If it’s Thursday, this must be Rouen. 

We were up and out the door bright and early, moving our baggage to the bus for the trip to Rouen and then on to Paris.

Christophe, our bus driver for the last three days, did a fantastic job. We’ll miss him. One thing I’ve learned on these pilgrimages: the driver can make or break a trip. Christophe was a real pro.

Curious about the town? Here’s a look at our last drive through Lisieux on the way to the highway. You can hear our guide Teresa offering a few insights along the way.

Teresa in action.

After about 90 minutes, we arrived in Rouen and made our way to the town square.

Adjoining the square is Church of St. Joan of Arc — a striking, modern building, resembling in many ways a rising flame, built on the site where St. Joan was executed in 1431 by being burned at the stake.

This is where we celebrated morning Mass. Deacon Kevin Meece served and preached.

Near a back corner of the church, I found this statue of Joan at the stake, with places to leave candles and prayer intentions — specifically for a “good death.”

After Mass, we took a quick tour of Rouen, beginning with the plaza outside the church, which contains an enormous cross marking the spot where Joan died; nearby is a statue of the young saint, looking toward the cross. The one request she made before her death was to have a crucifix to look at as she was dying. That request was granted.

From there, a guide walked us through downtown Rouen, arriving finally at the town’s cathedral, Notre Dame de Rouen.

This building, like so many, is incredible. We took time to explore the interior, light candles, take pictures, and soak up some of the complicated history.

We eventually made our way back to the square, by the Joan of Arc church, and headed across the street to La Couronne, which claims to be the oldest French restaurant in the world (though Wikipedia is skeptical.) No less a figure than Julia Child credits dining at this restaurant with triggering her desire to master French cooking — and the place is decorated with innumerable signed celebrity snapshots.

It was really a fantastic lunch. I can’t begin to do justice to this meal, but I can report that the first dish involved salmon and waffles (!) and the main course featured another kind of fish, and desert resembled some exotic sort of apple pastry, complete with dollops of whipped cream.

After lunch, we had a short break to do some shopping — we had our eye on buying some of the famous chocolate candy known as “Joan of Arc’s Tears,” rich dark chocolate-covered almonds.

Then, it was off to Paris.

Late in the afternoon, we arrived at our home for the next two nights, the Hotel Paris Neuilly, just off the Avenue of Charles de Gaulle.

The rooms are not exactly expansive, but they’re comfortable and should do just fine for the next couple of nights.

Friday, we head into Paris — which, I’m told, may have a sight or two worth seeing and, I guess, one or two old churches.

I’ll let you know.

A bientot!