Gargoyles at Notre Dame

After climbing the towers you see monsters, half-man and half-beast. These demon looking creatures carved out of stone are called gargoyles.  The word gargoyle comes from a Latin word, meaning gullet or drain. That's what the strange looking creatures are, they're drainpipes. Each grotesque figure has a passageway inside that carries rainwater from the roof and out through the gargoyle's mouth. From the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral's towers the gargoyles have a magnificent view of the city of Paris.  

Basilique du Sacré Cœur

A view of the Basilique du Sacre Coeur on the highest point in Paris taken from inside of the Musee d'Orsay in May of 2012. 
From Wikipedia.....
Sacré-Cœur is built of travertine stone quarried in Château-Landon (Seine-et-Marne), France. This stone constantly exudes calcite, which ensures that the basilica remains white even with weathering and pollution.
It was built in the 1870's from private donations. 

New Bells for Notre Dame's Birthday

 Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris will celebrate it's 850th anniversary in 2013 with many celebrations through the year....one of the biggest ceremonies will be the blessing and installation of the new bells which have just arrived in Paris.

In 2012 as part of a huge project the 4 old bells of the North tower were removed, melted down, and recast into a new set of 8 bells and are now ready to be rehung in the North tower. A 9th Bell called Marie is also being cast and will hang with Emmanuel in the South tower.  

Oradour-Sur-Glane...Remember

A moment in time preserved as a reminder to future generations of what can happen during war; 642 people, men women and children, were massacred and the village burned on June 10th, 1944. 

Chateau Royal D'Amboise

Turrets and chimney on the roof of the Chateau Royal D'Amboise in the Loire Valley of France

Sarlat-la-Caneda and foie gras

I found this delightful monument to geese in the center of the medieval town of Sarlat-la-Caneda.  Deep in the southwestern corner of France you'll find Sarlat in the Dordogne region where geese are force-fed to plump up their livers for the production of foie gras, a gormet item in many French restaurants around the world.  Except, that is, for California which has recently banned foie gras because of the force feeding.

The town has retained it's medieval charm and almost seems caught in the fourteenth century.  It's a wonderful place to spend a few days while touring the surrounding countryside.  Away from major highways, you'll find the effort to get there rewarded by some truly unique experiences.

A View of the Cathedral in Albi

The fortress like Cathedral of Albi...one of the most unusual churches I've seen....it's massive walls are over powering....

Collioure, France

 One of my favorite photos of Collioure taken at night during our stay on May 9th, 2012. Located very near the Spanish border; it has many fortifications including the Chateau Royal de Collioure and the Fort Saint-Elme stronghold.  It has been a part of France since it was taken by French troops in 1642.  

In the early 20th century Collioure became a favorite of many artists.  Pablo Picasso signed a sketch that hangs over the bar in the hotel where we stayed.  There are over two thousand paintings hanging in that one hotel.  Any artist would be, and still is today, inspired by the medieval streets, the port with a lighthouse and fishing boats. 



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Le Chateau Des Milandes

 Last Spring we visited Le Chateau Des Milandes in the Dordogne Region.  It was the home of the American singer Josephine Baker from the 1940's until shortly before her death.  It is now a Museum about her life.  She kept many animals here during her life.  They have a bird show for the tourists....our friend Terry was delighted when the owl left the trainer and landed on his arm.  He's a bird lover and this made his day!

A WEEK IN PARIS IN 2013

To all my friends and family...may your blessings be many during the coming year of 2013.    A friend asked about suggestions for a week in Paris and I put together a few suggestions....maybe you're headed to Paris in the near future and can put some of these to use for your trip...enjoy....

 FIRST...PURCHASE A RICK STEVES PARIS TRAVEL BOOK....2013....IT'S A BIBLE AND WELL WORTH THE COST....I tear out the pages for the day and put them in my purse when we're there rather than carry the book each day.  I save the pages and put them back into the book each evening....and bring it home with me for reference.     He also has a great six day in Paris tour that you can follow. 

Day 1:   purchase a museum pass for six days ...it pay for itself and eliminates the standing in line as you have special entrances or move to the front at almost everything.  Check out what it offers:  Paris Museum Pass...Rick has this in his book.

This is the day to get your bearings.....maybe a hop on/off bus to get a feel for the city.  Just walk on both sides of the Seine River and enjoy...Walk the Latin Quarter on the left bank...learn the Metro system...walk both of the L'Isle...Cite & St. Louis around Notre Dame....if the line isn't too long take time to visit inside...shortest lines are early in the morning and late in evening.  If you go in for the Mass you can bypass the lines...The Cluny Museum is in the Latin Quarter...check it out...also the Pantheon

Day 2:   We used this day to go to Versailles....it's an easy train ride and a big ticket item on your museum pass...nearly pays for the pass!!! 

             This evening is great to visit Montmartre and enjoy the views and have dinner up there....the Moulin Rouge is also in that area; the show has never interested us but fun to see the outside....

Day 3:     Arc de Triomphe,   Jacquemart-Andre Museum...not on the Pass but well worth the fee....Walk the Champs Elyees, visit the Orangerie Musee (closed Tuesday)   and also the Orsay  Musee  (closed Monday)...

Day 4:   Bell Tower at Notre Dame...go early...before it opens....stand in line...shortest early in the morning...then visit the cathedral;  visit Sainte Chapelle (it's the upstairs chapel that is so beautiful...you also have to go through security here so you can't go to the front of the line with your pass) & Conciergerie next door, ........, Musee Rodin (closed Monday)

Day 5:    This was the day we went to the Louvre....also to the Opera Garnier....and a good shopping day...see below....

Day 6:    This was our day to tour the Eiffel Tower....get your tickets very early online before you leave on your trip....

