tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73251884741786287302024-02-07T00:34:19.871-08:00In France with FriendsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-21440484846773306422012-11-03T16:34:00.003-07:002023-11-18T15:56:47.476-08:00SALVADOR DALI<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Port Lligat and Figueres</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Persistence of Memory</i>, 1931. In Museo Teatro, Figueres</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We had the good fortune on two occasions to spend a few hours with </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Salvador Dali. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">Would that were true. What a lifetime experience that might have been. Alas, he died in 1984. We visited both his home in Port Lligat and his final resting place in Figueres, Cataloniaboth the most important museums and galleries of his works.</div></span>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our first exposure to the great Dali was on a day trip from our base in </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Collioure, France</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. We drove the old meandering coast road (N-260), crossing the border into Spain at </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cerbère/Portbou</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. After a couple of hours of negotiating cliff-hanging hairpins with alternating views of the azure Mediterranean and rocky hillsides, sometimes barren and sometimes covered in seemingly impossible-to-harvest vineyards, we entered the </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Parc Natural del Cap de Creus</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">. There was very little traffic this time of year (late October) and the weather was grand.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meandering our way down the mountain pass to the harbour town of Cadaqués, we pulled over for our bearings then turned into the next bay which is Port Lligat, home of Salvador and Gala Dali for just over 50 years. Their house began as a tiny fisherman’s cabina overlooking the bay, and over the years Dali transformed it into a labyrinth of interconnected buildings, gardens and other open areas.</span><div style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: right;">
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We ate our picnic lunch in front of the house while waiting for our tour to begin. Even in late October reservations are required at <i>Casa Museo Salvador Dali</i>.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">fishing boats on the beach by the Dali house</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Kis7tH30L_eNDtkbRQ-NthcpuQAXztR-Ek4HtfTBfabRuyJeUfzYEHKT7y1J_GmWj-QMrtHiM5BXcS2KjTc779UlzMtoP6rykEHVeRXUCsiRR6efPpNYZqQzyyFUm1Yq7sldZebzTg/s1600/Salvador+Dali+06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Kis7tH30L_eNDtkbRQ-NthcpuQAXztR-Ek4HtfTBfabRuyJeUfzYEHKT7y1J_GmWj-QMrtHiM5BXcS2KjTc779UlzMtoP6rykEHVeRXUCsiRR6efPpNYZqQzyyFUm1Yq7sldZebzTg/s640/Salvador+Dali+06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Dali exhibited his first sketches when he was 14 years old. He studied art in Madrid but got expelled before graduating. The artist was a rebel until he died at the age of 84.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Salvador and Gala Dali's bedroom</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The egg, a frequent image in Dali's paintings,</span><br />
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<br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Two of many inverted pots (?) on a whitewashed stucco wall.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wandering through the rooms and around the courtyards and gardens at the Dali home in Port Lligat is like a magical mystery tour. These are but a few images that were seen through the lens of my camera. Does the pool have the shape of a penis? Male and female body parts are prevalent in the works of Dali.</span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Salvador Dali was one of the most unique artists of the 20th Century. He was a painter, a sculptor and an architect; a jewelry designer, photographer and filmmaker. He was a self-promoter and one of the earliest performance artists. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">To say that his life work and his ever-changing views of the world were unconventional would be an understatement.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">late afternoon light on the olive grove above Cadaqués</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our brief glimpse of Salvador Dali's art and his life was only a brief introduction to the works of a creative genius. On reading biographical sketches of Dali and viewing his art, other words also come to mind: mysterious, visionary, enigmatic, perfectionist, versatile and prolific, obsessed, empathetic yet self-possessed, hedonistic and loving, scientific and philosophical ...</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Rita and Goose</i>. Museo Teatro, Figueres</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dali Museum (Museo Teatro), Figueres, Catalonia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The visit to Port Lligat only whetted our appetite for the works of Salvador Dali. We had to see more. We left France for Barcelona, lingering along the way for a week in L’Escala on the Costa Brava. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">On a rainy day, we took a short drive east from </span><span style="font-size: large;">L’Escala</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> to Figueres.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Dali was born in Figueres in 1904, only a few blocks from </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Museo </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Teatro</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"> where his greatest collection of works is housed.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Girl of Figueres</i> (circa 1926)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Dali was most certainly an eccentric. But above all else, he was the ultimate surrealist, a man who challenged his audience to question conventional wisdom and the status quo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">While Dali’s influence in the world of art was and continues to be profound, his fantasies still leave us with unanswered questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Look closely at the two sketches below. </span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">What do you see?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some interpreters of Dali's work have commented on the artist's relationship with Freud and his sometimes dream strategies to inspire his drawings.</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mae West exhibit in Teatro Museo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Below, is a short video clip of one of Salvador Dali's most amazing creations: </span><i><span>The Royal Heart</span></i><span>. This miraculous piece of three-dimensional art is a gold broach with 37 precious gems including rubies that pulse in and out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Look closely at the cutaway of the beating heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography and local information visit my photography website. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's Photography Website</a></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-20275877629636233622012-11-02T03:55:00.002-07:002023-11-18T13:27:51.882-08:00COLLIOURE<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">COLLIOURE - a Bijoux</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LRc_3Hi_lDLaTJO1W-Ac3k-FJO2XPEHrDGp_1LwIXLXoUPIF5OP_pE-PrmCM4LooT_3fzH-WX9FSr5MP7yxklhyphenhyphenkXqB9T81NDuhyD0cdEBbJJFomYu9MNl7DrL23m616Bf28yVbZgq8/s1600/Collioure+Storm+Shore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LRc_3Hi_lDLaTJO1W-Ac3k-FJO2XPEHrDGp_1LwIXLXoUPIF5OP_pE-PrmCM4LooT_3fzH-WX9FSr5MP7yxklhyphenhyphenkXqB9T81NDuhyD0cdEBbJJFomYu9MNl7DrL23m616Bf28yVbZgq8/s640/Collioure+Storm+Shore.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span><span style="font-size: large;">ollioure is a </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">bijou</i><span style="font-size: large;">—a gem of a city. It is an ancient port on the French Mediterranean, only 29 kilometres from the Spanish border. We shared a home exchange apartment here with our friends, Colin and Colleen for 16 days.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>l'Eglise Notre-Dame des Anges et Cloche</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">This iconic image is probably the most recognizable in Collioure. The cathedral/lighthouse was </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">built in the 1600s on Roman ruins.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Collioure is the anchovy capital of France. In fact, it has that official designation, like the AOC of anchovies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Collioure is also an artist's community and anyone who visits will see why. Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and many other famous painters were drawn here for the light.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The mild maritime weather and the small pristine beaches; the unique local cuisine found in so many restaurants create an </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">ambience</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> that sets Collioure apart. The geography is stunning and for those of us who are interested in </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">history, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">at every turn, our curiosity is peaked. We could settle here for some time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">But this blog chapter is more about images than about text. Following are some of my favourite </span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">photos taken during our several months in France. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>2. Green Door No. 22 at Le Moré</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>1. Storm Walk Golfe de Lion</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>3. Empty Tables in the Rain at Le Moré</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. Woman in Collioure</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Colours</span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>5. Rue Sans Issue</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>6. Chateau Royal Crenellation View of Harbour Light</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7yG-XI7aOaqC0zT7bxzb-7ii2V-51io53Baw0OKghlrBUW8kmc8gOAV2eS90ODEAxJW7WzbHR5L9vlQDWSXniCsYDKCWGXgcsimTdjRmK-Qbcc1SvFgiQVMZucfo38slG5lkRxrnXzM/s1600/07+Seadream+Yacht+Club+thru+Chateau+Royal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7yG-XI7aOaqC0zT7bxzb-7ii2V-51io53Baw0OKghlrBUW8kmc8gOAV2eS90ODEAxJW7WzbHR5L9vlQDWSXniCsYDKCWGXgcsimTdjRmK-Qbcc1SvFgiQVMZucfo38slG5lkRxrnXzM/s640/07+Seadream+Yacht+Club+thru+Chateau+Royal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>7. Chateau Royal Crenellation View of Seadream</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPf-X8Sl8vzFMdlIxFPIJ2n0d6DpoeZBbNk0gUGpjv95eG4RG7EGNkgmyb5vr48iL9vp7xiVNOzgSiskg7Ciw8q68I4QxCPAkFbkra_0vLLH9RBL32NadjDql0JuJhj40f9LaOWih3Kg/s1600/08+pink+house+above+Pl+Juares.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPf-X8Sl8vzFMdlIxFPIJ2n0d6DpoeZBbNk0gUGpjv95eG4RG7EGNkgmyb5vr48iL9vp7xiVNOzgSiskg7Ciw8q68I4QxCPAkFbkra_0vLLH9RBL32NadjDql0JuJhj40f9LaOWih3Kg/s640/08+pink+house+above+Pl+Juares.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>8. Pale Pink House Above Place Juarès</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc4wSJGXbf-jateyiFyv7PyJOy_hxcN-PkAuAcyy7ikcxVtI8c7lO-T437Z9ygw_Fpvk2rkK0umTbbeNQ8VIi6qkuJDS0z51qhM0hJVYFBoNsjKsnII6Q_Q2sgKvoXh3urHUJNU6LpRU/s1600/011+aqua+grn+shutters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc4wSJGXbf-jateyiFyv7PyJOy_hxcN-PkAuAcyy7ikcxVtI8c7lO-T437Z9ygw_Fpvk2rkK0umTbbeNQ8VIi6qkuJDS0z51qhM0hJVYFBoNsjKsnII6Q_Q2sgKvoXh3urHUJNU6LpRU/s640/011+aqua+grn+shutters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>9. Aquamarine Shutters on Coral Wall</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3jo1vuPVO4UDKbNoMSr2p7wvGbM0cxP8vOhOz8qtPt20vxDJuYKDvLrXhTWHHqAgvuneAUq9RuQWCHDSwKmIE1DU-owZH52jongreTprqBoRs8_3ZAwM6qNsbP3PDkQOUcF7Rlu-NuY/s1600/09+pink+house+Le+More.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3jo1vuPVO4UDKbNoMSr2p7wvGbM0cxP8vOhOz8qtPt20vxDJuYKDvLrXhTWHHqAgvuneAUq9RuQWCHDSwKmIE1DU-owZH52jongreTprqBoRs8_3ZAwM6qNsbP3PDkQOUcF7Rlu-NuY/s640/09+pink+house+Le+More.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>10. Cameo Pink House with Azure Trim</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NN4VJAXPbfQsUD3MbXmLN1DJrDADvgzgVnRsPLkNQjDTEW2VPdGBqy8ztPPQk2VES-7-LIi3mp58veXg-7p_eARoPflV9Lg4VFuXYGE8rVJvPEgS_nbJKF1v1YZVIM5SkqqlJRlsoyo/s1600/010+sea+foam+grn+shutters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NN4VJAXPbfQsUD3MbXmLN1DJrDADvgzgVnRsPLkNQjDTEW2VPdGBqy8ztPPQk2VES-7-LIi3mp58veXg-7p_eARoPflV9Lg4VFuXYGE8rVJvPEgS_nbJKF1v1YZVIM5SkqqlJRlsoyo/s640/010+sea+foam+grn+shutters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>11. Seafoam Shutters on Dijon Wall</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR2UFWwrw6QdT5bb7mJDO_jtN75AV0mxQhyphenhyphen-tuD17vaWQylrcPGZ1SqT0xsAv7_davrxTBB7IUJI-fWr7wlXipDrR-4VXUyDCSV8nduvGEuWYaM3pCoJZ_bXN0TzZyRE_Oon5v5aYPxw/s1600/012+bouganvillea+house+Le+More.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR2UFWwrw6QdT5bb7mJDO_jtN75AV0mxQhyphenhyphen-tuD17vaWQylrcPGZ1SqT0xsAv7_davrxTBB7IUJI-fWr7wlXipDrR-4VXUyDCSV8nduvGEuWYaM3pCoJZ_bXN0TzZyRE_Oon5v5aYPxw/s640/012+bouganvillea+house+Le+More.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>12. Bougainvillea House</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWASD5iIVYsVkL-ALYUY9TI-KSI80qTmO6zrpKs3TwqtxFD8-iGT2y9WgEgSgH_cqwah5BIDHOyoC9qP9zHrA42ePJbAgRu0p78gZbw3PY9gnZAzm4J6KdDqUc51dCpbm4-hfWw0_L_E/s1600/014+Le+Pressoir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWASD5iIVYsVkL-ALYUY9TI-KSI80qTmO6zrpKs3TwqtxFD8-iGT2y9WgEgSgH_cqwah5BIDHOyoC9qP9zHrA42ePJbAgRu0p78gZbw3PY9gnZAzm4J6KdDqUc51dCpbm4-hfWw0_L_E/s640/014+Le+Pressoir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>13. Le Pressoir on Rust</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>14. Three Wrought Iron Railings </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmBtgdijzOOlrYJJCAt8RCoBuW77cfJ1b8xK4l6y25EVTdc9RL6IIMJ2pkbaTcQeWYG5jray6G0mDfl8pDXhbKUTKnln4P1wn3QIEBUoGeGtAmMCysaJXjo5lg6rl8cwiZ1hPx1ibSr4/s1600/017+Bob+the+Boat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmBtgdijzOOlrYJJCAt8RCoBuW77cfJ1b8xK4l6y25EVTdc9RL6IIMJ2pkbaTcQeWYG5jray6G0mDfl8pDXhbKUTKnln4P1wn3QIEBUoGeGtAmMCysaJXjo5lg6rl8cwiZ1hPx1ibSr4/s640/017+Bob+the+Boat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>15. Bob in Port Vendres Bay</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFr7e_IU_pOkFkKfLNN3CtmwaEY2ScV3JFjzQu_FkcEX9vfOBV95-u7vvWIg1Hkr8ScSyN_XnuAkaTWxMS2o9vCPnNxClsHmtwLO5-RNKq-Rd0aJkwYKVM9AbHDK5Zb_yyodE-2mT6Jc/s1600/018+Chateau+Royal+font+lit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFr7e_IU_pOkFkKfLNN3CtmwaEY2ScV3JFjzQu_FkcEX9vfOBV95-u7vvWIg1Hkr8ScSyN_XnuAkaTWxMS2o9vCPnNxClsHmtwLO5-RNKq-Rd0aJkwYKVM9AbHDK5Zb_yyodE-2mT6Jc/s640/018+Chateau+Royal+font+lit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>16. Chateau Royal Front Lit</i></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHnFbTG3Itj9bCOgLAQPgd2iO0R47M0Gkd8hO3ypKrvHYX6rlJHmaD-6sQw54zX3sTr6w0XfKVxGnzcIG6Mm8Ca40USzpXJzs6EvOw2jrKNJstLBM-i39vuFUzlynkqK3x4UC6Kw_aoQ/s1600/013+Jo+in+colours+in+Collioure+02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHnFbTG3Itj9bCOgLAQPgd2iO0R47M0Gkd8hO3ypKrvHYX6rlJHmaD-6sQw54zX3sTr6w0XfKVxGnzcIG6Mm8Ca40USzpXJzs6EvOw2jrKNJstLBM-i39vuFUzlynkqK3x4UC6Kw_aoQ/s640/013+Jo+in+colours+in+Collioure+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">17. Woman in Collioure</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Pastels</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXENmkwCcWi67UAKbSBMj0BLs3vA3GQoeax33sEfnqQ33tprMmK2UNz784hoY5rNBrio9MhlA_LKXjGSzIooWU7sCDaBcf42aOndS5xXnTe4zOr79StYuV-DnXgdixRXFAhcorxMIatUI/s1600/019+three+women+of+colour.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXENmkwCcWi67UAKbSBMj0BLs3vA3GQoeax33sEfnqQ33tprMmK2UNz784hoY5rNBrio9MhlA_LKXjGSzIooWU7sCDaBcf42aOndS5xXnTe4zOr79StYuV-DnXgdixRXFAhcorxMIatUI/s640/019+three+women+of+colour.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>18. Three Women of Colour</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVz-tzCC67Zj0hnlUc9PO5ZiPAtqpW2vx-FONfR3AcO3qmmtJMt10YO_W7EVPengBDmjKAsQoQbQofvASZ2F8q2_k5sk5ABKglBa6hARQY-9R6zglvGkoy-csj5injIlymoBEkm4T7Bo/s1600/020+some+think+I+am+Welsh.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVz-tzCC67Zj0hnlUc9PO5ZiPAtqpW2vx-FONfR3AcO3qmmtJMt10YO_W7EVPengBDmjKAsQoQbQofvASZ2F8q2_k5sk5ABKglBa6hARQY-9R6zglvGkoy-csj5injIlymoBEkm4T7Bo/s400/020+some+think+I+am+Welsh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> et, l'artiste sur Bastion No. 8 Chateau Royal</i></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-44436287361833163592012-10-28T08:13:00.001-07:002023-11-18T13:25:47.817-08:00FONTAINE de VAUCLUSE<br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">LA FOUNTAINE DE VAUCLUSE</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">and l'ISLE SUR LA SORGUE</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">P</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">etrarch, Dante, (mononymously), Jacques Cousteau, speleologists, the Romans ...</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">QUESTION:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What do they all have in common?</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">ANSWER:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each had a part to play in the history of the famous</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Fontaine de Vaucluse.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7mfuYTMFlorGD3PQHLl2WX19_JmzxxuObOz_JtvD1nYxXxuNe1WscBVHaUSH0QU48orhbLZCSowinbg8iyi3qlziRhE35UTOxetJmirthfK_Pzb-A1RDVbVDsprf7-Vm2VhmWOBuFFI/s1600/f+de+v+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7mfuYTMFlorGD3PQHLl2WX19_JmzxxuObOz_JtvD1nYxXxuNe1WscBVHaUSH0QU48orhbLZCSowinbg8iyi3qlziRhE35UTOxetJmirthfK_Pzb-A1RDVbVDsprf7-Vm2VhmWOBuFFI/s640/f+de+v+01.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fontaine de Vaucluse means Springs of Vaucluse. This wonderful place is located in the northwest part of Provence where you will find Vaison-la-Romaine, Mont Ventoux, Carpentras, and a great many other places of interest. Fontaine de Vaucluse is the source of the River Sorgue.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days before our arrival here, we visited the wine cellars of Robert Laurent, <i>Domaine Combe Julienne</i> in Rasteau (about a 10-minute drive from Vaison). M. Laurent asked me where we had been in France and was there more that we wanted to see before leaving Provence?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"We are planning a day trip to Orange," I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Have you seen Fontaine de Vaucluse?" he asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I told him we had not and he said that he would choose Fontaine de Vaucluse over Orange any time. And if we were to go there we would not be disappointed. We were not. We would see Orange another time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fontaine de Vaucluse is the deepest subterranean spring in France and the fifth largest in the world. Precipitation falling on the vast surface area of Mont Ventoux and the surrounding mountains seeps into the rock and limestone. Water drains through the fractures causing multiple submarine channels, underground rivers and lakes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spelunkers (cave explorers), divers (Jacques Cousteau and his Calypso Group), geologists and hydrologists have unravelled many of the mysteries surrounding the famous spring.