Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Day 32 - Symbol of the Cathar faith - 333 to go


The Dove, carved from a single piece of stone.
Symbol of the Cathars in Minerve.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Day 31 - Minerve, perched high between two rivers - 334 to go

"There must be some kind of way out of here said the Joker to the Thief"
Dylan wrote in his song - All Along the Watchtower.
The Cathars of Minerve may have felt this way when Simon de Montfort crusaded against them in the name of the Pope and Catholicism.
Their Watchtower was partially destroyed but part of it still rises above the village.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Day 30 - Cathedrale St-Nazaire - 335 to go

"Kill them all, God will recognise his own" were the orders to the Papal troops.
Thousands of Cathars (and Catholics) were massacred at Beziers.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Day 29 - Stairway to Heaven - 336 to go

Stairway to Heaven - once inside our Saint Chinian Villa, it was heavenly.
After a day of travelling near and far, we would go up to that Juliet balcony with a glass of wine in hand and watch village life go by.
A friendly bonsoir offered by and to the locals made for a perfect day.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Day 28 - Wine on the Balcony Dear? - 337 to go

A Juliet balcony in Saint Chinian.
A place to sip a glass of wine on a mid-summer evening.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Day 27 - A Window in a Languedoc Villa - 338 to go.

A window in the Languedoc - it opened our eyes to a whole new (old) world for two Aussies on their first trip together in France 2006.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 26 - Saint Chinian in the Languedoc - South of France - 339 days to go.

Water is such a relaxing thing - standing by watching a river flow has a calming influence.
The village is Saint Chinian in the Languedoc region in the south of France.
Not as popular as Provence its cousin to the east, but just as enchanting in different ways.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 25 - The Roman Arena of Arles - 340 to go.


Bull fights and Grunge bands - even Mick Jagger performed here.
I wonder who else since 1st Century BC strutted their stuff.


Monday, January 23, 2012

Day 24 - The Colours of Provence - 341 to go.

Walking the streets of Arles, Cafes, Bars and Restaurants offer an invitation to stop and soak in the colours of Provence.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Day 23 - Theatre Antique d'Arles - 342 to go



Theatre Antique d'Arles

Most of the stone was used in the protective walls of Arles - built in the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus, it sat 8000 people.


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Day 22 - Another Street in Arles - 343 to go


The streets of Arles display their Roman heritage.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Day 21 - Walking the Laneways of Arles - 344 to go

Did Van Gogh and Gauguin walk these laneways in pursuit of Provencale pleasures.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Day 20 - The Rhone at Dusk - 345 to go

The Rhone slowly drifts by Arles in Provence at Dusk.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Day 19 - Modesty Prevails - 346 to go

Somewhere in the streets of Paris.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Day 18 - Gardens of Versailles - 347 days to go.

The gardens of Versailles gave me a few ideas for our backyard landscaping after we arrived back home in 2006 from our first trip to France
I added a pot plant to the out side decking.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Day 17 - Sculptures and Windows - 348 to go


Gazing out of the windows of Rodin's Museum,
I could see people enjoying the autumn sunshine in the gardens.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Day 16 - Place de Vosges - 349 to go

One of the entrances to Place de Vosges - the oldest planned square in Paris.
Stroll beneath the vaulted ceilings of the arcades or simply sit on the grass or park bench beneath the manicured trees on a hot summer's day and watch the Parisians enjoy Place de Vosges.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Day 15 - Notre Dame - 350 to go

My 1st ever view of Notre Dame was 6.00 am on a run,
still suffering from Jet Lag in 2006. No one was there at that early hour.
I never tire of looking at the Cathedral from the various angles.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Day 14 - Paris Survivors - 351 to go


A survivor of Hausmann's modernization of Paris

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 13 - Deux Chevaux - 352 to go

Hiding in the streets beside Rodin's Museum, I spied a Deux Chevaux.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Day 12 - The Thinker - 353 to go.

Rodin's "the Thinker"

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Day 11 - The Pantheon - 354 to go.

The Pantheon - around the corner from our very first Paris Hotel.
Resting place of Voltaire, Hugo, Zola and the Curies.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Day 10 - Bicycles in Paris - 355 to go.

I have a thing for these classic bicycles throughout Paris.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Day 9 - The Louvre - 356 to go.

On this first visit to Paris, we never did go inside the Louvre.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Day 8 - Saint Michel - 357 to go.


St Michel - Left Bank


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Day 7 - Rue Gay Lussac - 358 to go.

Looking down Rue Gay Lussac from our hotel room - our first time in Paris.
The Luxembourg Gardens only a short walk away.

Day 6 - Pelforth Beer on a Hot Afternoon of Sight-seeing. 359 to go.


A Cafe on Rue Gay Lussac and a regular afternoon stop for a Pelforth Blonde for her and a Pelforth Brune for me.


Monday, January 2, 2012

Day 5 - Hotel Room on the Left Bank - 360 to go


A Hotel Room on the Left Bank
after a long plane trip.


Day 4 - Where am I in PARIS? - 361 to go

We are both having a bad hair day!!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Day 3 - Picasso Once Lived Here - 362 to go


Picasso once lived here - Rue Gay Lussac