Bordeaux cathedral
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Cathedral of Saint Andrew. What more can I say?
Chateau d'Arsac
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
My first visit to a Chateau. D'Arsac is a village in the Margaux and Haut-Medoc appellations. After the label is a pic of the Chateau, the inside the remodeled Chateau. The some barrels in the agingRead more
Bordeaux
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
First stop in France. Most of us know Bordeaux as the wine capital. And it is. There will be several posts about that. This is about the city itself. First is the Bourse plaza along the river Gironde.Read more
Jardin Public
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The Public Garden goes back to the early days of Bordeaux. Here is where meds chants would walk together and make deals. I'm not sure if that still happens, but it is a lovely place to walk
Saint Emilion
August 11, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Probably the most famous village in the Bordeaux region. These are various scenes to give a sense of the medieval character of the town.
Le Cité du Vin
August 12, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Le Cité du Vin Is a museum in Bordeaux about wine, it's history in the region, viniculture, and more. The first pic is of the building, followed by interior pictures. The last two are of the 360°Read more
Three chateaux near Saint Emilion
August 12, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Three Chateaux in another region of Bordeaux. All really good wines. La Dominique has a new winery in various shades of red lacquered stainless steel. They are in a prestigious area, with twoRead more
Arnor Festival
August 14, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Annual celebration of culture in Bretagne. Bretagne has a Celtic connection as you can see from the bagpipes. Also traditional costumes from the many villages participating. They all differ. TheRead more
Vannes
August 15, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Vannes is a walled medieval town with much of the medieval cus after intact. The first three pics are of the city wall, garden at the wall and the wash house. The a street scene, cornice decorationRead more
Carnac
August 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Menhir's or standing stones dated to as much as 7,000 years old. There are several thousand stones, mostly in alignment. Pics 5&6 show one of the largest and a quadrilateral set of stones, unique atRead more
Benodet and l'Odet River cruise
August 18, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Benodet is a small town at the mouth of the river l'Odet. It seemed to me to be mostly a beach and sailing town, mostly touristy. The river cruise was nice. Someone said that the l'Odet is theRead more
Quimper
August 18, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Another medieval town. Quimper Is the administrative center for Finisterre. I stayed in the old town, which is the interesting part. The first picture is a street in Quimper, followed by a bit of theRead more
Locronan
August 19, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Locronan is well preserved medieval town not too far from Quimper. As you walk into town, the first thing you see is the old church of St. Ronan. That arch at the entry seems unusual. The buildingRead more
Mont Saint Michel 1
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
We start with the iconic view of MSM, followed by a closer look. The stairs up into the Abbey proper, the steeple and the cloister. As MSM is such an extraordinary place, I'm stretching this out overRead more
Mont St. Michel 2
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Continuing in the Abbey of Mont St. Michel, the first two pics are of the Abbey church. Then the meeting hall, one of the crypts. Last is the shell installed when the Abbey was used as a prison toRead more
Mont St. Michel 3
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
More of the Abbey: a preserved detail wall decoration, the hall where knights were received when visiting (with hanging tarps used in the ongoing renovation work), the chapel at the crypts and one ofRead more
Mont St. Michel outside the Abbey
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Over time a village grew up below the Abbey but still on the Rock. First is a view over part of the village. Then a street scene and a gate. Mont St. Michel is also a fortress that was neverRead more
Memorial de Caen
August 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
A memorial to the battle of Normandy, with a look at the years leading up to it and an exhibit of after 1945 photos. Very moving. I spent between 6&7 hours there. Very intense. Worth a trip inRead more
Caen
August 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A major city in Normandy and seat of the Duke of Normandy. The first pic is the Chateau de Caen, the castle built by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1060, so that, I think, he would have a good placeRead more
La Point du Hoc
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
A major gun emplacement between Omaha and Utah beaches on high ground. It could defend both beaches an so was a major concern for D-Day. The first pic is one of the gun emplacements. The second is theRead more
D-Day beaches
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
First is Omaha beach looking toward point du Hoc, followed by the monuments at the beach. Second is a long view to Utah beach. Then Gold beach. Fifth are the remains of the "mulberries" artificialRead more
Colleville sur Mer
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The American military cemetery located above the East end of Omaha beach. A look at the cemetery and the statue at the entrance. Third is the oval wall listing all MIAs from the battle of Normandy.Read more
Bayeux
August 25, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
One of the few places in Normandy not bombarded (no strategic value). So the cathedral is original 11th century. Many medieval buildings remain. The first two are the cathedral. The rest are aroundRead more
Cherbourg
August 26, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Port town heavily bombarded and where the German destroyed the port before surrender. There is a rotating bridge across the harbor. The first two pics are taken from there, one looking seaward, theRead more
Abbaye aux Hommes
August 27, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
In general parlance we would call this a monastery. Built by William, and started in 1066. He had married his 5th cousin, but the pope refused to bless the marriage as consanguineous. It has beenRead more