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP47S3GeIGa_fFXcX18cjtaovxkcMO5bCrOoX-PGFzSvNffFrazukFSCs_G-WUphyWApnURuRvkvchzO4kunjADRWpU_n7DQL4PAXtuh-slxEp3L5pdnwbuuwn-15lNQaQiOYl_aBW1L4/s1600/cliff+caves.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP47S3GeIGa_fFXcX18cjtaovxkcMO5bCrOoX-PGFzSvNffFrazukFSCs_G-WUphyWApnURuRvkvchzO4kunjADRWpU_n7DQL4PAXtuh-slxEp3L5pdnwbuuwn-15lNQaQiOYl_aBW1L4/s640/cliff+caves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Waters rise up 308 metres to the surface from a vertical abyss below, and a rock face rises another 200 metres from where the water surfaces.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I took the photo (below) at low water in October when the spring percolates up through the stream bed about 100 meters from the source.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Downstream, after passing over several cataracts and weirs the current abates and pools, then flows on to form the Sorgue </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">River.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfdE89ni2yRNyFP1l3RTtqfhKVa2v4pgA99pXvaCH-exdUfBFlzC8SmrN5CTCNj-NDW7VpL9pAxZijMk3mZJir8QU9ACCDNwaedXjGMlVzNv0M2YEUAAFF5Eo2PVdukzR2FcbdUT-g_I/s1600/lower+stream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfdE89ni2yRNyFP1l3RTtqfhKVa2v4pgA99pXvaCH-exdUfBFlzC8SmrN5CTCNj-NDW7VpL9pAxZijMk3mZJir8QU9ACCDNwaedXjGMlVzNv0M2YEUAAFF5Eo2PVdukzR2FcbdUT-g_I/s640/lower+stream.jpg" width="640" /></a><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The water is a cool crystal clear emerald green coloured by the aquatic flora—<i>Sium Officinalis</i> (I looked it up). And rich carpets of moss are the rare <i>Hedwigia Aquaticus</i>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRT8Q6rGaCEKRaFuoanKwziI6GRZXaljICju8oRGkPfIIm9asbVescFi-d5zzQs74Rh6sShuoKYfYiHxtkMYYioj8_wuep3qj8Q1rJV4x_t7pylnJkarBGIVIxVPxLssIPL6VlUoeupg/s1600/sium+officinalis.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRT8Q6rGaCEKRaFuoanKwziI6GRZXaljICju8oRGkPfIIm9asbVescFi-d5zzQs74Rh6sShuoKYfYiHxtkMYYioj8_wuep3qj8Q1rJV4x_t7pylnJkarBGIVIxVPxLssIPL6VlUoeupg/s640/sium+officinalis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman ruins can be seen along the waterway. The ruins of the castle overlooking the river was once a Roman fortress. The Roman name for the settlement here was Vallis Clausa or dead-end valley. Now known as the Vaucluse.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Petrarch and Dante?</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">One can hardly take in Fontaine de Vauclu</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">s</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">e without also following the river down to the beautiful canal city of L’Isle-de-la-Sorgue. The city has only about 17,000 full-time residents. It lies 25 kilometres east of Avignon, and is a couple of hours' drive south of Vaison-la-Romaine where we were staying.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1F_CkCNHF-KgYtSa_hd_hyphenhyphenoXbtbM_X_cd_DVij9v7MFCxKa_9mWOBF027kc5j0ZrqMo0MZy4HU9DxzDn7QgJQIb9cq_biNcpJfFWwKJXmBLerDLd1iPeACuVKe-amYRMp9GCEBWw5xg/s1600/l'Isle+sur+la+Sorge+01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1F_CkCNHF-KgYtSa_hd_hyphenhyphenoXbtbM_X_cd_DVij9v7MFCxKa_9mWOBF027kc5j0ZrqMo0MZy4HU9DxzDn7QgJQIb9cq_biNcpJfFWwKJXmBLerDLd1iPeACuVKe-amYRMp9GCEBWw5xg/s1600/l'Isle+sur+la+Sorge+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This ancient island city has pre-Roman roots with a continuous and varied history of settlement and industry, politics and religion. The Romans drained the swampland here, dammed the Sorgue—the dam is still in operation at the northern edge of town—and built canals with more than 100 weirs to slow the flow of the currents.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Today</span><span style="font-family: "times"; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">L’Isle-de-la-Sorgue thrives on tourism. It is a Provençal Market town and is one of the largest centers in southern France for antiques.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are close to 300 </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">antique </span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">dealers and sellers</span><span style="font-size: large;"> of second-hand</span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> everything. But what really makes the city unique is that it owes its existence to the Fontaine de Vaucluse, the source of the remarkably clear flowing water that runs everywhere through town, alongside and under the ancient, narrow streets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">We spent a few hours in this “park and walk” city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">During an hour or so of rambling around with my camera, I counted seven moss-covered water wheels slowing spinning in the strong currents of the canals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">There were over seventy of these water wheels supplying power for the town’s cottage industries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> restaurateurs are rather creative with their placement of tables.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">… hmmm, cool on a hot day, fish nibbling at your toes and ducks begging for crumbs ...?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT0WBZRPdeoHygqA7AQOkqIKlfXWwjMHuMTxF8J9fyMHYzOV0oAtEAcoRvub7xtrOSiyMOgvnDMIEWOzJE2ZmS-jha7Edf-SD9xb5-eMEOF75xsCGrPJlS6Uyz-I4V8b72c0bnDbDxCA/s1600/l%2527Isle+sur+la+Sorge+010.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT0WBZRPdeoHygqA7AQOkqIKlfXWwjMHuMTxF8J9fyMHYzOV0oAtEAcoRvub7xtrOSiyMOgvnDMIEWOzJE2ZmS-jha7Edf-SD9xb5-eMEOF75xsCGrPJlS6Uyz-I4V8b72c0bnDbDxCA/s1600/l%2527Isle+sur+la+Sorge+010.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It was no surprise stumbling upon an old <i>Deux Cheveaux</i>. It was parked in front of the restaurant at <i>Le Jardin de Petrarque</i>. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioj1V9RtNWSZjlcEyM0V8OtHxA-qNBdiW81Jt6teHzAa-amHwfSp3y3o6Dx_t9zjWiWuXJtCy91jpBm2L_Jjep7iPEvQBy_AA-UqkD2pQEQxzqecXKvJHfyTpZFKHBQ-u39FDqrgjMi0/s1600/l%2527Isle+sur+la+Sorge+012.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioj1V9RtNWSZjlcEyM0V8OtHxA-qNBdiW81Jt6teHzAa-amHwfSp3y3o6Dx_t9zjWiWuXJtCy91jpBm2L_Jjep7iPEvQBy_AA-UqkD2pQEQxzqecXKvJHfyTpZFKHBQ-u39FDqrgjMi0/s1600/l%2527Isle+sur+la+Sorge+012.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The iconic Citroën 2CV can still be seen almost everywhere in France. Many are restored like the one in my photograph. Some are in excellent condition and they can be seen in all combinations of colours. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">Deux Cheveaux </i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">is one of France's most sought-after classic cars, much in demand for its nostalgic value. The Citroën 2CV had a production run from 1948 to 1990. This is a unique vehicle and I urge the reader to learn more about what made it so special. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">… 1953 </span><i style="line-height: 24px;">Autocar</i><span style="line-height: 24px;"> in a technical review of the car wrote of "the </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">extraordinary</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> ingenuity of this design, which is undoubtedly the most </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">original</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">since</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span>Model T Ford<span style="line-height: 24px;">".</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> It was described by </span><i style="line-height: 24px;">Car Magazine</i><span style="line-height: 24px;"> journalist and author </span>L. J. K. Setright<span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">as</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> "</span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">most</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">intelligent</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">application</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1" style="line-height: 24px;">of</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> minimalism ever to succeed as a car."</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">- </span></span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Wikipedia</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the day, we drove back up north through Carpentras to Vaison-la-Romaine.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlt21Czv1Zbt499cfhDMacHWpOkdvX-Xq18IeI1s6t0KbNHzH5eXs_NzgVQTdMs9fEX8HO0XpcfpmwyAp_MAl8cdPC3lnj6JcUo-Y3tvblUbBQ6kkJYLSl_L8gAjLaHf1tjrfmLYWauk/s1600/Carpentras+symbol.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlt21Czv1Zbt499cfhDMacHWpOkdvX-Xq18IeI1s6t0KbNHzH5eXs_NzgVQTdMs9fEX8HO0XpcfpmwyAp_MAl8cdPC3lnj6JcUo-Y3tvblUbBQ6kkJYLSl_L8gAjLaHf1tjrfmLYWauk/s1600/Carpentras+symbol.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktsmItAtrkqO-RXPjdEPbDyOhbgcVF-U_IPr_JTVziKzsucYaadx0GkW_0KQD38o7uLgMp75860B9-OCX88J1kimKVJTDaTvnTK2_nJTcV_5cB168PYE6hzprUWZJrLSHBo1sab-50Z8/s1600/Carpentras+Water+God.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktsmItAtrkqO-RXPjdEPbDyOhbgcVF-U_IPr_JTVziKzsucYaadx0GkW_0KQD38o7uLgMp75860B9-OCX88J1kimKVJTDaTvnTK2_nJTcV_5cB168PYE6hzprUWZJrLSHBo1sab-50Z8/s1600/Carpentras+Water+God.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the journey home, I reflected on the waterways of the region, feeling that I had a much clearer picture of the interplay of geography and human habitation in this area of France. The Mediterranean Sea to the south seeds the clouds that yield precipitation over the vast mountain range of the Vaucluse. Freshets, springs and streams flow down and expand into rivers, all of which are life-sustaining. The cycle continues, through periods of drought and flooding and human intervention. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back in Vaison, we crossed over the old Roman bridge that spans the Ouvèze River. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The Sorgue had joined the Ouvèze southwest of Carpentras.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the days ahead we will drive west following the flow of the Ouvèze to Avignon where it joins the Rhone River.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-4007443129991062442012-10-27T09:02:00.001-07:002023-11-18T13:20:40.137-08:00GORGES des NESQUE<div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">and SAULT</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span><span style="font-size: large;">ont Ventoux was the subject of the last chapter. This one is very connected because on another day we skirted the southern flank of the mountain and then drove up to the peak from the city of Sault. First, we drove south to </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Carpentras </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">from Vaison-la-Romaine then east along the D942 through the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Gorges des Nesque.</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The photos below show some highlights of that stunning serpentine route.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3yf4c6bHBVp0b_pCpTTdQ3WqvQWvBeghkWR0SdXkuWI75eTIQ2s7oMmp37E_zdg69K7vKOW9S4nNNPmiluR9oyfrkn1b0dl2f40MM70fFl2BRnFvdE_w53N9J5Y7sZh4VL0tr_8Wr8/s1600/amap_sault_02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3yf4c6bHBVp0b_pCpTTdQ3WqvQWvBeghkWR0SdXkuWI75eTIQ2s7oMmp37E_zdg69K7vKOW9S4nNNPmiluR9oyfrkn1b0dl2f40MM70fFl2BRnFvdE_w53N9J5Y7sZh4VL0tr_8Wr8/s640/amap_sault_02.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The cliff-side road snakes up to 300 metres above the small Nesque River. The canyon road is popular with cyclists who do not want the steep grades of Mont Ventoux. The more motorcycles that whizzed by us, the more my partner and I pined for our own. There are so many twisties and hairpins on these 20 kilometres of road, that we felt that sport bikes would be better suited than our big cruisers. They remain stored in our garage back home in Canada.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kLyTucK6eavUYoVZI7jxsOpjoE-79XGAXmYXS2kVrR94wZ2ydxPapAIJkpBCFGEpCqNlzbBuMFFKIt5HC37Vqy0oMa9XxM5kC5XutHoX7m2Ba46EaK099nltNPqdLQzhMskl7krxWBQ/s1600/gorges+de+nesque+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kLyTucK6eavUYoVZI7jxsOpjoE-79XGAXmYXS2kVrR94wZ2ydxPapAIJkpBCFGEpCqNlzbBuMFFKIt5HC37Vqy0oMa9XxM5kC5XutHoX7m2Ba46EaK099nltNPqdLQzhMskl7krxWBQ/s640/gorges+de+nesque+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_Vx-H0Cw3Wm5MEzgGweeBHjPDo61BAxIHKx-XEyIF109KnT-rsl9IX_YYnciHC3wlWmJ23BNiOwo8G9bV3IDUsWM35s-0v2y3-i4K1_UXTLaIZHuZlNW58Axs8nWs6K1gqFV1G_W9-g/s1600/gorges+de+nesque+06.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_Vx-H0Cw3Wm5MEzgGweeBHjPDo61BAxIHKx-XEyIF109KnT-rsl9IX_YYnciHC3wlWmJ23BNiOwo8G9bV3IDUsWM35s-0v2y3-i4K1_UXTLaIZHuZlNW58Axs8nWs6K1gqFV1G_W9-g/s1600/gorges+de+nesque+06.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_Vx-H0Cw3Wm5MEzgGweeBHjPDo61BAxIHKx-XEyIF109KnT-rsl9IX_YYnciHC3wlWmJ23BNiOwo8G9bV3IDUsWM35s-0v2y3-i4K1_UXTLaIZHuZlNW58Axs8nWs6K1gqFV1G_W9-g/s1600/gorges+de+nesque+06.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_Vx-H0Cw3Wm5MEzgGweeBHjPDo61BAxIHKx-XEyIF109KnT-rsl9IX_YYnciHC3wlWmJ23BNiOwo8G9bV3IDUsWM35s-0v2y3-i4K1_UXTLaIZHuZlNW58Axs8nWs6K1gqFV1G_W9-g/s640/gorges+de+nesque+06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The cliffs across the road from us are honeycombed with caves. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">To get a closer look, I zoomed in with the camera.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHwOoVl0sGyu0oulmLtPsxPXlo7w5IkP2BSx48jlSB9D4x4GleBtP3SBWkBpY8qLXCWAmu6gcPa5ZLF7D03h2yaYdwSbl1_K9mccegrHdroqMPY_ogBDd3XsAQAm9NEvGT7wtOYwZhs8/s1600/gorges+de+nesque+07.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Much to my surprise when viewing the pictures later that evening, I found that one of the caves was a shelter for goats. I could not see them in the camera </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">viewfinder even though I'd used the full telephoto.</span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The goats also explained the many small zigzag trails we had seen up the sides of the steep hillsides.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We lunched in Sault. The photos below were taken from our table at the restaurant. The food was not great. Sometimes you get what you pay for. We chose a very inexpensive plate. But the view made up for it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOUkYQi77QwISoyhegH-KsgxRV0iU_tAiyyP33jNCORyodtULtL4vRCZmDKaeaW0vVrj-kv_KCdyKBtyAEZOiL0xejX1HWEfeAKB2zYa9HJeEHCWYALZ4XtahMLscAK9cPZXBKlluHhQ/s1600/Sault+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOUkYQi77QwISoyhegH-KsgxRV0iU_tAiyyP33jNCORyodtULtL4vRCZmDKaeaW0vVrj-kv_KCdyKBtyAEZOiL0xejX1HWEfeAKB2zYa9HJeEHCWYALZ4XtahMLscAK9cPZXBKlluHhQ/s640/Sault+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXm5JkMTSR-l4tViFx6QGDyJQFP7LClPHfcAq81yc6ouVPn2zz25H59481SvUq3New5GmvqP_GFEJFJ3Pf_jyUKyD38tbJh7j6mYnJdZau4UzHf3nvYemDabYdJN6YPCW5Au-nHFNnbU/s1600/Sault+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXm5JkMTSR-l4tViFx6QGDyJQFP7LClPHfcAq81yc6ouVPn2zz25H59481SvUq3New5GmvqP_GFEJFJ3Pf_jyUKyD38tbJh7j6mYnJdZau4UzHf3nvYemDabYdJN6YPCW5Au-nHFNnbU/s640/Sault+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">What a site this would be had we passed through here in late July. These are </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">lavender fields. Around every bend in the road on this high plateau are more fields of lavender. But all we see in the fall are row upon row of pruned bushes.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG-aJUdmutIKz2k7U7Iatq5nRFq6ohinuF4QAH1BqaD1X3SzNf7LqFVNXpc9Kvdz2oIHOR_tKUKBQWffu6Y7vFwZhfAJiQ7Q-HOZ-exCjm_Fep60HLrEaNN34fod8sxcaT8NwWQqTsLU/s1600/Sault+03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG-aJUdmutIKz2k7U7Iatq5nRFq6ohinuF4QAH1BqaD1X3SzNf7LqFVNXpc9Kvdz2oIHOR_tKUKBQWffu6Y7vFwZhfAJiQ7Q-HOZ-exCjm_Fep60HLrEaNN34fod8sxcaT8NwWQqTsLU/s640/Sault+03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTJnB15cmtBgs5k0JkumezGBsZi6Yak74D_4LvzBomA2mTe5LP1v0hmqev83UEm_Mw3B6xPjRDc8WCGh__g8E5jIi6hhDePPTWmWeKTR6aFggEWQtuNBU-rYYW7QKQSrIeTTIdZsbBG4/s1600/Sault+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTJnB15cmtBgs5k0JkumezGBsZi6Yak74D_4LvzBomA2mTe5LP1v0hmqev83UEm_Mw3B6xPjRDc8WCGh__g8E5jIi6hhDePPTWmWeKTR6aFggEWQtuNBU-rYYW7QKQSrIeTTIdZsbBG4/s1600/Sault+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuDBuxPUj4mJRNRmsgmMmoeUa29mAbkDeUpe_qpCQt5Xz8og3-LyUgoMMCfAEm7IILzmzeizMf5HvWXt5WZtjIaElHeWQ1ftTV-Hy9hgEheH8zPpBtqH3sypM4Arz3HOD-Zd5kXH94WQ/s1600/Sault+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuDBuxPUj4mJRNRmsgmMmoeUa29mAbkDeUpe_qpCQt5Xz8og3-LyUgoMMCfAEm7IILzmzeizMf5HvWXt5WZtjIaElHeWQ1ftTV-Hy9hgEheH8zPpBtqH3sypM4Arz3HOD-Zd5kXH94WQ/s400/Sault+04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>bouquet de lavendre 2.50 €</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt9yiQsU4udCNJIwGIYpRFmUJgR0JsOM25JQpwcwXxC8OQ2_9hEz2TtWFvyeaU5i4YaOiuKvtPwmCYA0LY7S16BovEGvK_D3Q0wkANyJzCZ2rqp9HGX366ibS0cTVXFDODCPEP02tiMM/s1600/Sault+06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt9yiQsU4udCNJIwGIYpRFmUJgR0JsOM25JQpwcwXxC8OQ2_9hEz2TtWFvyeaU5i4YaOiuKvtPwmCYA0LY7S16BovEGvK_D3Q0wkANyJzCZ2rqp9HGX366ibS0cTVXFDODCPEP02tiMM/s1600/Sault+06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt9yiQsU4udCNJIwGIYpRFmUJgR0JsOM25JQpwcwXxC8OQ2_9hEz2TtWFvyeaU5i4YaOiuKvtPwmCYA0LY7S16BovEGvK_D3Q0wkANyJzCZ2rqp9HGX366ibS0cTVXFDODCPEP02tiMM/s1600/Sault+06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt9yiQsU4udCNJIwGIYpRFmUJgR0JsOM25JQpwcwXxC8OQ2_9hEz2TtWFvyeaU5i4YaOiuKvtPwmCYA0LY7S16BovEGvK_D3Q0wkANyJzCZ2rqp9HGX366ibS0cTVXFDODCPEP02tiMM/s640/Sault+06.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMt9yiQsU4udCNJIwGIYpRFmUJgR0JsOM25JQpwcwXxC8OQ2_9hEz2TtWFvyeaU5i4YaOiuKvtPwmCYA0LY7S16BovEGvK_D3Q0wkANyJzCZ2rqp9HGX366ibS0cTVXFDODCPEP02tiMM/s1600/Sault+06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Can you say this word?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">It means Hardware.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsLNAYOI8C2Vetnb9HxVTumoe8Jr3dVTBCtInbBBnCBza8vWa9-ii12XUU78pIAEq4VvOehjaGxtU5T7ZuRywwKepfKF5u9OP74_QnrzydfbVEHoefeeZEhjDZE3HkPyPwvRoUT9sv48/s1600/Sault+07.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsLNAYOI8C2Vetnb9HxVTumoe8Jr3dVTBCtInbBBnCBza8vWa9-ii12XUU78pIAEq4VvOehjaGxtU5T7ZuRywwKepfKF5u9OP74_QnrzydfbVEHoefeeZEhjDZE3HkPyPwvRoUT9sv48/s640/Sault+07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">More to test the reader's French:</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">What do Yves and Virginie sell in their store?</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">How about cheese and spices? Yves is probably a butcher. One can buy delicatessen products here. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">He and Virginie also do catering.