History walk in Lille

Sunday morning I walked over 10 km with Bailey at the Citadel, including two stops at the dog park. By the time we got back home she was ready for a nap. I was too, probably, but Clay and I had signed up for a guided history walk in vieux Lille (old town), and I didn't want to miss it. It was led by a guy who works at Lille University; we had met him at an anglophone gathering a couple weeks ago. It was very interesting. We went part many sites that we see every day but didn't really know anything about. 

I'm going to post a lot of pictures here but not much of the history because I have come down with a cold and feel like crap. It's just a cold, but it's a man cold, so things will be touch and go for a few days. Send chants and incantations.

But first, here's Bailey playing at one of the dog park stops yesterday. Anyone know what breed of dog that may be? There were two of them there. The look like setters of some sort, longish fur, black with bits of silver or gray. Really pretty.

This wasn't on the tour, this is the view across the street from the park where Bailey poops and pees at night and early in the morning.

This is a bit of 15th century pavement that still exists on the Grand Place.

This statue was originally intended to be on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to represent the north (Nord). Instead they just sent it to Lille.

Chamber of Commerce and belfry.

Typical Flemish facades. There are cannon balls lodged in some of these from some old war. Apparently Lille is the most beseiged city in France.

L'Opera

Inside the courtyard of the old stock exchange.

Cast iron downspout.

Water fountain

Old city gate, Port de Rubais

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

This isn't quite an original Lille creation because apparently the founder took his Austrian employer's best recipe and set up his own shop in Lille. They are amazing.