A Misguided Daytrip

Halloween in Paris is uneventful. There are no decorations. There are no tick-or-treaters. There is no spooky fun. So Chris and I, along with Maddie, decided to explore the French countryside in hopes of finding a small and intimate village adorned with quant architecture and picturesque views. What we found was an industrial city bustling with all the annoyances we were trying to avoid.

On the recommendation of a friend, we traveled just over an hour a half to Rouen – the home of Joan of Arc. The drive was picturesqe. The destination was quite the contrary. Roune was filled with with smog, traffic, a carnival and barely any signs of the cozy village we wanted to explore on this warm Halloween.

We quickly escaped the city’s centre making our way to the top of the valley where I hoped to capture a photo for prosperity sakes. Chris weaved through the streets in his new BMW trying to find the perfect scenic vantage point. Unfortunately, we never found it. But what we did stumble across was an old cemetery that satisfied a burning itch to enjoy something, anything spooky on October 31.

The burial grounds were quite mystical. Large crosses, elevated tombs and petit temples were stacked on top of one another. The smell of wet leaves was in the air. It may not have been our original destination, but it was quite the unexpected discovery.

So, in the end, our trip didn’t unravel as planned. But that’s okay. I saw a remarkable cemetery on the most perfect day to visit the dead. We sang French pop songs along the way. And no road trip would be complete without a stop at McDonald’s for a Coca-Cola light and snack. Now that’s living.