Crémieu

We drove to Crémieu today. It was another unseasonably warm and beautiful day (in contrast to the oppressive grey of last week) and a perfect day for exploring a new town. It is only a one hour drive, during which time we saw the usual parade of Genevois supercars (Audi R8, Ferrari 599 in MAROON -- what kind of a person buys a maroon Ferrari?) . The trip there epitomized the dangers of not looking at a map before going somewhere in France: I don't trust the GPS because it frequently tries to take us on long scenic routes of industrial wastelands and closed mountain passes.... and I don't trust the French road signs, because they will frequently also take you on the least efficient route to the target. Additionally, you could be driving along, following signs to some town or landmark and then reach and intersection at which there are no more signs. So anyway, we went with the signs, because they are right *most* of the time, and got taken on another long agricultural tour. I think it only added around ten minutes to the route though. We knew we had arrived when we saw a fortified hilltop approaching, and then huge stone walls.

After loading up the double stroller with the progeny, we checked out the church

And walked up the hill to the castle

When I saw the following sign, I got quite excited, only to have my hopes dashed by a closed brewery door. Next time.


My favorite part was the covered marketplace




Which had magnificent beams and a stone roof



And peculiar rounded depressions on a stone stand at one end of the marketplace


I know what you're thinking, but they are not related at all to bodily functions. they are actually for measuring quantities of grain. According to the sign, before systems of weight and volume were standardized, many regions had their own random units. These depressions allowed for the measurement of the local unit of volume, which was the "bichet", which was 19.50 litres. Two bichets equalled one émine, and two émines equalled a setier. It sounds a little like our beloved English units, which us 'mericans are one of the only countries in the world backwards enough to still use. Even the English are trying to phase it out.
Next, it was time to sample the local delicacy: a sugared deep fried heart stopping bread, which was enjoyed by the whole family



Then, it was on to look at more impressive stone rooves:




We followed the GPS advise on the way out, and it was much faster. It was a bit less pretty than the way in: after a while we found ourselves in a huge industrial park with gigantic windowless buildings and what appeared to be a prison.