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30ypYReUJIMR4Kaoyrw1dhyphenhyphenFFypEz9VNMjnlrODW4wrhn-i9RZqqvq7GRztZMzzwC-wLm4CSzI9VMjfR5NSN2QMJpPZMlJWEDa4evJM0fVcRM_3ecbozsAi28wNZNn5hxs9hoGZjMneQ/s1600/Sault+05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30ypYReUJIMR4Kaoyrw1dhyphenhyphenFFypEz9VNMjnlrODW4wrhn-i9RZqqvq7GRztZMzzwC-wLm4CSzI9VMjfR5NSN2QMJpPZMlJWEDa4evJM0fVcRM_3ecbozsAi28wNZNn5hxs9hoGZjMneQ/s640/Sault+05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">the Blue House Art Gallery</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXZCbH3KPXx2_RPlk14M7DJ8mEatn7xk-8KNw_ORbfi1oI1pscLNmd996_cHgtTqnXfQfrElwLTVn_rUEkzOfz_-cOLsWcVbBzkUbb5_IDtfYcD-I1sSGprhNrlmfR7IpZAaNxc-3Q_c/s1600/Sault+08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXZCbH3KPXx2_RPlk14M7DJ8mEatn7xk-8KNw_ORbfi1oI1pscLNmd996_cHgtTqnXfQfrElwLTVn_rUEkzOfz_-cOLsWcVbBzkUbb5_IDtfYcD-I1sSGprhNrlmfR7IpZAaNxc-3Q_c/s640/Sault+08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Nougat Master </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">doesn't really translate well but they sure make a lot of yummy sweets.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">At least, that's what Colleen called them, as she looked down into the Gorge. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_FfUnkXdPRS2LkxNcDpqxUWvQQuE0qqXqG1PUlNYASdSuUffmlpoAK7n4PxUG0g4T9Xh618lX9PoHyfBahfxjTWIPd-zfFy4s_DP6rC4DLFpkyyBEOrBR1n1vb8asXWEn-vkr_5QMxY/s1600/Colleen+looks+into+gorge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_FfUnkXdPRS2LkxNcDpqxUWvQQuE0qqXqG1PUlNYASdSuUffmlpoAK7n4PxUG0g4T9Xh618lX9PoHyfBahfxjTWIPd-zfFy4s_DP6rC4DLFpkyyBEOrBR1n1vb8asXWEn-vkr_5QMxY/s400/Colleen+looks+into+gorge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Gary Karlsen's photography website.</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-51770668534731111842012-10-25T14:01:00.000-07:002023-11-18T13:19:18.020-08:00MONT VENTOUX<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span><span style="font-size: large;">hat comes to mind when we hear the words, </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">M</i></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>ont Ventoux</i>? For many of us, it is the Tour de France—the world's premier bicycle race: twenty-one </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">tough </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">days of competition with cyclists from all over the globe. The multiple stages cover approximately 3,200 kilometres. The finish line is always in Paris. One of the most gruelling stages is the ride up Mont Ventoux. Mont Ventoux (MV) has been a stage 14 times since 1951. We did it by car, from both </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">approaches.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe81w4umkutjJlW6LXiurx6wYHkvfhN6uQvRxSMQcJsNeFEkBBD42Io2WrZIirdW21KEQLoIYMH58ePRU6PF2TRQa5RufbQBztpeDc0bl9ndUrs4KlaX3I7IK8OXh-4W7VFIvdHkIq50/s1600/summit+marker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe81w4umkutjJlW6LXiurx6wYHkvfhN6uQvRxSMQcJsNeFEkBBD42Io2WrZIirdW21KEQLoIYMH58ePRU6PF2TRQa5RufbQBztpeDc0bl9ndUrs4KlaX3I7IK8OXh-4W7VFIvdHkIq50/s640/summit+marker.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Every day d</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">uring the first two weeks of October w</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">e would see MV</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> f</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">rom the house we were sharing with friends i</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">n Vaison-la-Romaine.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzEcb8MoytgFYnBqyfitHc6f6CfMIrkGpgvbZH0LqoLUx9lzK4utrSz4SvbuAS4aWn3NKyhGujd5gbmbc91D9g_8rsSkxlMtV29DJC_HU2UBl_f6dvVsWLimqFk8iPIwATI87dPeE4Z4/s1600/mont+ventoux+from+house.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzEcb8MoytgFYnBqyfitHc6f6CfMIrkGpgvbZH0LqoLUx9lzK4utrSz4SvbuAS4aWn3NKyhGujd5gbmbc91D9g_8rsSkxlMtV29DJC_HU2UBl_f6dvVsWLimqFk8iPIwATI87dPeE4Z4/s640/mont+ventoux+from+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SJvulvNHTAQBzlTe55dwCpUQMvZs6I3_Opi98zsW_LBC90d2rsxIAkbQqoBLeTZj0SeV63CfskpHKetjGMP5NU4vmhI971P1rAucXjJqWzgtnh9vI5kpQxe2sNCMD3PHx8R6g8PYGU4/s1600/mont+ventoux+long+lens.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SJvulvNHTAQBzlTe55dwCpUQMvZs6I3_Opi98zsW_LBC90d2rsxIAkbQqoBLeTZj0SeV63CfskpHKetjGMP5NU4vmhI971P1rAucXjJqWzgtnh9vI5kpQxe2sNCMD3PHx8R6g8PYGU4/s640/mont+ventoux+long+lens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The peak looks snow-capped all </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">year round but this is an illusion from afar. The top of the mountain is bare limestone. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mont Ventoux is on the Western periphery of the Alps. The <i>Dentelles des Monmirail</i> (October 21 blog posting) would be on the western tip of the Alps. MV appears all alone on the horizon for miles. It is situated in the <i>Vaucluse,</i> in the northwest corner of Provence between the cities of Carpentras, Vaison-la-Romaine and Avignon.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5iVrhHPeDztk4NbbKd_vwaHFZorlT5c8e-K8H06Vo_REkM5Gwgge4CygWCI0D1Nlm5ukbb7BT7Xdn-9yL-6UJki4RuCg0FJb34yyQpwZQ9g9oC_eTlEWvrUZFbU5r0MGXdlbycoVQ9U/s1600/G+below+summit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5iVrhHPeDztk4NbbKd_vwaHFZorlT5c8e-K8H06Vo_REkM5Gwgge4CygWCI0D1Nlm5ukbb7BT7Xdn-9yL-6UJki4RuCg0FJb34yyQpwZQ9g9oC_eTlEWvrUZFbU5r0MGXdlbycoVQ9U/s400/G+below+summit.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWHypngQuSdPFKVG42tSYqzMyhVguCJI179Dzjc9dIEjDIsm1bTxyXl6jl2fH-_WcI-VrtVRPl0mTT0oK1-54BVfxoK8ek1P2qb52s9YEpFdkM4svchVaq7POA5FGdt9UtR2x12_JCBs/s1600/MV+tower.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWHypngQuSdPFKVG42tSYqzMyhVguCJI179Dzjc9dIEjDIsm1bTxyXl6jl2fH-_WcI-VrtVRPl0mTT0oK1-54BVfxoK8ek1P2qb52s9YEpFdkM4svchVaq7POA5FGdt9UtR2x12_JCBs/s320/MV+tower.jpg" width="180" /></a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We drove up to the peak twice in good weather. The views were stunning. The T-shirt temperature in the valley is below but the sweater temperature is at the peak. Expect strong winds.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">the cyclist below is approaching the final hairpin before the summit </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuLipNYMO091WEOStB0DWl1MAL9zJtmrdUqcoZ6_i1iaIu7SXmBkdS0CS3REVlNvZm10QBPn9hOC7VfdBvyDy8bMEsq34GxnoxPYRKBujZFOjWDSEGWN4_yIoXO58jyNHIZZy6_DJKIg/s1600/mont+ventoux+road+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuLipNYMO091WEOStB0DWl1MAL9zJtmrdUqcoZ6_i1iaIu7SXmBkdS0CS3REVlNvZm10QBPn9hOC7VfdBvyDy8bMEsq34GxnoxPYRKBujZFOjWDSEGWN4_yIoXO58jyNHIZZy6_DJKIg/s640/mont+ventoux+road+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Below we see our cyclist who has just got off his bike, but his mate on the left is fatigued.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Now check out the white-haired dude who just came up the south side </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">(looks a little like my friend Henry, back home)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c044NT28nff3zgXEk6lwCLahJ7O6J4TMaetVHvrdDNSKjoESBRkiN94UI62d4uhLyjdogpBGabGhtg8qPidGEf9jV6W7w1CoGjTcnTHYJ5H4svHKx7-cY-67oCfhS21EXoMXzMTj-Gc/s1600/mont+ventoux+old+cyclist+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c044NT28nff3zgXEk6lwCLahJ7O6J4TMaetVHvrdDNSKjoESBRkiN94UI62d4uhLyjdogpBGabGhtg8qPidGEf9jV6W7w1CoGjTcnTHYJ5H4svHKx7-cY-67oCfhS21EXoMXzMTj-Gc/s640/mont+ventoux+old+cyclist+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">He casually rides to the summit in high gear.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlcjXYiItvJCGi4kBrLfFsPYxJAW5eVSl1eW9-m6BRj6Zr5zVWlVj25C9wAUuxOdoTozR6itai47e8QWSIOz9_0ikNX-5dnjwd32TA90yrFnm3-0a6QYfEQ_63djvYuSZ36Qgl5sWZuU/s1600/mont+ventoux+old+cyclist+03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlcjXYiItvJCGi4kBrLfFsPYxJAW5eVSl1eW9-m6BRj6Zr5zVWlVj25C9wAUuxOdoTozR6itai47e8QWSIOz9_0ikNX-5dnjwd32TA90yrFnm3-0a6QYfEQ_63djvYuSZ36Qgl5sWZuU/s400/mont+ventoux+old+cyclist+03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvbO4-B-O5veKe6hwi02wpAHHIrtrlWscO5DQGlSlS6_qymybLq67AMZi6ogEJXc9emjSXwphbpkgIMcyU-njgGrxjyJxwgbDUTaZhaz4WzyXnaY0E8MV9KcZ94V3wAFHsq1zC_55nLI/s1600/red+car.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvbO4-B-O5veKe6hwi02wpAHHIrtrlWscO5DQGlSlS6_qymybLq67AMZi6ogEJXc9emjSXwphbpkgIMcyU-njgGrxjyJxwgbDUTaZhaz4WzyXnaY0E8MV9KcZ94V3wAFHsq1zC_55nLI/s640/red+car.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2u2MpjG4HIpCit6c27xLRsMAYBA_Bi2m-9EnWcClMoV0gR_XQArByVDpVqgfPx8RPrELSX6zlh3YNVvGqSUN7pRdiCysd1a_Up7OttBsgN1LexQypMQTWw89iumO2r_qX-H8is-m540/s1600/G+at+summit+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2u2MpjG4HIpCit6c27xLRsMAYBA_Bi2m-9EnWcClMoV0gR_XQArByVDpVqgfPx8RPrELSX6zlh3YNVvGqSUN7pRdiCysd1a_Up7OttBsgN1LexQypMQTWw89iumO2r_qX-H8is-m540/s640/G+at+summit+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Over my left shoulder is Mt Blanc, 15,781 feet high - the highest mountain in the Alps. It is about 360 km away, or say, 225 miles. With a real long lens, I could probably see the peak from where I am standing, which is pretty much at the top of Mount Ventoux at 6,272 feet in elevation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Gary Karlsen's photography website.</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-76289541941467185402012-10-25T03:30:00.000-07:002023-11-18T13:17:01.576-08:00ARLES and AIX-EN-PROVENCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ARLES and AIX-</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">EN-</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">P</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ROVENCE</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">rles is known for a great many things: among the most intact Roman architecture and ruins in France; one of the best <i>Provençal</i> markets in France; Van Gogh's one-time place of residence where he painted hundreds of masterpieces, and where he cut off his ear; destruction of the Rhone side of the city during WWll by American </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">bombers to roust the occupying German army ....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthyphenhyphenIZW3RTZoKqLvlEOt1k1Yg30SJq22jN9EAd4eSdrjxEpWM0Ps8vEgBf9hIUQyzS5s9VPgt54Ofczn8ABUj14JnBf8AYDbnarbqFd6RAmiqDRIeyhlWyirnxlQUhFNyckUE1N0YliS4/s1600/Arles+fresh+vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthyphenhyphenIZW3RTZoKqLvlEOt1k1Yg30SJq22jN9EAd4eSdrjxEpWM0Ps8vEgBf9hIUQyzS5s9VPgt54Ofczn8ABUj14JnBf8AYDbnarbqFd6RAmiqDRIeyhlWyirnxlQUhFNyckUE1N0YliS4/s640/Arles+fresh+vegetables.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We like Arles a lot because of its friendly people, the great outdoor market, and the vitality of the city as a thriving urban centre. Arles has retained its unique character as a major historical site in the south of France. It is just a short drive down along the Rhone River to the famous Camargue delta. </span></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We drove up here from our <i>Gites</i> in the Camargue, about 40 minutes away, to shop at the Saturday market, and to lose our way in the maze of streets within the old city centre ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The Cathedral St. Trophime is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture. It was built in the late 11th Century. It is well preserved and it is so </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">spectacular that it </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">stops you in your tracks. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">This church</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> is one of the most photographed buildings in Arles. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPsaEJYnU1KJxJlsJNISxk1AsQloxeqxqxCC7f32HSHvqeSC6r_Tmi7_LSny6NacG4qW1W8QKnQEBCQF-svRXo1vmJEyL507L2vT23cS6G6ghodMD9enecEdh6eXh197zHM4FLA-KT9M/s1600/Eglise+St+Tromphime+portal+hdr.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPsaEJYnU1KJxJlsJNISxk1AsQloxeqxqxCC7f32HSHvqeSC6r_Tmi7_LSny6NacG4qW1W8QKnQEBCQF-svRXo1vmJEyL507L2vT23cS6G6ghodMD9enecEdh6eXh197zHM4FLA-KT9M/s640/Eglise+St+Tromphime+portal+hdr.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The tympanium above the portal depicts Christ seated in majesty, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">surrounded by symbols of saints. H</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">is 12 apostles (once disciples) are seated below. Unable to be seen in this photo are, on the left, a procession of chosen Christians going to heaven; and on the right, the sad procession of sinners cast into hell. So goes the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">litany, the redundant theme of all Christianity: freak out the masses, blind them with horror so that they may have unquestioned faith, and they will abide and the clerics will have hegemony forever and on ...</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In 1365 Charles lV, was crowned King of Arles here. Arles was the second-largest city in Provence at the time. In 1801, its importance was downgraded when the Bishopric moved to Aix-en-Provence.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Arles is a city of art ...</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">some commissioned and some not. But it is all colourful.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>rue Tardeau</i> running down to the arena</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">Streets in the old city are slightly concave with stone gutters and hollowed-out stone doorsteps that allow rainwater to flow freely. r</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">ue des Arènes</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> is one of these. The step on the right has recently been replaced but the more typical one on the left shows hundreds of years of wear.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;">he following Saturday we went to the </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">market in </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Aix-en-Provence</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">, and to explore a little. This is another favoured city, much larger than Arles. Aix is a university town, a bustling city with more locals than tourists. Aix is large enough to be able to absorb more tourists than Arles. Arles probably attracts more </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">coach-loads of tourists because of the plethora of Roman ruins there and because of its proximity to the Camargue, in itself a big destination for summer holidayers and for retirees who have nothing but time on their hands.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Aix is a city of fountains. The one below caught my partner's attention. Its cold water is keeping the rosé chilled for customers at the adjacent cafe.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvL3tjD5aO-nA-Gm6Pnnzdsg-n4WQQnVyjTBUxLuwb8jlj4uKSYsoB9JD8lxM_P319mVClqOpsJfydj3aZFOa2ToYQZgjTfajLbHpQIYA3vGSLCTUdzTSPStdZ0Qxo0I5cQqUT4w4LMM/s1600/Aix+Jo+sees+ice+bag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvL3tjD5aO-nA-Gm6Pnnzdsg-n4WQQnVyjTBUxLuwb8jlj4uKSYsoB9JD8lxM_P319mVClqOpsJfydj3aZFOa2ToYQZgjTfajLbHpQIYA3vGSLCTUdzTSPStdZ0Qxo0I5cQqUT4w4LMM/s640/Aix+Jo+sees+ice+bag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZczUC1pPx-UOswZvi8-uym2qwMAxzrRtCWNVDsFpx9KqqBJ5_ifR9MkDVWq9PocH9qzkLMKfb84QHzrdyahgViPgki2qvQwFLeFsVw8UQNlPyVjX3xm6PQE7fGOnJ0haCJj0dkPnZ7A/s1600/Aixice+bag+CU.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZczUC1pPx-UOswZvi8-uym2qwMAxzrRtCWNVDsFpx9KqqBJ5_ifR9MkDVWq9PocH9qzkLMKfb84QHzrdyahgViPgki2qvQwFLeFsVw8UQNlPyVjX3xm6PQE7fGOnJ0haCJj0dkPnZ7A/s640/Aixice+bag+CU.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMQLSNVjB2Jf-LA2DN9KWIOwtXTVlwN5a9hyphenhyphen0qwZNN3MG4teIG1-rOOR5dL6GJaLz2vahVe0TOAOg9Xtz2lL8bqF_q8ha9_ed7kedyBQY7-FI7jEyLQM4gwpLtXFnYHpPAjldEf9IcZ0/s1600/Aix+Jo+sees+ice+bag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMQLSNVjB2Jf-LA2DN9KWIOwtXTVlwN5a9hyphenhyphen0qwZNN3MG4teIG1-rOOR5dL6GJaLz2vahVe0TOAOg9Xtz2lL8bqF_q8ha9_ed7kedyBQY7-FI7jEyLQM4gwpLtXFnYHpPAjldEf9IcZ0/s400/Aix+Jo+sees+ice+bag.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Aix is </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">also </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">known for its hot springs. The fountain of hot water on </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cours Mirabeau</span></i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> is called </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moussue</span></i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> (moss).</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A lovely young woman was caught by my lens as she walked by the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Fontaine de la Place d'Albertas</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-45818400689528235342012-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:002023-11-26T21:24:18.848-08:00NIMES<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;">he </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Roman amphitheatre </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">in Nimes is the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">best </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">preserved </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">in the world and it is still in use for major cultural events. Nimes has been on our list of must-see places for some time. We did the full tour with headsets, we got our money's worth and more.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKoK-fsFSU-0wq2OzxTedHlFol7BhDGUT0s1nDMRw-i7Riyk9Agae08R2K-Igq-zAspA635lytRsWX4H8uh-zM-vp-uWb0rwlsBsNrKy2eoFbUdMsjy5-GSZDgCk5J409NyblyHpPSl0/s1600/Nimes+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKoK-fsFSU-0wq2OzxTedHlFol7BhDGUT0s1nDMRw-i7Riyk9Agae08R2K-Igq-zAspA635lytRsWX4H8uh-zM-vp-uWb0rwlsBsNrKy2eoFbUdMsjy5-GSZDgCk5J409NyblyHpPSl0/s640/Nimes+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU1H9acUROPd5eOLYjGUXvB8r3OW_Z4hx5i53FMDEQhsH_6K4cqMxrkL5EAMEHyWmxSmZr0UWUbjMZIWh2u-0YlLhmsoZOsI-_GBc1IODQuRk8ys0HwRMMxD9_4LommoBchwn5VLwfb4/s1600/map-rail-nimes-grau-b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU1H9acUROPd5eOLYjGUXvB8r3OW_Z4hx5i53FMDEQhsH_6K4cqMxrkL5EAMEHyWmxSmZr0UWUbjMZIWh2u-0YlLhmsoZOsI-_GBc1IODQuRk8ys0HwRMMxD9_4LommoBchwn5VLwfb4/s640/map-rail-nimes-grau-b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipujm9CN0r01MW9ffVmuGtOwBF9Qxm8NmJwFDJGDbCxlbp9MlSI3tRpVUsJN2iYvRvxxvHjwfLUXqmVXHxqOnz3isnMdK2t-QOEKMmQtvdzWqodWd7LN4uiPCkHJwXNc-X_16DCsG-Gb4/s1600/Nimes+02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipujm9CN0r01MW9ffVmuGtOwBF9Qxm8NmJwFDJGDbCxlbp9MlSI3tRpVUsJN2iYvRvxxvHjwfLUXqmVXHxqOnz3isnMdK2t-QOEKMmQtvdzWqodWd7LN4uiPCkHJwXNc-X_16DCsG-Gb4/s640/Nimes+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">The Roman arena is actually two facing amphitheatres.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyRN31zYVGRPhh15MMyv6uWwoyIQTWPnR2215u0wdxnu5woODyTHqXT2NdGW4GvYOx4AaDnXizO_f3-WyP9JKFyVWGjJqHaLOziRig860W7c0lwW62f3G_z7Xksv50dfbXHqK-zgWPnU/s1600/Nimes+03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyRN31zYVGRPhh15MMyv6uWwoyIQTWPnR2215u0wdxnu5woODyTHqXT2NdGW4GvYOx4AaDnXizO_f3-WyP9JKFyVWGjJqHaLOziRig860W7c0lwW62f3G_z7Xksv50dfbXHqK-zgWPnU/s640/Nimes+03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The Nimes Arena is among the 20 largest </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">of the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">400 </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Roman arenas</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> still in existence. Its seating capacity is 24,000. BC Place Stadium, back home in Vancouver, is not a whole lot larger. Its seating capacity is almost 60,000 for (American) football and 21,000 for soccer. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-pXNLBTB-oSvomrSrJVz3hRkN4YNfuqqNE8FGaOVo37Xn9xjTQIQ_qWvQOXfVINtwWd5-ZudF5Vx4CNex3Kfhcl7rWiQMqu4CzwLwBIpvBbB6RRKoKPHJMvdGMRK6-d86vF3qf7p1o8/s1600/Nimes+04.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-pXNLBTB-oSvomrSrJVz3hRkN4YNfuqqNE8FGaOVo37Xn9xjTQIQ_qWvQOXfVINtwWd5-ZudF5Vx4CNex3Kfhcl7rWiQMqu4CzwLwBIpvBbB6RRKoKPHJMvdGMRK6-d86vF3qf7p1o8/s640/Nimes+04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><i>Vomitorium</i> leading into arched corridors.