Lots of Meandering and A Cool Clock

Hello all! So I didn't quite get to everything today... There were some organizational difficulties getting everyone to not Carrefour, but Casino Géant (which materially is the same thing, sort of the difference between Wal-mart and Meijer). Group shopping is never efficient, and with some people still uncertain about their living situation, decisiveness was not running high. But I did get the things I needed: a few toiletries, toilet paper (we're not out, but I wanted to demonstrate that I'll be providing my half of the communal supplies), and, most importantly, a pillow -- see pictures below. 

From this angle, the pillow enclosed in a purple case (the new one, plus new case) certainly looks brighter:

But it's really only from this angle that you get a full understanding of how excited I am to sleep on my new pillow tonight:

It seems comical now, but originally I was totally prepared to tough it out with the doubled-over psuedo-pillow. But after bringing home my new one, I'm convinced I made the right choice. 

In the afternoon we (a few other assistants and I) had planned to go to the citadel. Unfortunately, the logistics of everyone returning home with their shopping and meeting up again meant we would only have a few hours, which, from what I've heard, would not be enough time. So I offered to show them St. Jean's Cathedral. 

Luck was on our side here, because we arrived just in time to get a tour/explanation of the famous astrological clock located in the cathedral. Here are some of the pictures:

The clock dates from 1860 and has a fantastical number of complications. You can see from these pictures below how the figures (representing hope, faith and charity) were moving as the clock struck 3pm.

Compare these two pictures. Note that before 3pm, the Jesus figure in the top center is standing up with his arms outstretched. As part of the clock's movement at 3pm, the Jesus figure "descends to the grave," and two guards appear on either side (you can sort of see them coming forward in the pic on the right). Then at midnight he will "rise" again.

 

This is one of the many miniature clocks which line each side of the face; they record the time in various cities around the world. This one was labeled "Mexico/Amerique." The numbers in blue on the bottom indicate night-time.

This face records the date of Easter for this calendar year (obviously the year labels have been updated since 1860, but the mechanism itself has not).

These pictures (4 on each side of the clock, I believe) are bordered by dials which offer the time of the tides in the various cities. The really cool part is that the picture moves just like a storybook!

The back of the clock. Surprisingly not as complicated as I expected for something so enormous!

Our group wandering the streets behind the cathedral (Laurie, Candice, Gemma, and Sean). This was before we ran into two other assistants, Kirstie and Nicola, totally by coincidence.

We hiked part of the way up to the Citadel and I got to take some cool shots:

Graffiti is everywhere, unfortunately. It's such a shame to see such beautiful old structures marred by such thoughtless behavior.

This bee has bright blue wings! I thought it was unusual...

The view from my kitchen window. It's not terribly obvious, but you can see the WWII memorial in front of the gare in the middle of the picture, toward the back.

Tomorrow I'm meeting with my liaison to see the schools where I will be teaching. Wish me luck!

PS I have officially abandoned my attempt to keep up a translation of my blog in French. It was a worthy endeavor, but between this blog and my personal journal (which I am writing in French), I need to make sure I'm spending more time living here than recording my life here. Thanks to those of you who humored me for those few brief entries!