Joyeux Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras

Love life and family

Mardi Gras

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Mairie d'Arcachon

Mairie d'Arcachon

Just a block from the beach in the charming

town of Arcachon, the bleu-blanc-rouge flies

in the bay breeze.

Did I mention the fabulous oysters?

Mairie d'Archachon

Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region

33120, France

La Vieille Ville de Bordeaux

Through a passageway in

Old Town Bordeaux

bon week end

Bordeaux, France

Joyeux Saint-Valentin

Joyeux Saint-Valentin

Not from a fine Parisian pâtisserie, 

but the wish for a Happy Valentine's Day

to all my readers just the same

Somebody has already

asked for the sugar-laden

Eiffel Tower.

Beyond Paris

Art d' Arcachon

A bigger than life painting

in an Arcachon gallery,

caught in afternoon reflections

Arcachon 

Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region

33120, France

 

 

un escalier en colimaçon

Spiral Staircase

Leaving Paris for Budapest

this spiral staircase in the airport lounge

was modern and graceful with 

stainless steel bones and rich hardwood steps

Ah, Paris

Charles de Gaulle Airport

95700 Roissy-en-France

 

Provins - l'escalier

Medieval stairway

in Provins

leading to the 

city wall

77160, Provins

France

Creperie - Mammy Gateaux

Provins

There are more than a few creperies in Provins,

but this one had the most charming entrance.

Mammy Gateaux

16, place du Chatel

77160, Provins France

Église Saint-Quiriace

Église Saint-Quiriace

This church in the small town of Provins, just beyond Paris, 

was founded early in the 11th century.  

The town is divided into an Upper Town and a Lower Town,

 respectively called the Châtel (Castle) and the Val (Valley).

This church sits in its elevated position in the upper town, 

and although it has never been completed it is worthy of a visit.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Quiriace

9, place Saint-Quiriace

77160, Provins, France

Les Comptoirs des Colporteurs

Les Comptoirs des Colporteurs

A mystical doorway draped in the green fringe

of old wisteria vines.

Les Comptoirs des Colporteurs

4, rue Jean Desmarets

77160, Provins (short distance from Paris)

Tour de France 2015

Tour de France

It all begins today

 and promises many view of the French countryside 

along with exciting competition.  

Check it out here.

(Have a great July 4th Celebration)

 

Tour de France

Grand Start: Utrecht, the Netherlands

vert et turquoise

The bright green of new spring growth

and closed aqua shutters

Do you wonder what lies beyond

the window?

28000, Chartres

Le Jour du Macaron, ici et là

"here"

(chez Holly)

Today is the 10th anniversary of Le Jour du Macaron, started by Pierre Hermé.

In the early years it was a bit like a scavenger hunt all over Paris, and at each stop (famous Paris pâtisseries) you could collect three macarons and they would stamp your "macaron map."  At the end of the day if you had a map with all of the stamps, you then received a treasure chest of 36 macarons from Pierre Hermé!  In exchange you were asked for a small charitable donation.

It was so successful that after a few years, the bonus at the end of the day was halted.  Can you imagine how many Parisiens and tourists chased all over the city collecting macarons!  Now, Jour du Macaron is celebrated in many cities and countries around the world.

My daughter Holly and I have been making them (amid much scientific study and experimentation) for years now.  Our favorites to make: pistache with chocolate ganache filling, pecan with caramel au beurre salé, rosemary with lemon curd.  A good Swiss buttercream cut with Nutella will be great in any of these. 

"there"

(in Paris)

bon weekend

(miam-miam)

"ici" et "là"

là - Spécialités Artisanales

Biscuiterie de Montmartre

16, rue Norvins

75018, Paris

 

Chartres Cathedral

Seen through a window as Marie and I climbed the many steps 

to the top of the bell tower, 

the interior of Chartres Cathedral 

appears to be a blended neutral color.

The major renovations and makeover 

of this eight hundred year old cathedral have created a stir.  

I look forward to checking them out myself 

before passing judgment, but you can read about it here.*

bon dimanche

Notre Dame de Chartres

Chartres, France

*Thanks to traveling friend, Mary G, for the link

Veteran's Day - Beyond

Veteran's Day

Changing of the Guard

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington Cemetery

As you know I rarely go "Beyond" but today is Veteran's Day, and it seemed appropriate to share a story.  About a year ago I was fortunate to be selected as a Guardian for an Honor Flight.  We accompanied over 100 World War II Veterans to see the war memorials in Washington, D.C.  The men and women who were in their teens when they went to the Pacific or to Europe to fight in the war are now in their late eighties and nineties.  What an experience to talk to these former soldiers and to hear their stories.  My dad died just five weeks before we were to have gone together on this momentous journey.   

You can see in the reflection of the Guard's glasses the bright yellow shirts of our Veterans.

(for Daddy)

Arlington Cemetery

Washington, D.C.

Sainte Geneviève des Bois - le cimetière russe

Sainte Geneviève des Bois

a Russian Cemetery

The Russian Orthodox Cemetery is not highly regarded 

by the locals of this small town 

and many do not even know of its existence.  

I made the trip to see the tombstone of Rudolph Nureuev 

and found the carpet of fallen ginko leaves as a bonus.  

Wherever I have traveled in the world, I visit and photograph the cemeteries.  

Although this cemetery is not well-maintained, 

there was a quiet beauty of the season, 

silent and colorful with autumn leaves.

 

 

 

Russian Orthodox Cemetery

Sainte Geneviève des Bois

Palais Garnier - l'opéra

Palais Garnier

No, I am not here tonight but in Budapest

with Alexa and the ever-charming Hattatts, Jane and Lance.

We will be at the Hungarian State Opera House

for a performance of 

Cavalleria Rusticana and  Pagliacci,

and I will bring back photos and stories

Palais Garnier

75009, Paris

Oskar m'a dit... allons-y!

Oskar

Oskar, the international traveling cat, 

is taking me away to Paris and then beyond to Budapest.

We will meet up with friend, Alexa (Paris Encore) for a week in Paris, 

and then we three fly to Budapest to visit dear blog friends.

I will be looking for hidden Paris places 

and thousands of photographs.

Oskar is ready...

Destination:  Paris and Beyond

 

(Merci, brattcat, for mon cher Oskar)

Église Saint-Quiriace

Église Saint-Quiriace

This church in the small town of Provins, just beyond Paris, 

was founded early in the 11th century.  

The town is divided into an Upper Town and a Lower Town,

 respectively called the Châtel (Castle) and the Val (Valley).

This church sits in its elevated position in the upper town, 

and although it has never been completed it is worthy of a visit.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Quiriace

9, place Saint-Quiriace

77160, Provins, France

Un cycliste dans une rue

A cyclist

In a narrow street of Provins (a short train ride from Gare de L'Est) we found this cyclist, moving so slowly that it was a marvel he kept his bicycle upright.  It was mid-morning and perhaps he had delivered the contents of those empty boxes to a market, mushrooms or berries?  He was chatting with a gentlemen who was walking in the same direction, someone he knew.  With a population of about 12,000, the locals all know each other.

Although it rained when we were there, 

it did not dampen our enjoyment of this Medieval town.

Beyond

Provins, France