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">After the fall of Rome, Nimes and the surrounding regions were ruled by various invaders and finally, by the 13th Century, it became a centre dominated by the Catholic Christians and ruled by the crown of France: King Louis lX (St. Louis).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BSKCLLQPPL3VYJk-sVrbjbSfEMvFmQpbmkGJbOaxR9kLQwjC5jwrOlo2H9Va8XtVvgky6QWdnLoD4ERRv4H5PiJYSfFqmQPG4fsLg6XWtkMo9xEwWkNewsQy0YEDm-gqqJokFT-Sr3E/s1600/Nimes+05.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BSKCLLQPPL3VYJk-sVrbjbSfEMvFmQpbmkGJbOaxR9kLQwjC5jwrOlo2H9Va8XtVvgky6QWdnLoD4ERRv4H5PiJYSfFqmQPG4fsLg6XWtkMo9xEwWkNewsQy0YEDm-gqqJokFT-Sr3E/s640/Nimes+05.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During the 16th Century Wars of Religion i</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">n France (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Protestants versus Catholics</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";">)</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Nimes was more or less a Protestant stronghold.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The image of the cathedral on the right is taken through an arrow slot in the arena.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Our travels </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">through Europe on this and other trips </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">have been like peering through a looking glass at the widespread architectural and infrastructure accomplishments of the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Roman Empire.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> We have been walking in the footsteps of a people whose contributions to human development have outlasted many of the legacies of the various cultures that followed them. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">There have been numerous theories about the fall of the Empire, and historians have commented on the many contradictions in Roman society—</span><span style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">democracy with slavery, the absence of freedoms for your average Mario and Belladonna, the morality issues of blood sport in the amphitheatres ....</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrrlUePS2cuoZGHJ-sVFvwOF6TqOxWDkqu2pJLkKiMo31FPKE9MclFajB6jRv3VJq6Y3WBufgYlrp2vAh5JJpiEbW5x9-ROlQNNg9v0-ZukBHaROz1WENnQgcJOqruPWgZdCb-Pd-zUc/s1600/L'Hoplomaque+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrrlUePS2cuoZGHJ-sVFvwOF6TqOxWDkqu2pJLkKiMo31FPKE9MclFajB6jRv3VJq6Y3WBufgYlrp2vAh5JJpiEbW5x9-ROlQNNg9v0-ZukBHaROz1WENnQgcJOqruPWgZdCb-Pd-zUc/s400/L'Hoplomaque+01.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Roman arenas were used to entertain the masses. Hunters fought wild animals. Convicts were given over to the tigers for more bloodsport. The carnage was diabolical and the audiences were often mortified.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Chariot races were also common, especially in the bigger arenas like Circus Maximus and the Coliseum in Rome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The sport of gladiatorial combat was the most athletic and the most </span><span style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">glorious. The combatants were volunteers, well-trained and highly skilled. This is where heroes were made.</span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The gladiator seen above is the <i>Hoplomaque</i> from the 1st Century BC.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoPz29-T5bfOW3zimq44DPARaqm0laCkVkRpzlnezslTzMuWGMV5-W8etpdbx_luF_pf1i87_k5d7SHjX1WxTnlQsFtM4aMepkhRQJneqXlrNGhX7_lcCQpwo5n7T3EM0G4038k_8WhI/s1600/Thrace+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoPz29-T5bfOW3zimq44DPARaqm0laCkVkRpzlnezslTzMuWGMV5-W8etpdbx_luF_pf1i87_k5d7SHjX1WxTnlQsFtM4aMepkhRQJneqXlrNGhX7_lcCQpwo5n7T3EM0G4038k_8WhI/s400/Thrace+02.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Thrace</span><i> </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB7KmBFe-kdEf7vwPwPsf8Wxe3SqSroEKDj2lUk0U2VTvnlDvZgWduBHOYBg7RzgUpaJ_7wFJTgS5buPHn1LNNg57j4ZOitUZElLXm4vaJhaEUzdH4nw4vNd4J-dtabkaWEHSW1a37EQ/s1600/Retiaire+03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB7KmBFe-kdEf7vwPwPsf8Wxe3SqSroEKDj2lUk0U2VTvnlDvZgWduBHOYBg7RzgUpaJ_7wFJTgS5buPHn1LNNg57j4ZOitUZElLXm4vaJhaEUzdH4nw4vNd4J-dtabkaWEHSW1a37EQ/s400/Retiaire+03.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">the <i>Rétiare</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTfjV4AOkGk2NWyyIqZQt4_VAu632f9Ma5HU_J0wpclHGPdr5XnF4clQuUkrMhbkJsfk7604PPrVEC1HVGSDPjRgpHeYQrTXsn3WDj-BgMI4fhaYrG5LJJrfA-1tnvRSwIO4C0zTykA8/s1600/Scissor+04.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTfjV4AOkGk2NWyyIqZQt4_VAu632f9Ma5HU_J0wpclHGPdr5XnF4clQuUkrMhbkJsfk7604PPrVEC1HVGSDPjRgpHeYQrTXsn3WDj-BgMI4fhaYrG5LJJrfA-1tnvRSwIO4C0zTykA8/s400/Scissor+04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkREr35fQckS8ybdPCgCRyZBLulIpc5e0LOTsstNpW6fDVHs8pMVww5m_Tcs7k-l6o2f5fcaklUNM3i7LY6vQN8cg-UWV_FE5ki0U8hxDL_Cl_1TndCkWodn_ad2-IKaaYo5VLi_UKe1E/s1600/Mirmillon+05.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkREr35fQckS8ybdPCgCRyZBLulIpc5e0LOTsstNpW6fDVHs8pMVww5m_Tcs7k-l6o2f5fcaklUNM3i7LY6vQN8cg-UWV_FE5ki0U8hxDL_Cl_1TndCkWodn_ad2-IKaaYo5VLi_UKe1E/s400/Mirmillon+05.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQd4sYL4HNlopL3JF8GII3N3BDwrZ32o3m7v25SLEWt7999y2ORHbMbvDebgS1K7SrKr7eixBlAvyowCK3qzxhQJxlxMetxMp4SB8aVWm3bmFd02-5hNmWEB2361RpP9Xm0PNTei9b1o8/s1600/Secutor+06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQd4sYL4HNlopL3JF8GII3N3BDwrZ32o3m7v25SLEWt7999y2ORHbMbvDebgS1K7SrKr7eixBlAvyowCK3qzxhQJxlxMetxMp4SB8aVWm3bmFd02-5hNmWEB2361RpP9Xm0PNTei9b1o8/s400/Secutor+06.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The armour and weapons of these hellish warriors improved over time. Actually, the records show that <i>Mr.</i> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoplomaque</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> and <i>Mr.</i> <i>Thrace</i> appeared in the 1st Century BC.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Scissorhands</i> (way predecessor to Edward) was very effective against <i>Mr. Trident, </i>whose net met its nemesis against Mr. Sss.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Captain Mermillon </i>and<i> Papa</i> <i>Provocator </i>did not appear until the end of the Republic.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: right;">Serious dudes, all these guys!</span><br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: right;">The life expectancy of the gladiator was in the late twenties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">We leave the arena and walk </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">around the old town</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Following are some photos. The <i>Nîmois</i> ignore us because they, like all the French people in these tourist centres of interest, are used to camera-happy foreigners and take little or no interest in us. But not so at the family-run Lebanese restaurant where we lined up for lunch. One of the two daughters who were serving had just come back home to Nimes after living a couple of years in Montreal. She could not renew her visa. Mother is an amazing chef. Dad is in the picture below. The family wants to move to Canada to start a restaurant there. Their English is good. They just cannot afford what Canada will charge them to immigrate and start their business - about $800,000!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouY2QBTJVgOFiLQKM8TvP1TuTjvbUe6tKHRaaREXZs7lXKZ7NNTpQK5JHr6i_HWfKEeIYyrTBGCC3ZjVFkJLEmRvtYn5cEQV4R714ZMXsYa0S5XkkpAga-384wBr6L0lNU_50o4IMb4A/s1600/Lebanese+lunch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouY2QBTJVgOFiLQKM8TvP1TuTjvbUe6tKHRaaREXZs7lXKZ7NNTpQK5JHr6i_HWfKEeIYyrTBGCC3ZjVFkJLEmRvtYn5cEQV4R714ZMXsYa0S5XkkpAga-384wBr6L0lNU_50o4IMb4A/s640/Lebanese+lunch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBS-nAfl_xjSnlyjtz2nmfXiudwfSdZf1NFH7Vev8mWfPODiEtpjii7wos0V2OhA2gdjxXuumEjLFtnA5tiFkV7UcA_NAPFqtvJAOBI11Grea3czSjHLMVvf8CGBtxU8k_Mk9hkBAsyKM/s1600/Sainte+Uegenie+Cathedral.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBS-nAfl_xjSnlyjtz2nmfXiudwfSdZf1NFH7Vev8mWfPODiEtpjii7wos0V2OhA2gdjxXuumEjLFtnA5tiFkV7UcA_NAPFqtvJAOBI11Grea3czSjHLMVvf8CGBtxU8k_Mk9hkBAsyKM/s640/Sainte+Uegenie+Cathedral.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">After lunch, I lay down, looked up and saw the light, obscured ...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">... but Lord how I have sinned</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTi33lIqyA9-h4YXsu23NPYoj3T8KU9M087_4sKnhUrmdxg88jK1cuAphH0Cw_E898UJQzSL9y9FF5wjkiO2Kd_YxC9dYBtfw7EwL8rnt-hGox0ko3S77hFzfRHNwH9-qUuTq4OGG4IA/s1600/little+children+the+world+over.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTi33lIqyA9-h4YXsu23NPYoj3T8KU9M087_4sKnhUrmdxg88jK1cuAphH0Cw_E898UJQzSL9y9FF5wjkiO2Kd_YxC9dYBtfw7EwL8rnt-hGox0ko3S77hFzfRHNwH9-qUuTq4OGG4IA/s640/little+children+the+world+over.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">children the world over</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">we see these little urchins everywhere</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">they are the colour</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">they are the light</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">they make smiles</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">they create laughter</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">we miss our own</span><br />
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<br /><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gary Karlsen's photography website</span></a></span></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-75803462275145040742012-10-21T12:43:00.004-07:002023-11-26T20:40:18.521-08:00VAISON-la-ROMAINE: les Dentelles<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">VAISON-la-ROMAINE: les Dentelles</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">I</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">t</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">was </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">a beautiful warm and clear day—a day meant for mountain climbing. We did just that, well, mountain hiking anyway. The Karlsens and Lucases had finally arrived in Vaison to hook up with the Bells. We three couples rented a house for two weeks. One of our most memorable outings was the day we hiked up the <i>Dentelles des Montmirail.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG0kic2IiriBxjuQz52O5HliN0o2RmOxL5W-U9w7dkrrwaYHvPTvgmyC2AX7RxouCcHvuAY2wpXmjEm6oaxE_msFzjcMdBrChTpEuu32dOj8dQIiRtsoQnx1wVIgJUAV6eks3ZstSfAs/s1600/Dentelles+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG0kic2IiriBxjuQz52O5HliN0o2RmOxL5W-U9w7dkrrwaYHvPTvgmyC2AX7RxouCcHvuAY2wpXmjEm6oaxE_msFzjcMdBrChTpEuu32dOj8dQIiRtsoQnx1wVIgJUAV6eks3ZstSfAs/s640/Dentelles+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sSaMQgS3XFxnEdU_e0vAzNECdLJm-8cgh7SnrYr-9_rfFwXAbpkvu59J_6XRG_KH1AzpBLGstVS1AZ3R5FJHhrsRtRPRezCUp-eVHhew-VerjlzXYaHXzoqITYpuN5g8LRgVWOb9XA8/s1600/Dentelles+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sSaMQgS3XFxnEdU_e0vAzNECdLJm-8cgh7SnrYr-9_rfFwXAbpkvu59J_6XRG_KH1AzpBLGstVS1AZ3R5FJHhrsRtRPRezCUp-eVHhew-VerjlzXYaHXzoqITYpuN5g8LRgVWOb9XA8/s400/Dentelles+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The trail began as a gentle climb through a pine forest, and then we carefully made our way over, under, and above tangles of roots and branches. As we approached the rock wall, the trail became more challenging. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We paused from time to time to decide whether we should continue on.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mzBchz3I7MJAxzCkreWvuubV6AkkuPh9_bHlo5Uj5HW4GSWVoN-AkGqsIisLQnYjfa2ZGiYlKsNAuHAzIV1QBunDrrDqf6Joz9tMa7w21BzilanjTh41PvewaLf3uFnOpPI_EIHKd2I/s1600/Dentelles+06.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mzBchz3I7MJAxzCkreWvuubV6AkkuPh9_bHlo5Uj5HW4GSWVoN-AkGqsIisLQnYjfa2ZGiYlKsNAuHAzIV1QBunDrrDqf6Joz9tMa7w21BzilanjTh41PvewaLf3uFnOpPI_EIHKd2I/s320/Dentelles+06.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjDQ2e0260LMGi4GZl1UEgqLann2dDkRHBo4cT0O5EOgyaSrYCIGnJo-FscO1gQX3W-jCq18OQIkcqzDA81uDNLPSCSqPJ4A-ywu_C7Q0kc7xTW6u58e_8XxR7yHZX4yeXpo0IVF6kSQ/s1600/Dentelles+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjDQ2e0260LMGi4GZl1UEgqLann2dDkRHBo4cT0O5EOgyaSrYCIGnJo-FscO1gQX3W-jCq18OQIkcqzDA81uDNLPSCSqPJ4A-ywu_C7Q0kc7xTW6u58e_8XxR7yHZX4yeXpo0IVF6kSQ/w320-h242/Dentelles+04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Not all of us had the right footwear and the path was not always well marked. We met o</span><span style="font-size: large;">ther hikers along the way who gave some guidance and encouragement.</span></div></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5sULXQAmrAyrg44pzIbb8t6qNd0xaFqRWJRkPUsv2noTIUj5PEW_NkHTghxvBRo-_5Yp8M43hJscfN5VvcNKGgm24FvMwCGlZ8jCej8ckqjySD9q-HzQZWrj6kWDCmU85wVafjrCbw8/s1600/Dentelles+07.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5sULXQAmrAyrg44pzIbb8t6qNd0xaFqRWJRkPUsv2noTIUj5PEW_NkHTghxvBRo-_5Yp8M43hJscfN5VvcNKGgm24FvMwCGlZ8jCej8ckqjySD9q-HzQZWrj6kWDCmU85wVafjrCbw8/s640/Dentelles+07.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The photos pretty much tell the rest. They capture some of the thrills of the climb. And, OMG, every moment was spectacular!</span>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Dentelles are a jagged range of toothy, craggy peaks that can be viewed from as far as the eye can see. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtIxwH9n3MwmtQlYo5heLuOp2IjhMCEVODv03105hZsd9lXvmgrXeRZTBRGdM5KGe3nNmwPuTTbTfZcO4jA4tmcQdzz8iYErQyRktGe1AI9F0UX9MbJHU8ZU92KbfgHOA-wi1-7pHVZg/s1600/Dentelles+08.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtIxwH9n3MwmtQlYo5heLuOp2IjhMCEVODv03105hZsd9lXvmgrXeRZTBRGdM5KGe3nNmwPuTTbTfZcO4jA4tmcQdzz8iYErQyRktGe1AI9F0UX9MbJHU8ZU92KbfgHOA-wi1-7pHVZg/s640/Dentelles+08.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />note the peak of Mont Ventoux way back on the right<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I remember well my impression some days after we'd climbed to the top, seeing the outatanding peaks on our drive back to Vaison-la-Romaine from Mont Ventoux. "Wow! Look at the Dentelles way over on the horizon. We were up there just a few days ago!" <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX7Aj7Z51oMxH26njTxRiZV0aIduN_LmModrS-PN2arAQ-QbDoMNRvU-dIF27IPR27g1QpVM-1lx0mX8Xc8UVAwMaTnYcj9kNRNb4kY-PHGAyCFo0X67Kn2PSM96lwtzCmnKFpGMoCZE/s1600/Dentelles+010+(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX7Aj7Z51oMxH26njTxRiZV0aIduN_LmModrS-PN2arAQ-QbDoMNRvU-dIF27IPR27g1QpVM-1lx0mX8Xc8UVAwMaTnYcj9kNRNb4kY-PHGAyCFo0X67Kn2PSM96lwtzCmnKFpGMoCZE/s400/Dentelles+010+(1).jpg" width="224" /></a><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dentelles</span></i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> is French for "lace", and that name was well chosen. From below, a kilometre and more away, the peaks have the appearance of lacework. Regrettably, I don't have that photo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This rather small range, according to the naturalist sign at the base of the trail, originated 200 million years ago as a mixture of clays, salts and limestones.</span>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The <i>Dentelles</i> lie along a fault line that runs from east of Vaison-la-Romaine westward, past Avignon and into the Pyrenees.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">60 million years ago, the Dentelles were thrust upward. The shapes we see here are the result of millions of years of weathering.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I'm looking down toward the village of Gigondas, then turn around for a photo of our group just below. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">This is as close as I get to the hole in the wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">We picked a great day to </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">do t</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">his hike. The Mistral can be so fierce up here we'd have been blown off the rocks like flies.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Colin and I make it up to this big hole in the wall. Through the window, we look out towards Chateauneuf du Pape.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-49126279656194735152012-10-19T14:20:00.001-07:002023-11-26T17:52:23.478-08:00CAMARGUE Pt 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">CAMARGUE</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Part Two</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">O</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">ur sometimes travel companions, the Lucases, joined us on our second trip this year to the Camargue. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">fishing boats at Le Grau-du-Roi</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74bfHoxepn62HJ6u42FbTWsyvnVcfjEjhvL-MyP9gsaaMRhfzt6Yvokq8DPFZtW-QYNikquB-Qi51pzAHh65Kj-3D-BBSGneogVgYBbHf5CaEMh3xfp1nH4KuE5RrKMlTmqJnrnFHWeY/s1600/Mas+St+Louis+sign+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74bfHoxepn62HJ6u42FbTWsyvnVcfjEjhvL-MyP9gsaaMRhfzt6Yvokq8DPFZtW-QYNikquB-Qi51pzAHh65Kj-3D-BBSGneogVgYBbHf5CaEMh3xfp1nH4KuE5RrKMlTmqJnrnFHWeY/s640/Mas+St+Louis+sign+01.jpg" width="257" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LQGfozRFKUsfYcThSyY4VJsjT5CckUruPrIzZV9rl8ao9FDaiKXQ8SzKmKXt4AkoLhJedKCBD_EwxzC21iOO_dWZGqU0wo6_PWpmV_0YeMWRIH4oeihO1CmEURRNuj9aZJs3WCY8TBI/s1600/Francois.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LQGfozRFKUsfYcThSyY4VJsjT5CckUruPrIzZV9rl8ao9FDaiKXQ8SzKmKXt4AkoLhJedKCBD_EwxzC21iOO_dWZGqU0wo6_PWpmV_0YeMWRIH4oeihO1CmEURRNuj9aZJs3WCY8TBI/s640/Francois.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">We </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">returned to </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mas St Louis, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">the same </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Chambres d’H</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ô</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">tes</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> where we stayed a few weeks earlier. François and his friend Robert welcomed our return.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">We shared the upper floor two-bedroom suite where we occasionally did our own cooking. More often, we prepared our meals at the <i>al fresco</i> kitchen.</span> </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The daily swim in the pool was rather refreshing. While it was too cold for the locals, I assured François that we Canadians found it quite tolerable.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Mas St Louis is only about 5 minutes by car to the ancient city of Aigues-Mortes, one of the most popular centres in the Camargue.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">aigues-mortes<br />means dead waters. </span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Salt production</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center;"> began</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: center;"> </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">here </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">as far back as antiquity. The</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> Romans engineered works to create a widespread and consistent supply. Today, <i>SALINS</i> produces salt using thousands of hectares of pools and land, stretching from 18 kilometres east-west and 13.5 km north-south. In the brochure, one reads that this is about the same area as Paris.