Category Archives: France

It is September. The sky is quickly turning dark; the wind picks up. I have an hour. I choose an outside table at the small cafe where I can feel the fresh air and await fellow travelers while they are … Continue reading →

Lascaux IV in Montignac, France may be a museum with a reproduction of the nearby original cave; its tricolor painted surfaces from “prehistory” now dated as 19,000 years ago….but it is just as amazing as visiting a real cave! The … Continue reading →

Mont St Michele and the bay, Omaha and Utah Beach in Normandy and Game of Thrones tapestry, competing with the Bayeux tapestries The game of thrones tapestry, in Bayeux Home of the Bayeux tapestries telling the story of William the … Continue reading →

Last night in Sarlat la Canada in the region of the Black Perigord! What a beautiful place – day or night. Many restorations over the last 500 years – each one evident today in layers of architectural features and notations. … Continue reading →

Here are a few pix from San Sebastian or Donostia with its extensive beach, classic old city right on the waterfront. We visited the aquarium here (Michael took those pix!) and had a beautiful lunch!

Installation throughout the entire structure, created by a Portuguese woman artist, this monstrous project weaves like a vine, no it’s roots, no it’s a flower, no ….well yes it is amazing textile of quilted fabric by Joana Velasquez who also … Continue reading →

After Bordeaux, we stopped at St Emilion, named for the monk Emilion who found himself in retreat here from his popularity. He lived in a two room underground cave with a stream running through it. 500 years later, an underground … Continue reading →

Back to Carcassonne and a contemporary art exhibition ending today’s expedition. Carcassonne has new stripes! what a surprise! Do you like it?

…heading out to the vineyards and caves and castles of the Dordogne and Vezere valleys.

If you don’t miss the steeple, the Cathedral St Andre in Bordeaux will fit into a pano! Headlines in the local paper this morning are asking “Will Bordeaux be the #1 Travel Destination again this year?” La Place de Quinconces … Continue reading →

Panorama of the Cathedral in Bordeaux – a central feature to orient us on walks all over this historic World Heritage City. Local papers have headline banners asking: Will it rank as #1 travel destination again this year? It doesn’t … Continue reading →

Packing up and heading out – feels like I’m in a funnel swirling around the details of what to bring, what to leave – somethings get done and somethings don’t – they will be here to deal with when I … Continue reading →

A new group explores the View of the prehistoric art at Lascaux IV! It’s a complete reproduction in a contemporary museum!

Carcassonne is a defensive castle with two ramparts and then a few tricky entrances with slits above the double doors to trap the invaders in there and pour on the boiling oil. It’s called a. Reticle defense. Let’s see-maybe I’ll … Continue reading →

12th century fortifications on Roman village – 2500 years of history here!

12th Century brick church with Gothic additions – Albi, France. The interior altar painting-freize was done by a Dutch master painter from 1500 who adopted the naturalist style. It is showing heaven and hell and all the details of disgusting … Continue reading →