|
Metz
Jun 20, 2010 1:46:52 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2010 1:46:52 GMT
Well, I just went back through this thread at a leisurely pace, and enjoyed it even more than I did the first time.
I can't agree with Bjd about the city, as I think all that expanse of yellow stone is lovely. And I realize some of it was Kerouac's excellent photography, but many of those vistas down narrow streets and the architectural touches to be found there were delightful.
What is that tall building built right into the side of the cathedral? See the penultimate photo in Reply #9, and the first photo in Reply #14? (& why has no one else asked about this?!)
The covered market is amazing, like an exceptionally fine supermarket, but right in the heart of the city.
I know I just mentioned this, but it bears repeating -- GREAT pictures, especially that group in Reply #20.
In the first picture in #21, what does "mn" mean on the signpost?
The mellow-yellow stone and the statues on the second church you show are wonderful, as is the interior. It's hard to be impressed by any interior, though, after viewing the soaring dimensions of the Metz cathedral.
Thanks for the final chuckle at the end. I was too busy looking at the graffiti the first time I viewed this thread to catch your little joke in that picture.
|
|
|
Metz
Jun 20, 2010 5:35:16 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2010 5:35:16 GMT
That's just one of the towers of the cathedral, currently being cleaned up under scaffolding. "mn" means "minutes." I'm glad you all liked the photos. Some day I will try to photograph some of the things I missed.
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 6, 2010 5:23:07 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2010 5:23:07 GMT
In mid-summer, a temporary garden is put in place on the esplanade of the Metz train station.
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 6, 2010 6:11:29 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 6, 2010 6:11:29 GMT
A few flowers!
Kerouac, what are those very tall black objects? They sort of resemble canoe paddles placed upright
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 6, 2010 17:18:54 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2010 17:18:54 GMT
They are spotlight illumination staffs, I think!
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 7, 2010 6:32:54 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 7, 2010 6:32:54 GMT
Gosh, it must be brilliantly lit at night.
Do you try to go back to Metz at least once a year? I have a feeling you still get that childlike thrill when arriving at the train station there.
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 7, 2010 6:43:01 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2010 6:43:01 GMT
I go to Metz at least twice a year, sometimes more often...
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 7, 2010 13:19:30 GMT
Post by lagatta on Jul 7, 2010 13:19:30 GMT
Do you ever get to Nancy? Place Stanislas is beautiful.
|
|
|
Metz
Jul 7, 2010 13:36:24 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2010 13:36:24 GMT
Yes, I usually get to Nancy at least once a year. However, last time I had my mother in tow, so I could not take advantage of the city at all.
|
|
|
Metz
Sept 8, 2010 23:37:16 GMT
Post by mich64 on Sept 8, 2010 23:37:16 GMT
Kerouac, can you tell me if my memory is accurate or not? When we visited Metz for an afternoon a few years back, I thought we visited Notre Dame Church? Is there a church there named Notre Dame? This church was magnificent, I was intrigued and a little frightened by the huge dragon and the story of how it was there to keep the towns people in line with their faith. We loved the city and enjoyed our afternoon. We have family in the Lorraine and have spent alot of time in that region.
|
|
|
Metz
Sept 9, 2010 7:04:12 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2010 7:04:12 GMT
Hmmm... that does not ring a bell, but Metz is certainly a big enough city to have a Notre Dame-de-quelque chose.
I did find that Metz converted to Christianity in the year 300 after a dragon-slaying (or rather dragon-drowning) incident:
Avec Saint-Clément, le christianisme apparaît vers 300. Une légende raconte qu'il noya dans la Seille un dragon nommé le " Graoully " qui semait la terreur. Il était caché dans les ruines de l'amphithéâtre, là où furent célébré le 1er culte chrétien.
|
|
|
Metz
Sept 10, 2010 2:48:48 GMT
Post by mich64 on Sept 10, 2010 2:48:48 GMT
Yes, and if they did not adhere to the faith the dragon, or more dragons, would come back, was the message of the story. Past the Sanctury towards the back of this Church, down the stairs there was a huge paper mache? large dragon hanging from the ceiling. I was taken aback by such a display in a church until it was explained to me by my mother-in-laws cousin as to why it was there. It was extraordinary. Your passage seems familiar to me as well. Thank you for seeking out the answer. Mich
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 22, 2011 18:08:03 GMT
Post by thill25 on Mar 22, 2011 18:08:03 GMT
Just re-read this thread...I can't wait to try a sandwich at Steinhoff. I should be there Saturday at some point. Wooohoo!!!! ;D
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 22, 2011 18:18:25 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 18:18:25 GMT
It is not fine gastronomy, but watching them fry up the stuff in front of me makes me slobber. Even though I get a beer from them, too, the stuff is greasy and salty enough for you to need a second beer at the nearest café once you have eaten.
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 22, 2011 18:19:56 GMT
Post by thill25 on Mar 22, 2011 18:19:56 GMT
It is not fine gastronomy, but watching them fry up the stuff in front of me makes me slobber. Even though I get a beer from them, too, the stuff is greasy and salty enough for you to need a second beer at the nearest café once you have eaten. My kind of place!
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 27, 2011 6:58:12 GMT
Post by thill25 on Mar 27, 2011 6:58:12 GMT
After visiting the city, I can say k2 went all over! Gonna try to make it to most of those sites, but man, I gotta tell yeah...you are a walkin' fool if you visited all those sites in one day on foot.