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">THE PROCESS: </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">1. In early spring, ponds are filled with salt water and are trapped there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2. Wind and sun facilitate evaporation resulting in concentrated salt, or brine. <br /><br /> 3. From April to September crystallization forms salt cakes up to 9 mm thick. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">4. September is harvest month when salt cakes are lifted from the ground and trucked to the plant. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /> Looking out onto the salt fields in the fall, one can see the pink tint of crystals. This entire area is a protected wildlife heritage with very unique biodiversity. Flamingoes are only one of many birds that thrive here. </span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">Q:</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Why are flamingoes pink?</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A:</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> One of their major food sources is brine shrimp and their colour turns the birds' feathers pink.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW3QoDTaRTQxJFGs2BQS9cwawqh9_ELtthyYoRoV_MGoeQPE0AXwSke5cbLzjfmBjQ631iSxx3WOhcKr30TRmLamBNOZqNrytIOvAu-I3Nao3pekVJN2K1VbAnhp2LP4u_3-4yNlOWCs/s1600/Aigues+mortes+fortress+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW3QoDTaRTQxJFGs2BQS9cwawqh9_ELtthyYoRoV_MGoeQPE0AXwSke5cbLzjfmBjQ631iSxx3WOhcKr30TRmLamBNOZqNrytIOvAu-I3Nao3pekVJN2K1VbAnhp2LP4u_3-4yNlOWCs/s640/Aigues+mortes+fortress+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The statue of Saint Louis dominates the central square.</div></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCNeHNDOWDcK1bxQwTuyM8cx-MHQXAO_qDWSSevtzW2-T-ZnjCPlsP7_htC7cwo9wGo7ry4lBdXUvkZ80pikLLBJ57nE_IltgWydEZJXoCfGYl1ZV-3jvQdIpfLhOgD0VNxibAhw4o_I/s1600/Aigues+mortes+fortress+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCNeHNDOWDcK1bxQwTuyM8cx-MHQXAO_qDWSSevtzW2-T-ZnjCPlsP7_htC7cwo9wGo7ry4lBdXUvkZ80pikLLBJ57nE_IltgWydEZJXoCfGYl1ZV-3jvQdIpfLhOgD0VNxibAhw4o_I/s640/Aigues+mortes+fortress+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">King Louis lX spent much time here and had a lot to do with the development of this area of France up until his death in 1270.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Louis was the only canonized French king, better known as Saint Louis. He has been much lionized throughout history, however, among his less celebrated deeds was his leadership role in the annihilation of the Cathars and his creation of the French Inquisition. The 13th century was a very dark time in the history of this part of the world. <br /><br /> The other two not-to-be-missed towns in the Camargue are Le Grau-du-Roi, 5 minutes drive to the west, and in the Camargue National Park, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer about 30 minutes to the east of Aigues Mortes.</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">These places are well worth visiting. The Camargue is a very unique region of the European continent. This vast delta of the Rhone is like nowhere else in France. The fascinating history and geographical diversity of the area, the flora and fauna, and the agriculture that yields a richness of local wines and foods will all delight the traveller. And there is no shortage of opportunities here for watersports or just plain relaxation on the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">NOTE: one might avoid coming to the Camargue in July or August when the rest of France is here. Even in September, there are plenty of tour buses from almost everywhere in Europe.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAbDaW86oJC3PwTyWlRZfeexj3QZroWrEuryZehIc_YnlHTE0FobyEykTMBrDpOiX6vCnUElG9g_IbwODAUjZ0Mo5CmrGqX2ld3BhzLS8OvnuMLJ0VtG67uuWKJofyelGh_BaDI7mifw/s1600/bulls+and+birds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAbDaW86oJC3PwTyWlRZfeexj3QZroWrEuryZehIc_YnlHTE0FobyEykTMBrDpOiX6vCnUElG9g_IbwODAUjZ0Mo5CmrGqX2ld3BhzLS8OvnuMLJ0VtG67uuWKJofyelGh_BaDI7mifw/s640/bulls+and+birds.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>les taurines</i> (bulls) are raised for the arena ... and <i>saucisson</i> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxstUE63LGQb9ZaohFy4WGIpV6p9DsjNmve2jwMX87IMczUDtbFVeOkpQH2f5okX16dycAm_PSYM4RdT2u7QG8ToExIrG9e_JDlGDxIL6JAksF4Dqx6fItVhptbYpYA7Y2_HQR0FDe-7o/s1600/Colleen+and+pony.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxstUE63LGQb9ZaohFy4WGIpV6p9DsjNmve2jwMX87IMczUDtbFVeOkpQH2f5okX16dycAm_PSYM4RdT2u7QG8ToExIrG9e_JDlGDxIL6JAksF4Dqx6fItVhptbYpYA7Y2_HQR0FDe-7o/s640/Colleen+and+pony.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Camargue ponies are people-friendly,<br /> especially to people like our good friend, Colleen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDbGtoPQgiJR3pWTLlTNbjMETeCNCCRR9C6qerc8S3BgFFUs4Ggd5t1IHICg0Ak0bcfx5_tHTJ4fJQidEB-Gfdxye32k6I9o_QcFJQ5L0_vDTCgfl9SwdDvgSRu7m92BLmtIfQc3doic/s1600/grau+du+roi+night+reflections.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDbGtoPQgiJR3pWTLlTNbjMETeCNCCRR9C6qerc8S3BgFFUs4Ggd5t1IHICg0Ak0bcfx5_tHTJ4fJQidEB-Gfdxye32k6I9o_QcFJQ5L0_vDTCgfl9SwdDvgSRu7m92BLmtIfQc3doic/s640/grau+du+roi+night+reflections.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">harbour at Le Grau-du-Roi</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gary Karlsen's photography website</span></a></span></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-12011422401779903382012-10-17T14:08:00.001-07:002023-11-26T17:23:29.500-08:00CARCASSONNE<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;">C</span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">arcassonne: the River Aude runs through it 60 miles southeast of Toulouse. The Canal du Midi also passes through Carcassonne, on the way north to Toulouse, and south toward the Camargue. </span></div></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The medieval city of</span> Carcassonne w<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">as built on the hilltop ruins of a 1st-century Roman Gaul fortress. The well-preserved and restored castle encloses a maze of medieval streets with over 3 km of double walls. There are more than 50 towers. This is one of the most visited old fortified cities in France. One can see why; it’s very intact and very impressive. It fits the bill for medieval castle-fortress junkies.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Fortunately, we were there early in the day, at the heel of the tourist season in September and it was not terribly crowded.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Some of us love to ramble around an old castle and try to get a feel for what it was like living here in the days of old. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Danny, our Classicist friend, I have been personally driven in a small way to try to make some sense of what was happening in these places, to co<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">nnect some dots historically, as it were.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">One must do a lot of reading and really go out of one’s way to get a grasp on any of this. A good source for me is Barbara Tuchman’s, <i>A Distant Mirror</i>. This award-winning book is an extremely detailed history of the 14th Century, possibly the darkest period of human history: the plague, the destruction of the Knights Templar, the 100 Years War—the great schism of the Catholic Church when seeds of future Protestantism were sewn.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have already given some 'armchair/journalistic' historical references in the blog as we have moved along on our trip from one place to another. While some readers may have an interest in these things, I recognize that many do not and will choose to skim over the dry stuff. <br /><br /> But don’t give up on me yet because there will be lots more interesting stories to come, including plenty of photos that will not be seen in any brochures or websites.</span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Anyway, our few hours in Carcassonne brings me back to early history.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Rome was sacked in 410 by the Visigoths (a Germanic nomadic people) and </span>collaborators. They moved on to Portugal and Spain where they settled</span>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjP3oynsYwkNDekfWCd_hGjKJoTbiBk8RKm0EPTLJEM1o_XLAs3Av7t-EPG93ZZ-ufr5VcWlxX5hAUAT9lrXHdbxvHaHnTpgJEV36f7NBAKN4SEByhU_cYQeJMD9PlWh-LdWyWOKIBUw/s1600/carcossonne+013.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjP3oynsYwkNDekfWCd_hGjKJoTbiBk8RKm0EPTLJEM1o_XLAs3Av7t-EPG93ZZ-ufr5VcWlxX5hAUAT9lrXHdbxvHaHnTpgJEV36f7NBAKN4SEByhU_cYQeJMD9PlWh-LdWyWOKIBUw/s640/carcossonne+013.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">They expanded and continued with the development of Western civilization. The Visigoths spread eastward again and established themselves in Toulouse.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">In 700 the Visigoths were beaten down by the Muslim <span style="text-align: center;">invasion. The Saracens/Moors took Carcassonne but not the fortress. It was impregnable. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1067 Carcassonne was held by the Viscount of Albi and Nimes, and it was blessed by Pope Urban ll (of Rome) in 1067.</span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">But trouble was brewing.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Carcassonne became a stronghold of the Cathars. Remember the Albigensians from my chapter on Albi? Their dualistic view of God was heretical to the Roman Catholics. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">They were pariahs to the status quo Christians and had to be dealt with. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">And they were!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">One of the worst acts of</span><span style="text-align: center;"> genocide perpetrated by the men of God was the massacre of thousands of Cathars—men, women and children. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The 4th Crusade (1202-1204) was a disaster for France and England. Heroic knight and nobleman, Simon de Montfort, was more or less out of a job and he was contracted by the Church to <span style="text-align: center;">annihilate</span> the heretics once and for all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: right;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Montfort butchered and massacred entire populations. And he took Carcassonne.</span><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The French Inquisition was established in 1229 </span>by the Church in Toulouse to eliminate any surviving members of Catharism. </span></div>
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By 1247 King Louis lX took control of Carcassonne.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The English and the French duked it out in the Hundred Years War from 1337 to about 1453. England had control on and off over large areas of French territories during this time but try as they might, their sieges against Carcassonne were unsuccessful. Even the Black Prince, Edward lll, in the Great Raid of 1355 could not take the fortress. Instead, he burnt everything and everyone around it to the ground.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The French Popes of Avignon took charge of Carcassonne and the Catholic Church ran the show there through the remainder of the 14th century. <br /><br /> Today, Carcassonne's economy is primarily tourism and wine production. We have partaken of both and our experiences have been rewarding.</span>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's photography website</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-88630268487127895972012-10-12T14:08:00.001-07:002023-11-26T16:35:09.381-08:00MILLAU VIADUCT<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">MILLAU VIADUCT</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">and the Euro Bills</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">he Millau Viaduct crosses the Tarn River near the city of Millau. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">t is the tallest bridge in the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJCSu2WTxQVJQNlvux-036J42ZLMlskJPdKuLEV6N3iembqeJAFVhn_zbmNZoLLofsN1Rb1BvMzyYMcnPf5UIdclnnCV1x3fUC1OCg0JgBjn_jk3vE_jJyyU2UOl-5PJ-2NYZh8t_XBk/s1600/grandscausses_millau-kaartnivo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJCSu2WTxQVJQNlvux-036J42ZLMlskJPdKuLEV6N3iembqeJAFVhn_zbmNZoLLofsN1Rb1BvMzyYMcnPf5UIdclnnCV1x3fUC1OCg0JgBjn_jk3vE_jJyyU2UOl-5PJ-2NYZh8t_XBk/s640/grandscausses_millau-kaartnivo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k61S7Uvs0nHAqurh2tSZSldiMt_GbpsZLtKe63rm-V_d4HNVe2BNlRV-hipMIGZ3k9UPSiNWTdThRHVrpyTfsoxzO1yWmN0uUGByGZF_71tLuVAnvhOyx8Uchi373xrhjRC_zmn6uIE/s1600/Millau+Viaduct+01.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k61S7Uvs0nHAqurh2tSZSldiMt_GbpsZLtKe63rm-V_d4HNVe2BNlRV-hipMIGZ3k9UPSiNWTdThRHVrpyTfsoxzO1yWmN0uUGByGZF_71tLuVAnvhOyx8Uchi373xrhjRC_zmn6uIE/s640/Millau+Viaduct+01.jpg" /></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">notice the old bridge on the tertiary road below the viaduct </span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Construction began in 2001 and was completed in record time three years later. The viaduct was built by a private sector consortium, Eiffel and LaFarge with French Engineer, Michel Virlogeux and English Architect, Norman Foster. The Millau Viaduct is considered to be one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time. </span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The main purpose of the bridge is to cut travel time between Paris and the south of France. It is a toll bridge, part of the <i>péage Autoroute</i> down to Montpelier by the Mediterranean. </span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We spent some time at the interpretation/viewing centre. We did not cross the bridge but drove onto the highway just south of it on our way down to the Camargue.</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">...ooo0ooo... </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">EUROS</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A rather interesting kiosk in the interpretation centre is the Euro bills display. The paper money </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">has a bridge theme. E</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">ach denomination presents a style of bridge from Roman designs to contemporary ones. Who would really notice this on the back of the bills? Bridge engineers?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">This display really got my attention, partly because I am inquisitive and partly because </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">on the backs of the bills </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">I recognized all of the bridge designs that we have crossed in France. This is so cool that I felt compelled to devote a blog chapter to the Euro bridges. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />This structure is, of course, best represented by the <i>Millau Viaduct<br /><br /><br /></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pont Solférino</i>, footbridge crossing the Seine, Paris </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pont Neuf</i>, crossing the Tarn, Montauban</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />Pont Neuf</i> crossing the Seine, Paris<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pont Vieux</i> crossing the Tarn, Montauban </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">the tower that </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">housed the town executioner was removed in 1663</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pont 22 Aout 1944</i> crossing the Tarn at Albi</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />Pont du Gard</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> crossing the Gardon River. Romans, 1st C AD.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I have more photos of these different bridge designs but for the sake of brevity, I have used only one example of each bridge. Next time you are travelling around Europe, check out your paper money when you see a bridge.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Update 2023: I noticed recently that bridges are not now on the back of the bills. When was that change?</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Gary Karlsen's photography website</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-5888127917848216652012-10-12T06:04:00.001-07:002023-11-26T16:16:56.750-08:00ROQUEFORT<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">ROQUEFORT</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">R</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">oquefort cheese bears the name of the town where it is made.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The city is located in the county of <i>Aveyron. </i>The official radius of Roquefort—where the 750,000 ewes offer up their milk for this special cheese—includes the <i>Tarn, Lozère, Garde, Herault and Aude</i>. (See map below). The final production of the cheese, h</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">owever,</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> can only occur in a zone that is 2 kilometres long and 300 metres wide. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">That's basically, in the environs of the city.</span></div></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPRlOPz457l9PnEcYyF3bfb4hlOvc8K7NPibdOZ_AHyRh1LZa3jzjdmoFAWvG7USiOLsZ3SGnPYeECnS5jiDY-bEZlNmgXthm0dLufQFdHNgWJXSWvQah3U4p68CgtbBfLEvvSFtTn7g/s1600/Roquefort+map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPRlOPz457l9PnEcYyF3bfb4hlOvc8K7NPibdOZ_AHyRh1LZa3jzjdmoFAWvG7USiOLsZ3SGnPYeECnS5jiDY-bEZlNmgXthm0dLufQFdHNgWJXSWvQah3U4p68CgtbBfLEvvSFtTn7g/s640/Roquefort+map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Incidentally, the skins of all those lambs are sent to the city of Millau where they are used to make very fine gloves.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZXEvDICQewYmO9ZZb_Y3QNls-kE8Rva3TCbGlnaYZCxheqcjMFgvD3zPnRyp-XLq2K77SvHe-QKFMBnY_wG5zEvwFAdqKdvK_bqFFuFxDpgRP-AMpou2eIQzH7wFFKQXjPePjkwdoCM/s1600/the+only+wire+in+your+view+would+be+a+single+wire+from+the+post+with+the+street+light+on+it+over+to%0ARoquefort+01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZXEvDICQewYmO9ZZb_Y3QNls-kE8Rva3TCbGlnaYZCxheqcjMFgvD3zPnRyp-XLq2K77SvHe-QKFMBnY_wG5zEvwFAdqKdvK_bqFFuFxDpgRP-AMpou2eIQzH7wFFKQXjPePjkwdoCM/s640/the+only+wire+in+your+view+would+be+a+single+wire+from+the+post+with+the+street+light+on+it+over+to%0ARoquefort+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The photo above is part of a huge mural on the end of a building in Roquefort. It advertises the cheese of one of the 7 producers authorized to produce within the Roquefort Appellation.</div></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We took a day trip to </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Roquefort with our friends </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Danny and Rozan and their children.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> We met Christiane, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">a </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">friend of our hosts in Moissac, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">at her house in </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Montauban for coffee then we followed her on a tour through the countryside to the city that produces the "king of cheeses".</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1053B89Y6XG9hJ1N9WynUne74kxW2j_qLGy2del5s-q_NpN9gQtAaT3Livzt1y4u5mrvc7uPM8gJxxlShkWSKkUyFAz9z1513wqAdCGH956icoToZJfucV_lVZuRpOCcVVpHDICkuB4/s1600/Roquefort+Stahls+w+Christiane.