A Russian travel blogger described stumbling onto a party in France that left her stunned, writing that she had never seen such an outrage. She shared the story on her personal blog, "Тут вам не там" ("Not Like Back Home"), on the Zen platform, a Russian blogging and content service run by Yandex.
The blogger had traveled to Rouen, the capital of France's Normandy region, together with a friend from Chile. The pair spent the day walking around the city, then went out in the evening for wine at a venue near the Church of Saint-Maclou, a Gothic church in the city center.
She said she was surprised to find people dancing next to the religious site, with a DJ set up under the church's vault. At first the music was pleasant, old-style French songs, but the event soon turned into what she described as a full club party.
Songs about "having a good time at the club"
The blogger said the songs playing were far from religious in nature. She described them as popular American and Spanish hits about carnal pleasures and having a good time at the club, among other similarly themed tracks.
She said seeing this with her own eyes was simply disgusting and left her with a heavy feeling. She said watching a church used as a nightclub, with such explicitly crude songs whose meaning had nothing to do with religious teaching, was upsetting to witness.
A second church used as a cinema screen
The two women soon decided to leave, but on their way out they came across a similar scene at another church nearby. A projector had been set up against the building's facade, turning it into an outdoor movie screen.
Based on what they saw, the tourists concluded that residents of Rouen have what the blogger called some kind of problem with religious buildings.
About Rouen
Rouen is the capital of Normandy in northern France, a historic city known for its Gothic architecture, including Rouen Cathedral, and for its connection to Joan of Arc, who was executed there in 1431. The city's old town, with its medieval churches and half-timbered buildings, is a popular stop for visitors touring the region.
Earlier post about Italy
The same blogger previously wrote about life with an Italian family, describing how they wear outdoor shoes inside the house. She said the marble floors common in Italian apartments are easy to clean, so she has tried not to be bothered by the habit.
