Outside Dame Cakes building
on rue St. Romain

We enjoyed lunch at Dame Cakes tea shop (link to Google-translated page), housed in the former workshop of Ferdinand Marrou (link to Google-translated page), an artist in ironworks who created the tower on the Cathedral.

Shopkeepers in Rouen are proud of their products, truly individual like a signature of who they are. We say Bonjour and so do they when we come into their shop. They are very respectful and do not hard-sell but let you absorb the amazing displays. When we leave they say Au revoir, or good-bye and have a nice journey. Much grace and you always speak quietly, especially in a cafe — no hurrying about, but enjoying the down time.

I had my first hat fitting with a delightful milliner on rue St. Nicolas (La Boutique De Maman), and had a wool hat made to cover my ears for winter. She even gave me a beret in trade for a painting!

The hat designer at work
   

An inviting selection
at the milliner’s shop