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1053B89Y6XG9hJ1N9WynUne74kxW2j_qLGy2del5s-q_NpN9gQtAaT3Livzt1y4u5mrvc7uPM8gJxxlShkWSKkUyFAz9z1513wqAdCGH956icoToZJfucV_lVZuRpOCcVVpHDICkuB4/s640/Roquefort+Stahls+w+Christiane.jpg" width="640" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AA1mu93e6acJuyk-XhfUNv4LBTtHCxH2R2zzdU_zVqteCu6vJuRJLycMiABae3ddI4bPb047HCiYBWVnW3nwMo-Puo6dDjMzRwo2OaiEGwXHf9EpCPkS3qykbrERXJLbPCmZswJ7PWQ/s1600/Roquefort+4+bells.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AA1mu93e6acJuyk-XhfUNv4LBTtHCxH2R2zzdU_zVqteCu6vJuRJLycMiABae3ddI4bPb047HCiYBWVnW3nwMo-Puo6dDjMzRwo2OaiEGwXHf9EpCPkS3qykbrERXJLbPCmZswJ7PWQ/s400/Roquefort+4+bells.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-duqCb3NLlL8UB1Ki-oNN8KrKs8dqDSBgUDY3VbN37RYVjFbNcbPnk27vRO578eT3t5nDqBIHY3sxEJWg6wZKvKgwbRRKqrbSR2lINm-smtiU1Cf8AgeGCHeWOh1dL_lFW7p5j2GXmo/s1600/Roquefort+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Some historians say that Julius Ceasar came through here about 57 years before the birth of Christ and tasted this local cheese. It is also written that in the 14th C, ruling Charles Vl had a castle nearby, and he gave the locals exclusive rights to produce this special cheese. Clearly, the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Roquefortians</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> do not promote Gorgonzola and Stilton, also wonderful blue-veined cheeses.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-duqCb3NLlL8UB1Ki-oNN8KrKs8dqDSBgUDY3VbN37RYVjFbNcbPnk27vRO578eT3t5nDqBIHY3sxEJWg6wZKvKgwbRRKqrbSR2lINm-smtiU1Cf8AgeGCHeWOh1dL_lFW7p5j2GXmo/s1600/Roquefort+01.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-duqCb3NLlL8UB1Ki-oNN8KrKs8dqDSBgUDY3VbN37RYVjFbNcbPnk27vRO578eT3t5nDqBIHY3sxEJWg6wZKvKgwbRRKqrbSR2lINm-smtiU1Cf8AgeGCHeWOh1dL_lFW7p5j2GXmo/s640/Roquefort+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">The cheese is cured in underground caverns which are vented by air shafts—natural stone chimneys that were created during landslides in the </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Combalou Plateau</i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">, millennia ago.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpM83Z4Gr1ln2dFhAA554rJRYTafWki3tUyh9oRPSUc5UEZbHZM0HZ98F19XjMzmxWW3tfPKxC-Xs3vgOZ_1d-3er3XkPiguJjqhnErznyRAqQmeAcs5whK31jwCtoz11n8lxCIZzzko/s1600/Roquefort+air+shaft.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpM83Z4Gr1ln2dFhAA554rJRYTafWki3tUyh9oRPSUc5UEZbHZM0HZ98F19XjMzmxWW3tfPKxC-Xs3vgOZ_1d-3er3XkPiguJjqhnErznyRAqQmeAcs5whK31jwCtoz11n8lxCIZzzko/s400/Roquefort+air+shaft.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The shafts descend from the cliffs way above the city to several stories below the streets into the curing caverns. The airflow helps maintain constant temperature and humidity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Note below, the cement reinforcement</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> t</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">hat shores up some of the cliff walls.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1J_XgH-rjihyphenhyphenW9XZvk5yt8BKce0eBRSndY9yZpMqBgIXcdg_f3xtsfo75n0aRjS4VS5q-3PhWMX80yBxYVyrximF9r_cwx-mZKmGAr-Tjdfx-uyVEe0ik0aRFkvm3ikO0zHNYMMb7Fs/s1600/Roquefort+cliffs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1J_XgH-rjihyphenhyphenW9XZvk5yt8BKce0eBRSndY9yZpMqBgIXcdg_f3xtsfo75n0aRjS4VS5q-3PhWMX80yBxYVyrximF9r_cwx-mZKmGAr-Tjdfx-uyVEe0ik0aRFkvm3ikO0zHNYMMb7Fs/s640/Roquefort+cliffs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRroXD4onYlMSvOHEpt490cafpgqy26ijZVJTxkbpqpoVjs_MkEsSJYpvul8CLH-3f4Btvg8zquOMrGXr8N28KHsZNCg0of4pDO2qorzLPal5hh6zFZq7jgqBQ9pZJgsrpvmK8v5kmx4/s1600/Roquefort+Le+Papillon+bldg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRroXD4onYlMSvOHEpt490cafpgqy26ijZVJTxkbpqpoVjs_MkEsSJYpvul8CLH-3f4Btvg8zquOMrGXr8N28KHsZNCg0of4pDO2qorzLPal5hh6zFZq7jgqBQ9pZJgsrpvmK8v5kmx4/s400/Roquefort+Le+Papillon+bldg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Papillon</i> is one of the seven cheese producers. We took their subterranean guided tour. Most of our group were French so that was the language our guide was speaking. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I managed to decipher enough to learn something about the history and process of Roquefort Cheese production.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMgrWs4W7tRVCAbx2YRhBTg5XesWWT6ASYnaxcHww7JzM3szln_JL-Yxf_d2mam0_UmdgZfZQfyC81Maa3brFE4Pbeys0JMylY11pRxMsCzaFbSYPrZEA2l4BYZjqRIQrczo1Iuloe5Q/s1600/roquefort+papillon+sign.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMgrWs4W7tRVCAbx2YRhBTg5XesWWT6ASYnaxcHww7JzM3szln_JL-Yxf_d2mam0_UmdgZfZQfyC81Maa3brFE4Pbeys0JMylY11pRxMsCzaFbSYPrZEA2l4BYZjqRIQrczo1Iuloe5Q/w320-h254/roquefort+papillon+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">So, how is Roquefort cheese really made? If the reader is interested, then read on for my version. If not, skip to the cat </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">photos below.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">In the dairy, which is not necessarily in the city of Roquefort, the milk is left to curdle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Curd is separated from the whey and about 9 days later the loaves are taken to the curing caverns. 12 litres of milk make a </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">2.8 kilo </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">loaf of cheese.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">During the 90 to 300 days of curing:</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">a) spores of <i>Penicillium Roqueforti </i>are<i> </i></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">added</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">. </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">This blue-green fungus is taken from rye bread that is left to go stale as can be seen in the photo below</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">b) the cheese is perforated, salted and wrapped in aluminum foil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQWak4ikksggRKqUqbMX0MoWnNIm17GtV3d8JX-0BoyDxKpaWO2sr5YJuWE8siISDvWnT7lqRpCBVzysiG4U9fcMSefrt8Agzr933O3dRFNtU9vOZhSVqMoNzppAOWd0vgu4wyi85ASg/s1600/Roquefort+mouldy+rye+brd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQWak4ikksggRKqUqbMX0MoWnNIm17GtV3d8JX-0BoyDxKpaWO2sr5YJuWE8siISDvWnT7lqRpCBVzysiG4U9fcMSefrt8Agzr933O3dRFNtU9vOZhSVqMoNzppAOWd0vgu4wyi85ASg/s640/Roquefort+mouldy+rye+brd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">1. With Roquefort cheese, the older it is, the more delicate the </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">taste— and the more mouldy and the more expensive.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">2. Always keep the cheese in </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">aluminum</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> foil at the bottom of your fridge, and j</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">ust like fine red wine, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: center;">have it sit at room temperature for about an hour before eating it. </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: right;">eh VOILA!</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">At the end of the tour, we ascend to street level again, herded </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">right into the gift shop for sampling. We buy cheese. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We really like Roquefort cheese, yeah!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfNpYvZLbGjP3bpjpszGBe5uuTikpHWsSvzS7dwwh9SUQzbHkSTJ5fM9M49Tf26_JkLi1MZOd8S4dy_p54jNN7p5OGlEwqY4LXEmhCdSDvNNwCogCy-NM7az9R6K31fJ_DA4zzgaAClI/s1600/roquefort+cat+1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfNpYvZLbGjP3bpjpszGBe5uuTikpHWsSvzS7dwwh9SUQzbHkSTJ5fM9M49Tf26_JkLi1MZOd8S4dy_p54jNN7p5OGlEwqY4LXEmhCdSDvNNwCogCy-NM7az9R6K31fJ_DA4zzgaAClI/s640/roquefort+cat+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">And, yes, I think the cat is waiting for the mouse <br />who also samples the cheese.<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnX-3KEjqrLFvLqasVy4mQmvy1H6S56t2fLqVO7T8p7HBlaBZGKMfbQnP9lZXJqdFFhBd32mKmawpYz7Pso5TJVcmVzyS3Sc4obdml_P2Hotgen_XaFe1Se1ynkLctXIass5Kq6pdA6o/s1600/roquefort+cat+2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnX-3KEjqrLFvLqasVy4mQmvy1H6S56t2fLqVO7T8p7HBlaBZGKMfbQnP9lZXJqdFFhBd32mKmawpYz7Pso5TJVcmVzyS3Sc4obdml_P2Hotgen_XaFe1Se1ynkLctXIass5Kq6pdA6o/s640/roquefort+cat+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">"meow"</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">… that is how the French pronounce the name of the big bridge, and the nearby town, from which it takes its name—<i>Millau</i>.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">See the next blog post about the amazing Millau Viaduct.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">More travel photography with local information can be seen at my website.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-74238368660836655032012-10-09T15:04:00.000-07:002023-11-26T15:57:11.802-08:00CONDOM<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span><span style="font-size: large;">ondom is in Gascony, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Département de Gers</span><span style="font-size: large;">. We wonder if Condom sells more postcards than any other city of its size in France.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The locals pronounce the name of their city, "conedoe", and the jury is not out on the etymology of the male prophylactic. Wikipedia had (some of) the following to report:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> - 16C. Italy. Dr. Fallopius (women's fallopian tube named after him) invents linen sheath as protection against syphilis. Tied on with ribbon. Colour(s) not specified;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">- 1660's. France. Dr. Condom gives randy Charles ll oiled sheep intestines for safe sex;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- 1640's. France. Ten years earlier, </span>farmers in <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Condom were rumoured to have used the sheepskin method;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">- Date unrecorded. Scotland. Used red, blue, and green ribbons under the kilt to denote competition results with ewes. (och aye!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Condom, the city, is southwest of Moissac. We are once again in wine country. Particularly well-known in France are the </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cotes de Gascogne</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> white wines. We pass vineyard after vineyard in beautiful rolling hills, and Joanne says, “Let’s go to one of the wineries.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We choose the next Domaines that we see and drive up to an old farmstead that comprises a couple of barns, small outbuildings, and the main house, all of which, of course, are stone. Together, they enclose a large gravel parking area. On two sides of the property are vineyards, row upon row, laden with bunches of grapes that are ready for harvest. <br /> <br /> Sparkling in the late morning sun on the south side of the barns is a cornfield, where long green leaves bend in the mild easterly wind. The last adjoining field has recently been plowed and the rich contrast of the red-brown earth completes the picture-postcard scene. <br /> <br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Clearly, this farmer is not just a vintner. He also has other crops. Many small family vignobles vineyards in France are mixed farms. It is common to find small wineries with their own labels in every wine-producing region. These are very good local wines, a great many of which are not available outside of France. Corolle, where we are now, is one of these. <br /> <br /> The sign on the road read Dégustation et Camping. Yes, a little further down the farm road is a campsite for the annual summer holidayers from the north.</span><div style="font-family: Verdana;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is close to noon. We know from experience that rural France shuts down from mid-day to 1:30 or 2 pm so we’d better get moving if we want to try some wines. This place is already looking deserted. There is no sign of life except for two sleepy farm dogs lying in the shade on the patio. There is no indication of a Cave or anything that even resembles a winery. But, Joanne points to a sign with the word, <i>Actuel</i>. It is underlined with an arrow. We head that way and I knock on the half-open kitchen door of the house where we are greeted by a nice old lady. <br /> <br /> I say, "<i>Bonjour madame. Est il possible à déguster votre vin?</i>"</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I can usually communicate in French in a rudimentary sort of way, somewhat haltingly, with incorrect grammar and poor vocabulary. But as long as I keep it simple, I seem to manage. I am often told that my pronunciation is really quite good, and I am happy about that, but this is not always a good thing, and frequently works against me, because if I happen to have a string of words or even a sentence or two correct, then the French will respond with words at a speed that leaves me at a loss. <br /><br /> Madame utters something unintelligible to me and disappears back into the house. She returns right away with a pleasant-looking, tall, dark-haired woman who is wearing an apron (her daughter, I assume), and I repeat my question: <i>"Nous sommes Canadiens et sont intéressés à déguster votre vin. Est-il possible?" <br /></i><br /> I'm feeling very self-conscious about massacring her mother tongue. She seems confused and I think it’s not that she doesn’t understand me but that she doesn’t really expect people to just drop by at the end of the tourist season, during lunch for wine tasting. Joanne and I both have nice smiles on our faces. <br /><br /> She replies, <i>“Non. Je ne parle pas Anglais.”</i> <br /><br /> But she is courteous and is quick to say, “Mais bien, seurdames.” <br /><br /> The sleepy dogs come alive and they follow us to the old barn. They bump into Joanne in their frantic pursuit of a lizard around the flagstones. The little creature is faster than the hounds and slithers into a crack in a wall. We enter through the barn door, leaving the panting dogs behind. They seem to be pouting about being outmaneuvered by the lizard. <br /><br /> We are in a rather dark working barn now, that bears no resemblance to other wine tasting rooms we have been in. Nothing bright and clean and shiny here with the usual wine tourist accessories. <br /><br /> I ask what kinds of wine she produces and Madame in quite a matter-of-fact manner, says they produce a red, a rosé and a dry white and what would we like to taste. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih69OzyeyEpMF1QQj9M29XZepAVZXa8OouOpiuP0GvnuzI2t5lMSCMWZ8MEOkoHM7uO3uY5DBaIm4OzfturwhnNrCcYLbnfqpB12gpf6o43Oqgwj51xnaCECX8kooSAi-Mv_kIP53d0aE/s1600/Corolle+wine.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih69OzyeyEpMF1QQj9M29XZepAVZXa8OouOpiuP0GvnuzI2t5lMSCMWZ8MEOkoHM7uO3uY5DBaIm4OzfturwhnNrCcYLbnfqpB12gpf6o43Oqgwj51xnaCECX8kooSAi-Mv_kIP53d0aE/s400/Corolle+wine.jpg" /></a> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /> We taste them all and they are magnificent. We buy one of each for about $6 a bottle. </span><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Her servings are not measured, and I am now animated, trying in earnest to speak French and we are soon engaged in a discussion. Madame has little knowledge of Canada and has not heard of Vancouver. Joanne is picking up the thread of the conversation. Madame’s teenage daughter, Isobel, was told about us by Grandma and in curiosity, is driven to the barn. Her mom says Isobel would like to go to Canada but is concerned about how cold it is there. She wants to show off her daughter’s English, but Isobel is reluctant. I pry a few words out of her, but her shyness prevails. We say “Merci bien, au revoir.” Mama gives us directions to Condom. They head off to the house for lunch and we drive on to the city, very happy that we turned in here for the dégustation. <br /><br /><br /> Condom is a thriving, pleasant city, where one gets the feeling that much is going on here. </span><div style="font-family: Verdana;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We learn that Condom is equally as important as a pilgrim walker’s destination ... </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; text-align: left;">as is Moissac.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The Knights Templar had headquarters here too. In fact, there is a tourist store that sells all kinds of things about the Knights. It was closed!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">We do more tasting at the Cave in town and buy some different wines for consumption back in Moissac. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We returned again to Condom some weeks later with our friends, Colin and Colleen. We celebrated Colin’s birthday with a gourmet lunch at </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">La Table de Cordeliers</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Before we head back, at the <i>Cave</i> </span>Colin pumps <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">some excellent </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Gascogne Rouge - vin de table,</i> into an empty water bottle</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This is a self-help system where one is charged just like at a gas station.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Helen, a local lady stocking up on her wine for a few days gave Colin instructions.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo6EnpLShMtFEZLB9OCi3pckAqfn0xfA-c0Kki1TJfI0NtgpKdW4vwaqcQfuusF_Cau5aQtJAqmV__EzQw5mwg1ujXWKH_lhxdze1xqU31RNbESrxwZ0eb9cC6VhP7lhDGygRB3Q81T8/s1600/pruneau+et+armagnac.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo6EnpLShMtFEZLB9OCi3pckAqfn0xfA-c0Kki1TJfI0NtgpKdW4vwaqcQfuusF_Cau5aQtJAqmV__EzQw5mwg1ujXWKH_lhxdze1xqU31RNbESrxwZ0eb9cC6VhP7lhDGygRB3Q81T8/s400/pruneau+et+armagnac.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">BTW, not only is this region of France known for its Armagnac but also for its plums. We decided to hedge our bets and buy a jar of plums in Armagnac.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We opened the jar about a month later in Vaison-la-Romaine to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with friends. Wow!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And by the way, take a look at the terrific prices for the magnums of Armagnac (below).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZUP4korrwAXpt_37hyphenhyphenssiPpjsf8liF0zLfylxSvn97HJKq5Vavdla2McM_ucWxF_zrZgcJJLUjZIdLWus2PmmfjpzcbxQ8TLnkjCrdi8qJAv__9O65ypxBMbfzQ-2VEZPAHvLNp8HWs/s1600/Armagnac+bottles.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZUP4korrwAXpt_37hyphenhyphenssiPpjsf8liF0zLfylxSvn97HJKq5Vavdla2McM_ucWxF_zrZgcJJLUjZIdLWus2PmmfjpzcbxQ8TLnkjCrdi8qJAv__9O65ypxBMbfzQ-2VEZPAHvLNp8HWs/s640/Armagnac+bottles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Cro53wHoxyge3pZPDMHjaoCNYrLDMNF_5Uj4cSm3exttGTGwdWFTQVrdmxHHffb2k3ojnrUjfxn8sVb2Urt9J3g2JRtCQwGdzhEU4IN08bFxfJgSmL3jM63MWV5NWoIM18hNk3Y9ss/s1600/Condom+ellen's+house+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Cro53wHoxyge3pZPDMHjaoCNYrLDMNF_5Uj4cSm3exttGTGwdWFTQVrdmxHHffb2k3ojnrUjfxn8sVb2Urt9J3g2JRtCQwGdzhEU4IN08bFxfJgSmL3jM63MWV5NWoIM18hNk3Y9ss/s640/Condom+ellen's+house+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Ellen's father was a chemist in Condom, e.g., he had an apothecary business, hence the name of her house:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerMf982cqd9jDfNdds13NXF-6WJK01oKMFhbc3u705l8srlxJEH5eubrFIxrrUmjsLCKDx9so3_lFftf_Ve7d_hE6tzwj218C5DVmrO3VZ8IWWVsTbACkDZwsi4B4_jmzrQe66RA7O60/s1600/l%2527+apothicairerie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerMf982cqd9jDfNdds13NXF-6WJK01oKMFhbc3u705l8srlxJEH5eubrFIxrrUmjsLCKDx9so3_lFftf_Ve7d_hE6tzwj218C5DVmrO3VZ8IWWVsTbACkDZwsi4B4_jmzrQe66RA7O60/s400/l%2527+apothicairerie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">She gave us a tour of her home of many angles with doorways, windows and rooms, all aslant. This tiny, vibrant little old lady transformed a house from the 1700s into a quaint Bed and Breakfast for curiosity seekers.