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 27, 2011 14:36:07 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2011 14:36:07 GMT
The city is 60% smaller when you know your way around!
|
|
|
Metz
Mar 30, 2011 8:21:37 GMT
Post by thill25 on Mar 30, 2011 8:21:37 GMT
Steinhoff was gooooooooooooooood. I snapped a picture for ya...I'll post it when I get back to the States.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 21, 2011 15:08:28 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 15:08:28 GMT
The Metz station has moved on from its "flower bed" days in the summer. This year is apparently the international year of forests, so the "ephemeral garden" commemorates that this year. Even though I fully understand that municipal gardening is an industry now, I am somewhat distressed thinking that in another month or two, 90% of this will just end up on a compost heap at best.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 21, 2011 15:26:20 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 15:26:20 GMT
As for the rest of Metz, I didn't have much time to stroll around this year - basically from 7 to 8 a.m. which isn't a whole hell of a lot of time. I plunged down the main drag, rue Serpenoise, for a start. Not much going on. A nearby church was being renovated. I had the Place de la Cathédrale to myself. Too early for the cathedral to be open, or I would have been sucked in as usual. I love that cathedral, but you already saw it earlier in this report. For the same reason, I did not enter the covered market next door, but I saw that on Saturday a street markets is set up in the central courtyard. Most of the merchants were still arriving, but a few were already in place. I was near the "market master" who was detailing to a temporary vendor the possible places where he might set up his wares if the usual merchants did not show up (it being mid-August holiday time, after all...). The banners and signs on the Metz tourist office were upsetting because they made me realize that I have never truly visited Metz. It has always just been the 'big town' next to the ancestral village and therefore not a place to visit as a tourist. Not only does it have lots of interesting things... I would already be back home in Paris.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 21, 2011 19:59:24 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 19:59:24 GMT
I noticed a building in Metz yesterday that I had never seen before. It was imposing but anonymous and clearly unused. I found a sign that identified it. It was the old train station. One of the more fascinating details on the historical sign was that all of the first versions were built out of wood, "in case the station had to be destroyed rapidly." As much as I have always known how complicated Franco-German relations were in the 19th century, I never imagined that things were so bad that the French wouldn't even buiilt a solid station in case of attack. Well, guess what? The station was indeed destroyed in the war of 1870 and it was the Germans who built the station out of Metz stone when it was part of Germany. There was a poster for an upcoming flea market in front of the station that used an old photo of the station when it was in service. The current creepy (but impressive) station was built in the first decade of the 20th century, still as a German station. I took a couple of new night shots.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 21, 2011 21:51:20 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 21, 2011 21:51:20 GMT
More marvelous Metz! I'm a sucker for all that yellow stone, which you caught so beautifully with the morning light. The ephemeral garden shots are great & an indication of the liveliness of the city you caught a glimpse of at the tourist office. Go back! However, no matter how often you go back, I can't imagine you'll ever top that brilliant photo of the statue & the cathedral.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 22, 2011 13:52:34 GMT
Post by tod2 on Aug 22, 2011 13:52:34 GMT
I missed this thread completely so have had a lovely wander through from the beginning - Thanks you so much Kerouac! Great photos btw>
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 23, 2011 17:16:20 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 17:16:20 GMT
The central post office is pretty creepy at night as well. They should probably film a horror movie in Metz. My beloved ABC brasserie is one of the only bright spots in the train station area at night. This German family quickly ducked inside. Who wants to stay out at night with Sean Penn staring at them.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 23, 2011 17:23:54 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 17:23:54 GMT
I still find the little "fingers" of the Moselle that pass through Metz to be irresistable for a morning walk. Yet many people are disturbed by Metz because its military imagery is everywhere. It still looks like it is ready to pounce on Germany at the slightest excuse, even though that is as far from curreny reality as you can imagine. The two sides of this gate to a military center give you an idea of the sort of carvings that you can see everywhere. That's all for this visit. I am already promising myself not to miss the Fêtes de la Mirabelle next year.
|
|
|
Metz
Aug 23, 2011 23:18:37 GMT
Post by fumobici on Aug 23, 2011 23:18:37 GMT
Doesn't look the least disturbing or spooky to me. These lovely enticing photos might be helping though.
|
|
|
Metz
Dec 18, 2013 19:54:31 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2013 19:54:31 GMT
I have continued to miss the Mirabelle festival. Actually this year I was in Nancy during the mirabelle festival in Metz. Nancy was supposedly having a mirabelle festival as well, but that's ridiculous since everybody knows that the mirabelle capital is Metz. And since it was pouring rain, I did not even try to go to see what Nancy was doing. But on Monday I was back in Metz. A huge Christmas tree and crèche are in front of the train station. Metz has a new fake tramway which looks like a tramway but which is actually a bus. New directional signs are now everywhere, in a specially designed style. I would have to wait until after dark to appreciate the Christmas decorations. There was a huge Ferris wheel at Place de la République. I got some mulled wine from the Christmas market there. 2.50€. I thought it was a cute idea for a Christmas tree kiddy ride to have the kids in big Christmas ornaments. The main drag, rue Serpenoise, was extremely busy.
|
|
|
Metz
Dec 19, 2013 2:53:02 GMT
Post by htmb on Dec 19, 2013 2:53:02 GMT
My only trip to Metz was not planned very well and was a bit of a bust, though there was a great bar across from the cathedral that was warm and dry and offered decent wine on an otherwise dreary day. I really need to return to Metz and give it another shot. It certainly is easy to get there from Gare de l'est.
|
|
|
Metz
Dec 19, 2013 7:11:33 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2013 7:11:33 GMT
|
|
|
Metz
Dec 20, 2013 11:19:34 GMT
Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2013 11:19:34 GMT
|
|