Day 5 - Sunday (8.7)

Today's post is for my brother, K, who works in corrections. You'll see why later.

The morning started late and with only wasp. Seriously, we will find out where these critters are coming from. Today's big trip was to Tinchebray, but first we spotted this on the way:



A boulangerie, or bakery. We stopped in and picked up a baguette and 2 smaller items to snack on for the way back. Here's a pic of the selections (of just pastries):






After our pit stop, we headed to Tinchebray and the Royal Prison. The Royal Prison was built in 1620 and is a small 2 story building. Bev and I waited until the appointed 2:30 time when everything reopens in France. No one was around so I feared the worst, but to our surprise a little old man was sitting behind the desk. We paid our 4 Euros each and headed to the prison, which housed 4 cells, and one solitary confinement cell. The cells were simple rooms with stone floors. Each room was about 15 ft by 10 ft and at most would house 15 prisoners each. During the French Revolution they housed up to 60 people at a time at this prison.




OK...gotta go for a moment. Wasp alert.

(16 hours later)

I'm back. Phew. We caught 9 wasps, but still haven't located the bat. While I'm not fond of wasps, at least these all seem to be on their last leg, or wing, as it were. Bev has been catching the wasps by placing a glass bottle over them, and sliding a piece of cardboard underneath. She then escorts them outside. I was about to get back to the computer when I saw something flying toward me. I thought it was a REALLY big wasp, but it turns out, it was a small bat! A bat! Very cool. Anyway, we still haven't found the bat, although right before bed last night, I could hear it fluttering out in the hall and press up against the glass pane at the top of the door. I eventually did go to sleep.

Anyway, back to Tinchebray and the Royal Prison.

Here's a picture of the latrine, which was in the prison cell.



If you walk up closer to the nook in the wall, you'll see this:



All the cells had these heavy doors with a hole in the middle for guards to look in (or prisoners to look out):



There was a small chapel area set up on the second floor where prisoners could view mass. Her's a shot of the chapel area from the prison cell:



The prisoners could be let out into the hallway and watch mass. There were two double doors that contained them in this area. Here's a closer view:




OK...that's enough for the prison right now. Must get ready to head to Bayeux. I'm getting better with my French pronunciation. I'm getting by with everything I learned from Inspector Clouseau and Pepe LePew.