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbo2feNWYvvXHIxjCOSI_k-GAF1dittdIMrIx8gzQmOpNVY-VFohnq-_EOPBWAncTaLR85Vd20vqqn81IZ5r5tMveAs3IIZ3bhI3kcv9gPMYz_DLrghqy1g9-E7tz0dp-sIwzKP_CAo/s1600/Condom+ellen's+house+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYbo2feNWYvvXHIxjCOSI_k-GAF1dittdIMrIx8gzQmOpNVY-VFohnq-_EOPBWAncTaLR85Vd20vqqn81IZ5r5tMveAs3IIZ3bhI3kcv9gPMYz_DLrghqy1g9-E7tz0dp-sIwzKP_CAo/s200/Condom+ellen's+house+02.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFWIbFkLhAa2HGh6LEGcuL-Y0AXKdkaJVuWg-bXvDQaOKvv3V8FHSMe2mrJ1OeV-A-3NCTISGaxA2jZURk4oiYxWdg94Y_ExW_RekLcNmZeZVOX9HvB7RDN0LL5Yn6lxMXHIceUbS4mo/s1600/Ellen's+house+Condom+sink+label+(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFWIbFkLhAa2HGh6LEGcuL-Y0AXKdkaJVuWg-bXvDQaOKvv3V8FHSMe2mrJ1OeV-A-3NCTISGaxA2jZURk4oiYxWdg94Y_ExW_RekLcNmZeZVOX9HvB7RDN0LL5Yn6lxMXHIceUbS4mo/s400/Ellen's+house+Condom+sink+label+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--- ooOoo ---</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">ahh, one more thing:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSz5xNMoHSHf1k14l0X4zz9Qxtq7WAwYvrua9dL4hPIAdCCuIYMHe2PyQJoSjYuDiDP8POjma5MM9Wu_BY56m4JvBKn6hMkUla5oiwaylQC_ip7O-vmUbK1BGyY3LVokntxe-cjkUHE3g/s1600/Condom+G+w+Musketeers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSz5xNMoHSHf1k14l0X4zz9Qxtq7WAwYvrua9dL4hPIAdCCuIYMHe2PyQJoSjYuDiDP8POjma5MM9Wu_BY56m4JvBKn6hMkUla5oiwaylQC_ip7O-vmUbK1BGyY3LVokntxe-cjkUHE3g/s640/Condom+G+w+Musketeers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Gascony is the territory of </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>d</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>’Artangan </i>and his<i> </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">celebrated</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <i>trois</i> <i>mousequetaires</i>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">"The Three Musketeers" (1884) by Alexandre Dumas.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I am unclear as to who is who in the </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">mousquetaire</span></i><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> statues:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlJE_v4JwjV3JvaobhY_GeEqmqL_e-kFMNnPOprpcHzvidIog4HGElhyphenhyphento7fE5fyppVX4kjQzJsfAG2309lCPP_zp5LcW_Hc3wwTqeqMWbYfl7jko-3lODHBsJFhDFU46W5stnSuleeI/s1600/Condom+2nd+Mouseketeer.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlJE_v4JwjV3JvaobhY_GeEqmqL_e-kFMNnPOprpcHzvidIog4HGElhyphenhyphento7fE5fyppVX4kjQzJsfAG2309lCPP_zp5LcW_Hc3wwTqeqMWbYfl7jko-3lODHBsJFhDFU46W5stnSuleeI/s320/Condom+2nd+Mouseketeer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We remove ourselves from Condom and head home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ8zM-T3rsfAGfZz_Ek5jMFqBOVvjF1hyncbYmcZlPACHThwpmBIgklohjiEVqfU_LVjjxDWcx3E8ILUsXoDIUClzJA3JA5Xwaya-ajxMuGQ1XVQjay-prxXHB0D62XJhsdxZaaHi-V0/s1600/condom+roadsign+03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ8zM-T3rsfAGfZz_Ek5jMFqBOVvjF1hyncbYmcZlPACHThwpmBIgklohjiEVqfU_LVjjxDWcx3E8ILUsXoDIUClzJA3JA5Xwaya-ajxMuGQ1XVQjay-prxXHB0D62XJhsdxZaaHi-V0/s400/condom+roadsign+03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-71113532264397148192012-10-07T15:03:00.000-07:002023-11-25T17:03:37.456-08:00ROCAMADOUR<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEugm3SXzz9Gzcd-NLi-EnfRn6mR3iOdvGpbuNw1Ne-z49zKatwb0Ia9E2HaRn9nkwl7nDGORC1yxZw0YwvyESdJSSqLLFSzF3vuHkTeu5og7KvmJUrOTjOfEoC0jdlb4G6BRx_eGPnA/s1600/Rocadamour+02.jpg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEugm3SXzz9Gzcd-NLi-EnfRn6mR3iOdvGpbuNw1Ne-z49zKatwb0Ia9E2HaRn9nkwl7nDGORC1yxZw0YwvyESdJSSqLLFSzF3vuHkTeu5og7KvmJUrOTjOfEoC0jdlb4G6BRx_eGPnA/s640/Rocadamour+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span><span style="font-size: large;">ur destination is Rocamadour, about a 90-minute drive north of Montauban along the A20 until we get to a tertiary road that winds its way through the mountains of the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Département de Lot</i>.</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">At this place, we are very close to the Dordogne. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGNEQZ6fIwyi0vz2xCHMnTixNROsSWFC8f2Uij-8iFIs_fyvLbTYLuKhzJnOzE_mH7ml42_34rMrdu2lB5zzzpmW4IUJkptdvlk8QAGPBEmR_HbjO3C0Uy9jfNzYVXe5fhP8JZa9SYao/s1600/brive_region_map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGNEQZ6fIwyi0vz2xCHMnTixNROsSWFC8f2Uij-8iFIs_fyvLbTYLuKhzJnOzE_mH7ml42_34rMrdu2lB5zzzpmW4IUJkptdvlk8QAGPBEmR_HbjO3C0Uy9jfNzYVXe5fhP8JZa9SYao/s640/brive_region_map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">But first, we stop at CAHORS in the Lot River valley. Most of the city is situated on a big fat spoon of land that is formed by a large loop in the Lot River. Cahors is a destination in itself with much to see. It is a centre for winemaking that began with the Romans. This is Malbec grape country. We only visited a <i>Cave</i> to do some tasting and to pick up some wine for our lunch and dinners at the apartment in Moissac. We are expecting guests: Danny and Rozan and their children. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Kpvvxv902Rtt65kqdr-buu9S-PQ70krJH-oFvTRDpGeFdpW5gZh9XadZ6SnOGijXnkR4U30B3j2XayXjuJVwedUpPpiZpEYDV6FcQsmUQaAN8UisiB1MqY9DLOvZkRBtqMUZh0wl3U/s1600/hill+enroute+Rocadamour.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Kpvvxv902Rtt65kqdr-buu9S-PQ70krJH-oFvTRDpGeFdpW5gZh9XadZ6SnOGijXnkR4U30B3j2XayXjuJVwedUpPpiZpEYDV6FcQsmUQaAN8UisiB1MqY9DLOvZkRBtqMUZh0wl3U/s640/hill+enroute+Rocadamour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Cahors wines are, of course, splendid and available at a moderate price. Turns out that we made some good choices: Danny, our 'sommelier' enjoyed them with us at the end of the day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3h6JLDMLJ-6blvAdAVCXJDi9QQcgUFROtpr0_HcnsGUbGFPMr20D6Dkzdvz6d1r5iFkpzZU0-BSl4dbgOP4PF8EBXevlngLMCOiHqbAUL1kEEr2aoG54AYyvDsKTPPkO1lp_5cU-L94/s1600/jo+picnic+tbl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3h6JLDMLJ-6blvAdAVCXJDi9QQcgUFROtpr0_HcnsGUbGFPMr20D6Dkzdvz6d1r5iFkpzZU0-BSl4dbgOP4PF8EBXevlngLMCOiHqbAUL1kEEr2aoG54AYyvDsKTPPkO1lp_5cU-L94/s400/jo+picnic+tbl.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">As soon as we left the highway, we began to look for a nice place for our picnic lunch: three inviting tables appeared in a purpose-built rest stop for people just like us. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They are unoccupied. We dine in the shade of yet another crumbling church that speaks out to me: </span><br />
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<span>"I was built by the Templars and now I too have been abandoned."</span></span><br />
<span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our idyllic spot for a picnic was marred by only one recurring theme in France: dog shite. While I was chewing on the last piece of my baguette, feeling cozy all over with the paté de canard oozing through my teeth, I was nearly cross-eyed, trying to maintain eye contact with some stupid fly buzzing around my face. But I got him. I stomped him dead on the grass with my right foot. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Joanne almost choked on her wine when I screamed out; then she laughed herself silly when she saw what I was yelling about. My foot was only millimetres from stomping on a pile of dog doo doo too! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span>The thing is, the French don't do poop 'n scoop. The seasoned tourist here knows how to keep his/her head down. And by the way, one can always find little roadside rest stops with or without picnic tables. If tables are there, then nowadays, there will almost always be garbage containers. But almost NEVER toilets or "outhouses" of any kind. So, you go behind a tree: maybe a beautiful plane tree planted by Napoleon. Do you know what you will ALWAYS </span></span><span>find behind that tree? Littering of whitish tissues. Keep your head down!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Anyway, I digress. They don't take the f...ing dog behind the plane tree and wipe its bum. They let it shit beside their feet while they eat at the picnic table so they can better enjoy their <i>paté</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We take all this with a grain of salt now. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We finish up and drive down the road. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PfI8LsQtTIo5oaRbeItVoQgwOaG3U5ZO8k7GhvCMYRY090jTKASVOETpkbqOuIJ4vPiGUgO2KZyPct-S-7PdRYem4C_CJbEIG5gJN2B9Va1ChSHGKSMgU3y8FeIOp8zLPjGEImiRys/s1600/Russel+Crowe+and+his+small+ass%3f.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PfI8LsQtTIo5oaRbeItVoQgwOaG3U5ZO8k7GhvCMYRY090jTKASVOETpkbqOuIJ4vPiGUgO2KZyPct-S-7PdRYem4C_CJbEIG5gJN2B9Va1ChSHGKSMgU3y8FeIOp8zLPjGEImiRys/s400/Russel+Crowe+and+his+small+ass%3f.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;">We think we see Russell Crowe with his little ass so we take his picture as we drive by</span>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We don't stop for an autograph in the event that he might take us </span><span>paparazzi and lash out at us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">All of a sudden we round yet another bend in a road that is becoming narrower with each twist and turn, and we both exclaim, "Wow, look at that!" </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Rocamadour does not exactly fit the category, of <i>village perché. </i>It is more like a cliff-hanging village. It is literally built into the side of a cliff.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I find a place to stop so we can get out and stare at this spectacle. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Disney's Fantasyland crosses my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We drive down into the valley to explore the village. Signs in the parking lot warn drivers not to park here during heavy rainstorms because the river (dry stream bed right now) floods and vehicles will be drowned.</span>
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</span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At the edge of the Car Park is a big toy train with tiny wooden seats loaded with tourists who look like they'd rather be back in the big plush coach seats they just left. The little shuttle takes them up into the town for 8 euros each. This is the only way up. We decide that, no, we are not going to do this. It really is too much like Disneyland and Joey's day at the fun park. Instead, we drive up around the edge of town, through numerous hairpin turns in 1st gear, squeezing by the parked tourist coaches from D, NL, F, I, P, and numerous other European countries.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNqaUvU9AtPcUkPvE7OMiS3P-fYgjQLm45aLVHfPKyM05Wcw7qGt0hY2jk86v_A52aVmt_JqCG5_sk7w2ShvvQukDmPwKxYMUm49Cj1z6L_9BenhV8Q-wmwAHkQMjmv76p9kyuQ9j7bQ/s1600/CU+G.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNqaUvU9AtPcUkPvE7OMiS3P-fYgjQLm45aLVHfPKyM05Wcw7qGt0hY2jk86v_A52aVmt_JqCG5_sk7w2ShvvQukDmPwKxYMUm49Cj1z6L_9BenhV8Q-wmwAHkQMjmv76p9kyuQ9j7bQ/s200/CU+G.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We came, we saw, and we left. </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">No blood was spilt. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Maybe it really wasn't Russell Crowe after all.</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We're back in time for dinner after a great excursion.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-73126139861320878162012-10-07T05:18:00.001-07:002023-11-25T11:49:26.417-08:00ALBI<div><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutGx7c9lolndVI4-PSTYCP2kJMPkmylECUdmvUHgOhPRcUsytp9aHsL6V3qtOewB7Xk7KZSSsCSMfC7ILPfjsgiNnhZkzfzqVKEcJgj3hwZ8qja4XYFK4slK-8q-6tArehiW1xEHRC3o/s1600/farmland+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutGx7c9lolndVI4-PSTYCP2kJMPkmylECUdmvUHgOhPRcUsytp9aHsL6V3qtOewB7Xk7KZSSsCSMfC7ILPfjsgiNnhZkzfzqVKEcJgj3hwZ8qja4XYFK4slK-8q-6tArehiW1xEHRC3o/s640/farmland+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;">lbi is in the </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Département du </i></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Tarn </i>of the<i> Midi Pyrénee</i></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">s. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKumlexqn78Psv_IQHahkDCc_iYI1X01fBKj1-8NunypP-irCNIP3OdZkG5a0dtnPE2-r3ZuQUE6HyP_s46dLFohktzxskVUS9DKVlwXe0u7lLwXOdkr6oX9Gu8z-ZaOC5j_J-PFN83Q/s1600/map_albi.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKumlexqn78Psv_IQHahkDCc_iYI1X01fBKj1-8NunypP-irCNIP3OdZkG5a0dtnPE2-r3ZuQUE6HyP_s46dLFohktzxskVUS9DKVlwXe0u7lLwXOdkr6oX9Gu8z-ZaOC5j_J-PFN83Q/s640/map_albi.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Traces of settlements from the Bronze Age have been found here. That would be 3,000 to 600 BC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Today Albi</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> is a fairly large centre with 52,000 inhabitants. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">As we approached the city on the autoroute, I had images of driving through the industrial, big box commercial outskirts of a North American borough. The entrance to Albi from the freeway is not pretty. No worries. <i>Centre Ville</i> still takes one back in time.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Historically, Albi was a major theatre in the 13th C where the great Christian schisms took place.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Most of us </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">studied</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> medieval history i</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">n high school, then the Middle Ages, then the Reformation. I managed to get through all that </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">in school </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">but it was all a bit dusty and ashen, rather obscure stuff.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am much older now—a tourist who is awed by all the old architecture, and I enjoy the food and the wine, and the quirks of the French, and the romance of it all. I really want to understand more of what I'm seeing. But unless one is a student of the Classics, a writer with a research staff, or a professor with academic grants, a lot of these antiquities can run together and it all gets rather confusing. But now I'm certainly taking a little time to do some reading, to learn enough to connect some dots. </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntVLOsfpyCDt1oGpbucoopWh__iJVfhdr1vvX5Qfmo_WId-VfmC8uaa4Xxd9oSZFTpx06vblyMrdth5CjREMp6GLloy2N__340vKdOuS9OAkhLCTd0jQC2QGVO26bbZBGrTRWMP062_w/s1600/jo+ovr+pnt+d+republique.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntVLOsfpyCDt1oGpbucoopWh__iJVfhdr1vvX5Qfmo_WId-VfmC8uaa4Xxd9oSZFTpx06vblyMrdth5CjREMp6GLloy2N__340vKdOuS9OAkhLCTd0jQC2QGVO26bbZBGrTRWMP062_w/s640/jo+ovr+pnt+d+republique.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The Albigensians in the 13th Century lived in a region that was independent of the French Crown and the Cathars practised their own version of Christianity, e.g., different interpretations of God Almighty and the Holy Spirit were espoused and laid on by the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">powerful </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Catholics around them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In 1208, the crunch came and the neighbouring clergy </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">escalated</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> their persecution and repression into warfare, indeed, genocide</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DFEylcgU8KYmZqbPZC-UQTn7SIs_uJJYeapx0DVk-6lHTXAInT3DfgC9DpNv_nt2JnirXDESUlig468j4Z6DdA01BEXqGEgyvy8XvSQwEppcGryuJ694HSDijcQJSlzgRnIkGkr-dkU/s1600/albi+cathedral+03.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DFEylcgU8KYmZqbPZC-UQTn7SIs_uJJYeapx0DVk-6lHTXAInT3DfgC9DpNv_nt2JnirXDESUlig468j4Z6DdA01BEXqGEgyvy8XvSQwEppcGryuJ694HSDijcQJSlzgRnIkGkr-dkU/s400/albi+cathedral+03.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntVLOsfpyCDt1oGpbucoopWh__iJVfhdr1vvX5Qfmo_WId-VfmC8uaa4Xxd9oSZFTpx06vblyMrdth5CjREMp6GLloy2N__340vKdOuS9OAkhLCTd0jQC2QGVO26bbZBGrTRWMP062_w/s1600/jo+ovr+pnt+d+republique.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OIEmLUXx1b4TdC-sEmk9nfAclJYh7RyGldM2tAIqKvcQD5H28qE0cuiCo1c2L8WRSJwGkvuBVtduwsB9EdnMZWiHuT33SUNw6caxuu_flLgtgCOyJVObEZfF8bc1YcdZKaA-BQdk0cE/s1600/albi+cathedral+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OIEmLUXx1b4TdC-sEmk9nfAclJYh7RyGldM2tAIqKvcQD5H28qE0cuiCo1c2L8WRSJwGkvuBVtduwsB9EdnMZWiHuT33SUNw6caxuu_flLgtgCOyJVObEZfF8bc1YcdZKaA-BQdk0cE/s320/albi+cathedral+02.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Cathars were burned at the stake. The French Crown annexed the region and the Pope and his brigands of Bishops bullied their way in and they soon became the new status quo.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Bricks were laid for the <i>Cathedrale de Sainte-Cecile </i>in 1282. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">It is the tallest brick structure in the world—jaw-dropping impressive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Regrettably</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">, my camera has not captured the utterly amazing architecture, engineering and beauty of these buildings.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLQb7FypIgJ6ZAyKuSgwFFPIHuL1tk2sCEqzq99I35V6dNoPwM2_Fn0Uv47KcjZsPwRVYcwl06nO4UpyM3vF4eQcTXmUAMIqrc3KN75a1FosrgsoAjK_648yGuUsMBjKjl8aSi3eNheI/s1600/albi+cathedral+04.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLQb7FypIgJ6ZAyKuSgwFFPIHuL1tk2sCEqzq99I35V6dNoPwM2_Fn0Uv47KcjZsPwRVYcwl06nO4UpyM3vF4eQcTXmUAMIqrc3KN75a1FosrgsoAjK_648yGuUsMBjKjl8aSi3eNheI/s640/albi+cathedral+04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI7jOUCpLcAyqHpM4B_rznErYP6Q99UKUCVhn6dkfiOaHo83CebrE3hTpPbQjs4FFlsQ-od4Pwl5BelUGf37QIGJUo2S5IGEW23ronEJx_tAB1fGd4_hvcTmr7rJIKuNaHXe48uts4Hk/s1600/gargoyle.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI7jOUCpLcAyqHpM4B_rznErYP6Q99UKUCVhn6dkfiOaHo83CebrE3hTpPbQjs4FFlsQ-od4Pwl5BelUGf37QIGJUo2S5IGEW23ronEJx_tAB1fGd4_hvcTmr7rJIKuNaHXe48uts4Hk/s200/gargoyle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We are always asking ourselves, "How did they do it?"</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Above right of the gargoyle is part of the ceiling in the transept of the cathedral. A close look reveals coats of arms of the local nobility. The Red and the Black ruled. (read Stendahl)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjbP1o0tau-FSZP3ZAl3YMNqaXR0X_iqTuAV3cDsXRMlZCVXSpCi9TnYny2NhCSLgfXMmUFghGUTXGH1PF6dSv996DKnecGfaT4KN08yHZPvpuou-F9BIeSz2ir78llPb2Vt30BH9AeQ/s1600/albi+cathedral+05.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjbP1o0tau-FSZP3ZAl3YMNqaXR0X_iqTuAV3cDsXRMlZCVXSpCi9TnYny2NhCSLgfXMmUFghGUTXGH1PF6dSv996DKnecGfaT4KN08yHZPvpuou-F9BIeSz2ir78llPb2Vt30BH9AeQ/s400/albi+cathedral+05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Us with the gardens at the </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Palais de Berbie</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> behind.