                 Eiffel-tower.com    today (12/27/12) you can get tickets up to April 1st....so it's probably about 4 months ahead that you can get them.        

              Visit Rue Cler while in this area..have a crepe & beer at Ulysee en Gaule....also the military museums:   Army Museum & Napoleon's Tomb

              The Flame at Pont de L'Ama is in this area and easy to visit if you're a fan of Princess Diana

EVENING CRUISE ON THE SEINE RIVER....dinner cruise is very romantic and fun...but expensive...they also have evening cruises that are just a boat ride with the lights on the buildings..good but the dinner cruise is special!    

                  Seine River Cruises
             
THE BEST PARKS:   Luxembourg (Latin Quarter)  .The Tullieres .. (Louvre)  Park Monceau...(Arc de Tromphe) ..Palace Royal..(Lourve)   Picnic lunches (buy drinks & food in the grocery store) are great fun for lunches in the park and if it's warm plan at least one evening to sit on the quay and eat your dinner with the rest of Paris....again...shop at the store.  FOR A BIT OF ROMANCE...TAKE A PADLOCK WITH YOU TO PUT ON THE BRIDGE AND THROUGH AWAY THE KEY...everlasting love....

FREE MUSEUMS THAT ARE GOOD:     Carnavalet (museum of the city of Paris) in Marais area...Petit Palais....Victor Hugo's House, Fragonard Perfume....there's more (see Rick's book)..also on the first Sunday many of the museums are free.

CHURCHES:    all are free:  Notre Dame, St. Suplice (Latin Quarter), Sacre-Coeur Basilica (Montmartre), St. Eustache (Les Halles...near the Stock Exchange)...so many more in every neighborhood

SHOPPPING:   Everywhere...but check out Galleries Lafayettte...just behind the Opera Garnier ... wonderful stained glass ceiling in the center and also go up to the roof for views all over Paris
                       There are wonderful little shopping malls all over Paris....very old and beautiful...called Passages and also Galeries....attached is a link to a story about them...wonderful and I just found them this year! 

                     passages & galeries in Paris

CONCERTS are fun in the churches...we did one in Saint Chapelle this spring and loved it...you buy the tickets outside during the day...if you do this one...go early as it requires going through security.

So much more....but a lot depends on what your interests are.  Best to take a different area each day and do everything in that area...but everything is small and you can walk everywhere. 

Have you considered an apartment....many people are doing that now and really like it over a hotel.

Even if you're not planning a trip soon...I hope that you've enjoyed a mind's eye visit to the City of Love......Happy New Years.....

A Link to the Christmas Boat Parade Photos

For those with IPads or Tablets...that do not play the slideshows that I normally post on my blogs...here is a LINK that will take you to my Picasa web page where you can click on slideshow and see the photos...

2012 Christmas Boat Parade Lights

Merry Christmas

2012 Christmas Lights

2012 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS .... It's been a while since I've posted...for those that check regularly...my apologies for the extended absence...I'll try to do better.  The past month has been very busy as we completed our extensive Christmas decorations for the Boat Parade Party last weekend.  The slideshow is a combination of photos that were taken by our good friend Jim Benet during the party on Saturday night.  The photos taken from the lake are by me during the Sunday night parade...somewhat fuzzy but fun to look at from the perspective of the lake.  This was the 25th Anniversary of our Boat Parade here in East Lake; to celebrate they had four searchlights in the sky and we released fifty helium filled white balloons with a small light inside of the balloon each night; we all released them together from the boats at the start of the parade.  A fabulous sight in the night sky!   The final set of photos are from two nights of viewing lights; Yale Avenue in Fullerton has the sparkleballs high in the sky along with several extra special yard displays.  A few are from a neighborhood in north Brea.  Do hope you enjoy the Christmas lights. 

 To all of my readers....Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year in 2013.

Serendipity art in Albi, France

One of my favorite photos taken in Albi; the decorative painting on the blank wall of a house we found on an evening walk through the town. 
 This ancient town dates back to the Bronze Age (3000-600 BC) and today is famous for several things including the Museum of Toulouse-Lautrec and the Sainte Cecile Cathedral; two of the most important sites.  Red brick is the main feature of most of the buildings and is known as the Languedoc-style red brick construction.

The cathedral is a masterpiece of the Southern Gothic style, built between the 13th and 15th centuries as a statement of Christian faith after the upheavals of the Cathar heresy.  It is characterised by a strong contrast between its austere, defensive exterior and its beautiful interior decorations.  

The Toulouse-Lautrec Museum has more than 1000 works and is the largest public collection in the world devote to Toulouse-Lautrec who was born in this city in 1864.  It is housed near the cathedral in the former Bishops' Palace which is older than the Palace of the Popes in Avignon.  
 

The Walled City of Carcassonne

 A view of the walls at night from the old bridge that leads into the modern town.   Carcassonne is completely encircled by an ancient wall that dates back beyond the fifth century.  A stronghold of the Cathars in the twelfth century; it was restored in 1853.   Today it is primarily a tourist attraction.  We stayed right outside the walls in an Abbey that is located across the road from the main gate on our last trip.  There are some wonderful hotels located inside of the gates; we stayed in the Best Western back in 2004 on a trip.  It's a magical experience to wander the deserted streets at night.

One of my favorite photos in Carcassonne; a window near the church inside the walled city. 

Artists in Collioure

 Our recent visit to the village of Collioure on the Mediterranean in the South of France was a breath of fresh air during our trip last spring.  A haven for artists we enjoyed our few nights in the Hoterl des Templiers overlooking the port.  This hotel has over 2000 original works of art, including a small drawing by Picasso over the bar.

Around the port you will find metal frames that "frame" a scene perfect for painting.  Here is one that frames the port and the church....I've given you several views so that you can see how well it works.

And then below is an artist actually painting the scene.  Enjoy....