Free Day in Beaune –Wednesday
I think maybe I have gotten my days mixed up, so if that is inconsistent
that would be why.
What I do know is that this was a free day. We got up and decided to find a laundry mat
within walking distance, which we did.
It was only about three blocks away.
No issue and we figured it out and got clean clothes fairly
quickly. We took our laundry back and
the headed out again for lunch and exploration of the town.
We lunched on the way to Hotel Dieu which was a hospital
built in the 1400’s by someone with money that felt guilty and felt he needed
to perform “good works” before he met his maker. It is actually pretty remarkable considering
the age and state of medical care in that period. I would like to stay somewhere so beautiful myself
if sick. But most people that came there
would die and it did not provide much in the way of healing just because of the
lack of knowledge at the point in history.
The bubonic plague was the issue.
This facility was built for the poor but was state of the art. Maybe better than state of the art. It was staff by highly qualified nuns and were
specifically chosen by the benefactor of the facility. In addition, it was the first time that in
addition to the nuns, spinsters and widows were allowed to serve as
nurses. Their temperament had to be accepting
of lower class and treating them with respect and grace. Gardens
and protein (fresh food) was grown and raised on site. Fresh water ran through the facility and they
were able to get the waste removed quickly and therefore was very
sanitary. In addition, they had a pharmacy
on site. The art was magnificent and
every detail was overseen by the benefactor.
The hospital actually stayed as a functioning hospital until the late 1970s. It was endowed through the years by private benefactors,
the political powers and through fund raising.
We walked back through the city. We stopped and picked up food from a deli to
eat at the apartment with a new bottle of wine.
In the apartment, finishing up dinner, we heard Marsha and
Bob coming back yelling at us (up to the windows) don’t go to bed yet!!! We
have a story to share…..
They showed up and started talking about someone they had
run into at dinner……it turned out to be a “Queen Mum” story….those that know,
know, those that don’t will have to ask about it when we return.
Au Revoir……
Susan and Bill
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