The past week in Lille

We got back from Rennes on Tuesday, got Bailey back home from boarding Wednesday morning, and we went for a good long walk that afternoon. Wednesday evening we went to the Lille opera to see "Ecume des Jours." It's a new opera and if it had been a straight play I would place in the genre known as theater of the absurd. I can't say that I cared for it, but that wasn't really the reason for going anyway, I mostly wanted to see the place and see the performance. I could have left at intermission, but the second part was mercifully shorter at least. We'll go again, I think they are doing a more traditional opera next.

Thursday we were back at the opera house for a concert in the grand foyer. It was much better musically, just a piano and clarinet. Both musicians were extraordinary and we enjoyed it very much. 

The Christmas markets are being set up in three locations around town. I don't really care much about Christmas but I am looking forward to the lights and the markets. We are planning another trip in early December to Cologne, Germany to see the markets there as well. 

Bailey did well with the boarding experience and we've had some good walks this week and some fun play experiences in the dog park. I ran into an English speaking dog owner there the other day and I told him that I wasn't prepared to let Bailey off leash any place other than inside the dog park. He pointed out that the entire park area was surrounded by water. With that in mind, and seeing how well she behaves with every dog she meets, and how she avoids any people, I decided to try some off-leash walking the next day. There's one stretch of the park along the canal where there's no roads nearby, fewer people, and lots of woods and open fields. I let her off leash there and she had a great time but stuck close to me and came running back whenever I called. In the big field near the dog park there's always a lot of off-leash dogs playing and she found someone to run with there as well, but she frequently came running back to check in with me. 

Today we repeated the off-leash experience. I brought a bag of treats along with me and gave her one every time she came when I called or came back to check in on her own. The only time she was more than 20 feet away was when we got to the big open field when she ran ahead to meet some other dogs. I will never have her off-leash in busy areas, but she really enjoyed the freedom and proved that she has no intention of running off, which I already pretty much knew.

The interior of the opera house.

In the opera house, the main theater is on the left, the grand foyer where the concert was held is on the right.

A very large Ferris wheel is being set up in the Grand Place. 

There is a carousel in front of the opera building and there will be some market chalets there as well.

I believe this opens next Wednesday or Thursday. 

A grey heron on one of the canals around the Citadel. I see these frequently.

My phone identified this as bayberry.

Bailey rolling in the grass, enjoying some off-leash time.

This is back in the dog park.

The vast majority of our walk, even in the park, is still on-leash.