Lille

So this was a mansion built in the thirties that was super modern for its time. It's modern even now! It fell into disrepair over the years and has just recently been renovated to its original splendor and opened up as kind of an architectural, interior design museum. We walked to it from Olympe's house. I loved it! The design is so sleek and cutting edge. I can't imagine what people in the thirties thought about it! They spent millions of dollars getting it to look exactly like it did when it was built and every detail was amazing

Olympe was amazed

Talk about a walk-in closet!!

Doodling in the garden. Catherine was so kind to lend me her watercolors!

Her rose bushes are simply to die for

Reminiscing on our American trip last summer!

Cute.

hahahahahahaha

We went to an art museum with a Donald Duck exhibition. Hidden throughout the real pieces were parodies of famous works of art with a duck in them. It was funny and clever! Hence the duck face.

Studied this in Art History!

Creepy village model room

The museum was huge!

Mondrian

Ghent

The Ghent Altarpiece was under renovation. It was a tragedy. But I did see a fake one on display in the church. Not the same. I was so sad! I guess I'll just have to go back :)

Apparently pictures are not allowed in the cathedral. As you can see I didn't realize that. Am I going to go to jail for posting these?

Entrance to the catacombs under the church=nailed it. So intriguing and slightly creepy

It's huge!

A tiny model of the famous triptych

Can you picture me? The American tourist, phone in hand, snapping away on my camera app? Oh the shame.

But hey I'm glad I have these pictures. Ignorance is bliss when it involves breaking rules ;)

The city absolutely charmed me

Like seriously? It's so cute!

Ruby said she thought shoes tied to a line meant a drug shop or dealing was underneath. Hmmm, who know's if this is true?

My token selfies of the trip

Road trip!

Old Lille

We met an Iraqian family in France. They are refugees who had to flee their home in minutes when they heard extremists were coming to their home to chop off their heads for being Christian. They have to learn French in a year to become citizens. There were three boys and three girls. The kids had only been their a few months and were already speaking very good French! We played a children's game in French with the two young boys and it was so fun. We were basically at their level in Frenh and even though no one understood each other, we were laughing and smiling the whole time. It was a really neat experience. We take so much for granted in the United States. Freedom of religion is such a blessing! And I really admire the hard work and faith of this family.