liegt das  „Le Bus“. Da wir schon wieder da sind, wollen wir die Chance auch nutzen. Heute jedoch zum Abendessen. 

Salmon tandoori, scampi with mint, burger espagnol, fish and chips. - All delicious! On the way back we discover a rabbit and a pig as street art - something different.