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OXBf_Wz7dvUb7qwOfh6d8g9CQIWoym4xvE8jcgPc3FrHeUK0a4QWirDJCs8ei3zpdwEGoIa61GH5WkpO-SAtO0EMTqTVZIFEIAzO4JX6Li4B2NbpNlJMYO6RLw1MgAqoBGqnwuEEVxQ/s1600/g+n+j+at+garden.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OXBf_Wz7dvUb7qwOfh6d8g9CQIWoym4xvE8jcgPc3FrHeUK0a4QWirDJCs8ei3zpdwEGoIa61GH5WkpO-SAtO0EMTqTVZIFEIAzO4JX6Li4B2NbpNlJMYO6RLw1MgAqoBGqnwuEEVxQ/s400/g+n+j+at+garden.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">There is a funny story about this photo: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">Many of us have eaten </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">La Vache Qui Rit</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">. It's a processed cheese that's available everywhere in France, internationally, actually. I don't recommend it. It's France's version of Kraft <i>Cheeze Whiz</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I should have stuck with the old saw, "Say cheese". Even the French will say that to get a smile for the camera. Referring to my wife as a laughing cow got me no cheese for lunch on this day.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Palais de Berbie</span></i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">was completed in the late 13th C by the new Bishop, murderer of Cathars. He lived in the palace, and he presided in the cathedral right beside it. Locally, he was God incarnate, the <i>head honcho</i>. Those were the good old days for the Catholic Church. Today, if one rolled an old cannon into any French church and the rusty old ball was fired, it probably wouldn't hit any locals</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">. A</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> few tourists might capture it on video.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGdKh-IAP5GahOo_OHeVth-EBiWb8xFiNTowvh3bRqHCC-tdNoW3o6ZwX7ysG3pAeiUhv1xROdoAXcN-w2UxfbG3xWU7g7uO53_CQsx2ZpWjp6atoFi2mMSEjKul9QZdTcsYol03C7-I/s1600/notre+garden+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGdKh-IAP5GahOo_OHeVth-EBiWb8xFiNTowvh3bRqHCC-tdNoW3o6ZwX7ysG3pAeiUhv1xROdoAXcN-w2UxfbG3xWU7g7uO53_CQsx2ZpWjp6atoFi2mMSEjKul9QZdTcsYol03C7-I/s640/notre+garden+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Palais de Berbie and the Cathédrale de Sainte-Cécile are among the most recent inductees of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. <br /><br /> Do the gardens look familiar to French </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">tourists?</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> They should. They were designed by Mr. Notre, the horticultural landscape designer who did the Versailles gardens.</span> </div><div><br /></div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfweofXD8_159u5Je5kngP5DEj1DwWT9bNj35unllGRaRFjc0OIZZIM5FtIv13_fX3jpBFkBFo2PLIO-dVXQEbfgFBnm0heAoFkJWYyghVwtOH4fZ65BsTPPsX5WBKi6FEFsi9VLOdq4/s1600/notre+garden+02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfweofXD8_159u5Je5kngP5DEj1DwWT9bNj35unllGRaRFjc0OIZZIM5FtIv13_fX3jpBFkBFo2PLIO-dVXQEbfgFBnm0heAoFkJWYyghVwtOH4fZ65BsTPPsX5WBKi6FEFsi9VLOdq4/s640/notre+garden+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgJ9YCacFd_MGhNa_OBUaY70qmvwUXOmmE1cU4Hp3vg1rp5bBUxj-wx6P5pwQ2WpP1p5hyphenhyphenOrNz6x0DfkpWewabd9DrfbPs2AO1Qg-0SqoeRILk5SAH2q_GG1cOemqW3UNejHcu0PFDxo/s1600/no+parking+balls.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgJ9YCacFd_MGhNa_OBUaY70qmvwUXOmmE1cU4Hp3vg1rp5bBUxj-wx6P5pwQ2WpP1p5hyphenhyphenOrNz6x0DfkpWewabd9DrfbPs2AO1Qg-0SqoeRILk5SAH2q_GG1cOemqW3UNejHcu0PFDxo/s400/no+parking+balls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0w1gEN13WfmZCmZfoiucjde192Ach-d36Ijt95_cAQOBEljfm19ZsAPFyy_dXZqj8pWVne7u2a0LbFo29P47yNGlWZvs9Vwazg-XAyaAo32kh6lq-m9JWVpfLqWr5f3yYysgFEudLvM/s1600/pont+vieux.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0w1gEN13WfmZCmZfoiucjde192Ach-d36Ijt95_cAQOBEljfm19ZsAPFyy_dXZqj8pWVne7u2a0LbFo29P47yNGlWZvs9Vwazg-XAyaAo32kh6lq-m9JWVpfLqWr5f3yYysgFEudLvM/s400/pont+vieux.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Pont Vieux</i> was constructed in 1040!</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">These bridges cross the River Tarn, as do the bridges downstream in Mantauban and Moissac.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Below is the <i>Pont du 22 Aout 1944</i>. What a strange name for a bridge. To do with a WW2 battle. I believe. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrG92NNqAfIoYAULxd25-QmFTlGu0hE7d9iFycmgFByz4wDkfWNMqXQwzZeGp27ATmTjmv6b1Kw_ibbYaCc9QhqMwG4Jn7hRFqDfbI7vLqeB1PXF_jvg5y5lnEibhb7b4ZNMQwguZOEI/s1600/pont+du+22+aout+1944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrG92NNqAfIoYAULxd25-QmFTlGu0hE7d9iFycmgFByz4wDkfWNMqXQwzZeGp27ATmTjmv6b1Kw_ibbYaCc9QhqMwG4Jn7hRFqDfbI7vLqeB1PXF_jvg5y5lnEibhb7b4ZNMQwguZOEI/s640/pont+du+22+aout+1944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZAlTEPnoZxdJlrVB99bZCNR6YSTlB2YRP4K4ekbI_lCRYrqOgYbNPo5l_WE3rwz2BYBdCRjProYQK6VxL9bAsqF6PqXqrsHh2rkXyuM4e3rc6jvb0pB3SfZPBCULOghDNSjtP_WxIQU/s1600/Toulouse+Lautrec+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZAlTEPnoZxdJlrVB99bZCNR6YSTlB2YRP4K4ekbI_lCRYrqOgYbNPo5l_WE3rwz2BYBdCRjProYQK6VxL9bAsqF6PqXqrsHh2rkXyuM4e3rc6jvb0pB3SfZPBCULOghDNSjtP_WxIQU/s640/Toulouse+Lautrec+01.jpg" width="473" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Most of us are familiar with the magnificent works of Toulouse-Lautrec, right?</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">A great tribute to this little man who left the world with a large legacy of art is <i>Le</i> <i>Musée de </i></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>Toulouse-Lautrec</i> in Albi.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I love this painting, a small piece of which I have photographed for my collection of old images, personal favourites that I stumbled upon while in France.</span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRiZBpo-7WHjZNc8c-KK_v-_zqnGbF0uOkQGurghINVnbxj0x004s7vp1B4QwoK7uX0debwbS6q-g75iJoegfZC7yrj5ck6VJ_t0zklk7Xv9GhMyy9rc04uJVCqj1SzfCrov87nJR_xI/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRiZBpo-7WHjZNc8c-KK_v-_zqnGbF0uOkQGurghINVnbxj0x004s7vp1B4QwoK7uX0debwbS6q-g75iJoegfZC7yrj5ck6VJ_t0zklk7Xv9GhMyy9rc04uJVCqj1SzfCrov87nJR_xI/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://gary-karlsen.artistwebsites.com/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-64139062839806905602012-10-03T06:08:00.002-07:002023-11-25T11:14:13.754-08:00BRUNIQUEL and PENNE <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">RUNIQUEL and PENNE are situated high above the Aveyron Valley, a few kilometres east of Montricoux. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2vHT9TlFqCpRUREHKHhshi6XnKHcf7Lug1T5Drcof452wSxjhuPCiFgB0wFQeSHcc5lB2vyoKUb9VTc2zHbnigiqbxcaQPFJECKAj_B6NpAOXTA-psiRPTPDFirfrcEE9u1eBjn7i40/s1600/Aveyron+from+Brun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2vHT9TlFqCpRUREHKHhshi6XnKHcf7Lug1T5Drcof452wSxjhuPCiFgB0wFQeSHcc5lB2vyoKUb9VTc2zHbnigiqbxcaQPFJECKAj_B6NpAOXTA-psiRPTPDFirfrcEE9u1eBjn7i40/s640/Aveyron+from+Brun.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfKl3Cj-QFe2V6lfNIYvFOkDGAvgqUAsVBBTRYg9fnXnP9oZwaBy7tLoE7pxok7KljpHWr8sSdBiOWy4BWSVQiubJjVawJhViJ40cjE9ew5L28y0fwpQdBhHlueFX_gb7M4toKAsV-3U/s1600/Aveyron+pan+fr+Penne.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfKl3Cj-QFe2V6lfNIYvFOkDGAvgqUAsVBBTRYg9fnXnP9oZwaBy7tLoE7pxok7KljpHWr8sSdBiOWy4BWSVQiubJjVawJhViJ40cjE9ew5L28y0fwpQdBhHlueFX_gb7M4toKAsV-3U/s400/Aveyron+pan+fr+Penne.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">These are fortified towns dating from the 13th Century. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Doing a little historical research prior to touring through them helps to make these fascinating villages come much more alive when rambling around.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Place de l'Horlage</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLLT4V9xpTxdUll1K6mNAp86XIW0H8GShU8prOaHp9WYo00NpGqCae8IakNoO9JFhZcN7cyIJt0AwsInWRGUd6DeHL30KeWZirzN0vo9cPFv68nEJCVxOPZHTU7C-tFD153ntAVESd2M/s1600/Royal+Treasurer's+%22lancet%22+house.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLLT4V9xpTxdUll1K6mNAp86XIW0H8GShU8prOaHp9WYo00NpGqCae8IakNoO9JFhZcN7cyIJt0AwsInWRGUd6DeHL30KeWZirzN0vo9cPFv68nEJCVxOPZHTU7C-tFD153ntAVESd2M/s400/Royal+Treasurer's+%22lancet%22+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Royal Treasurer's lancet house (above right). </i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>"Lancet" means pointed arches.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Characteristic of the monastic architecture of the day was the castle with groups of houses around its base.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The lord was high up in his castle and the walls that surrounded the town offered protection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The religious order owned the land and contracted with the secular power for the construction.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Bruniquel has undergone major reconstruction and renovations. Penne, less so, with the ruins of its castle crumbling on a high rocky outcropping of limestone. Both these towns have a panoramic view of the meandering Aveyron River below, winding its way through lush forests. O</span><span style="text-align: justify;">ver the hills are p</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">roductive farmlands of cereal crops and mixed orchards.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Archaeological digs at Bruniquel have revealed Palaeolithic artifacts giving testimony to a Magdalenian culture of some 15,000 years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We <i>pique-nique'd</i> at <i>Place du Rocas</i> in Bruniquel. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This was the town's medieval market square where flax, hemp and saffron were once sold—for longer than North Americans have used flax, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">hemp and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">saffron.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Today we renamed the square <i>Place du Chats Macabre</i> because of all the creepy cats that hang out here meowing for scraps of food. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Remember Marcel Lenoir from the previous blog posting? Well, he lived in Bruniquel from 1915 to 1921. (I could almost feel his presence)</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Today t</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">he town of Penne would have a dove rather than a sword to represent it. In the Middle Ages, Penne was a stronghold of the Albigensians. </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It is more a centre of art than of war. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Yes, it is another old-world village; but Penne has its own colour and it is an easy town to get to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And the new pilgrims; we see them here too, for this place is on the Campostella walk.</span>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-33520333235307724662012-10-02T06:58:00.001-07:002023-11-25T11:04:28.398-08:00MONTRICOUX<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">E</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">ast of Montauban along the D115 we cross the river into MONTRICOUX, at the entrance of the Gorges des Aveyron.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">During the heat wave, we are looking for some water to cool off in. We stop here because there is easy access to the river. But we only wade in knee deep, partly because the water was so shallow, but mostly because the water is decidedly less than fresh!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When the weather cools, we return to explore Montricoux.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EIy9An_Ns_99Ag3LrzytZpTa8vMfxWzhdWYXzOKt_sQPkm7ZpZcKEwZv7lPk0-X8lT_tUvlEfx1YtyqLUe7k8G-J-5uaWl4Gpvo1ezV7TWLlzt9oe67fzva5Z17msrzUevTTes9R1vs/s1600/Montricoux+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EIy9An_Ns_99Ag3LrzytZpTa8vMfxWzhdWYXzOKt_sQPkm7ZpZcKEwZv7lPk0-X8lT_tUvlEfx1YtyqLUe7k8G-J-5uaWl4Gpvo1ezV7TWLlzt9oe67fzva5Z17msrzUevTTes9R1vs/s320/Montricoux+04.jpg" width="268" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A very ancient town, where in the 13th Century</span><b style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">the Knights Templar built</span><b style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">a castle here which became one of the most important Templar strongholds in France. </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">This was the Commander’s residence, a fortress and a dungeon. We know about all the blood that was split between the Catholics and Protestants during those bad old days. Eventually, the fortress was attacked by the Huguenots and burned down. Today the ruins are still in evidence. The church of St. Pierre (above) still bears the Templar symbols.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToaxtcw-TfanpcCYv50f7gJC6ozRiXx0ZdG8hgUX5qm539Nd4YOIK6hKyfwzDUcv8oQjhG1iRZtcAzn3whMfAVOa72cjAi1GynRkMnBPvnYEWQ00chb3HIR2YcHn20nzxhCCiRcihfgY/s1600/mont+church+window.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToaxtcw-TfanpcCYv50f7gJC6ozRiXx0ZdG8hgUX5qm539Nd4YOIK6hKyfwzDUcv8oQjhG1iRZtcAzn3whMfAVOa72cjAi1GynRkMnBPvnYEWQ00chb3HIR2YcHn20nzxhCCiRcihfgY/s640/mont+church+window.jpg" width="408" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Pope Clement V from Avignon, under orders of King Phillip lV, shut down the Templars in 1312. Greedy Phil and his royals were bankrupt and the Templars had bags and bags of money, banks, and power throughout the known Christian world. After flourishing for nearly 200 years, the Templars were destroyed, and their leaders were tortured into giving false confessions before being burned at the stake.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The Templars left indelible marks all over France. They drained the swamps (marais) in Paris, hence the Marais district. We have walked and driven in their footsteps throughout France. We continue to do so. Their history is a great read for those who have an interest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoLWCySdH5hUWr5FslnDTNRoz3bhXbTsGiDS4D0pNYBqx5s-lz9HwPX0sB4arbq78E0btGfAVh3GDH_ormZn7jGJILq3_0mJipwtcfbbP9O6HuTzqdK9BObdZnzrgdl-uhoT1tMhOOHE/s1600/Montricoux+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoLWCySdH5hUWr5FslnDTNRoz3bhXbTsGiDS4D0pNYBqx5s-lz9HwPX0sB4arbq78E0btGfAVh3GDH_ormZn7jGJILq3_0mJipwtcfbbP9O6HuTzqdK9BObdZnzrgdl-uhoT1tMhOOHE/s640/Montricoux+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We walk around the winding streets with more unrestored medieval houses than we have seen in any one town. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span>And most of these buildings are occupied.</span> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana; min-height: 19px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuaPc4jGYrjw7ML7tbEwkdqPYqH7wLojy9R4mrZi9VIANfnqM4mRbQocXxiNyma33qXdlEX5oK658cBY8-mQYMWPDzBs3TFEcJN0y-mTjLEX1o5ZyCeVnnCMAf8kV3_gzbELVCNGhR_0/s1600/Montricoux+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuaPc4jGYrjw7ML7tbEwkdqPYqH7wLojy9R4mrZi9VIANfnqM4mRbQocXxiNyma33qXdlEX5oK658cBY8-mQYMWPDzBs3TFEcJN0y-mTjLEX1o5ZyCeVnnCMAf8kV3_gzbELVCNGhR_0/s320/Montricoux+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbExla85Drmy8n3dGRH2waDmwFY9mSCKiSjGjEcYNJjF8y9nIllM9vd9HWAIjsq9aI8nuvSrJeODDYvbER7T6fvj18Gl3EXGxyHgjf9YutuhpFIWJmiVBmGXT6hV6N_uL1BRc1LPmtg9k/s1600/Montricoux+03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbExla85Drmy8n3dGRH2waDmwFY9mSCKiSjGjEcYNJjF8y9nIllM9vd9HWAIjsq9aI8nuvSrJeODDYvbER7T6fvj18Gl3EXGxyHgjf9YutuhpFIWJmiVBmGXT6hV6N_uL1BRc1LPmtg9k/s640/Montricoux+03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We pass by many leaning buildings and tumbledown ruins and happen upon an old manor house that is the </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Musée de Marcel Lenoir.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bs33OuAXj9Mj8kpK_k0bEen0RUDt8HM6ZwXTQcFi5o5e3TEC27F3TnodfhMA2mq8oyLfHpsGOOf8MqRmd1pg8g3H3MQQQjH49BUmXahIcNv2xYSVXwx1jd-qg5BS-t0NOJIkJ9-wZ2c/s1600/Lenoir+self+portrait.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bs33OuAXj9Mj8kpK_k0bEen0RUDt8HM6ZwXTQcFi5o5e3TEC27F3TnodfhMA2mq8oyLfHpsGOOf8MqRmd1pg8g3H3MQQQjH49BUmXahIcNv2xYSVXwx1jd-qg5BS-t0NOJIkJ9-wZ2c/s320/Lenoir+self+portrait.jpg" width="220" /></a><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s400/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" width="335" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpYOhhl9GzHzwrGIZKr6eu_Q7B0WEVI7ITV9j5peeeV5FYugNkEt9aWCEoEP9yZuHV5sn-3e9i-FcCtCz-V1IunN7cvaUUmE1Yu3I9qRa8R3h_t9ch_a7_x4uiqRRSn7Zk2iNvPVqHs/s1600/Lenoir+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></a><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"></i></div>
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<i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Lenoir </i><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">self-portrait (above)</i></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Lenoir was born in Montauban, lived in Paris for most of his adult life and created the bulk of his works in Montparnasse with contemporaries like Matisse, Monet, Victor Hugo, and later, Picasso. He died in Montricoux in 1931.</span><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">We were not familiar with Lenoir, but his entire collection of drawings, paintings, and ceramics are housed here for display. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">We are so glad that we just happened upon it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBkeZdbalrhyhLvOPMDuvvmM0BaBnSyAWuuQohUyVPlIhdvy8LTQ-1V7O6wvfWXb1K2clilJI3Cv5164RzgDewbQrcn1Q_MoAw-yPAklUJFzpStH8jkt_l65XUBQyXRj7JJmbL1tkkn8/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBkeZdbalrhyhLvOPMDuvvmM0BaBnSyAWuuQohUyVPlIhdvy8LTQ-1V7O6wvfWXb1K2clilJI3Cv5164RzgDewbQrcn1Q_MoAw-yPAklUJFzpStH8jkt_l65XUBQyXRj7JJmbL1tkkn8/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://noordinaryseaman.com" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-27905163358921193172012-09-30T13:33:00.001-07:002023-11-25T10:55:01.075-08:00MOISSAC Pt 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 of 3</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span><span style="font-size: large;">riends, Danny and Rozan and their little children joined us for a while</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"> in Moissac.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> Colin and Colleen will be our travel </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">companions in France for a couple of months or so. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_OFmACDNG8HGC7tkuPJiv4gJbNeBjhWAHxoHttTN-qhYhY1Bnh3N1N6X89UJDS39ib1ecFlXlO7Aw3KLryF_KC16wsodqxRwgwSgji4fV6WuO0bokFHovmEzuyfZe5QRo9BQtEdlA2o/s1600/Claudine+Rozann+Joseph+(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_OFmACDNG8HGC7tkuPJiv4gJbNeBjhWAHxoHttTN-qhYhY1Bnh3N1N6X89UJDS39ib1ecFlXlO7Aw3KLryF_KC16wsodqxRwgwSgji4fV6WuO0bokFHovmEzuyfZe5QRo9BQtEdlA2o/s320/Claudine+Rozann+Joseph+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">One day when we were all together we were invited to a very special lunch at the home of a French couple, Claudine and Joseph.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRgDBC7Adfgc8drARwogmFLeQCmPZSZKI761IDIbY30iLEdjl9ZfG77U5EkanyljwtGFnDa2VWnBCxKc7xYAsGFyA7XUYq3Dno3fveB7pUona78eH5RnF-wiITa85YmuvabzEuVtDk0A/s1600/Claudine+&+Joseph.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRgDBC7Adfgc8drARwogmFLeQCmPZSZKI761IDIbY30iLEdjl9ZfG77U5EkanyljwtGFnDa2VWnBCxKc7xYAsGFyA7XUYq3Dno3fveB7pUona78eH5RnF-wiITa85YmuvabzEuVtDk0A/w400-h225/Claudine+&+Joseph.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>This has been a highlight of our visit—the wonderful hospitality extended by our French hosts. Claudine went to great lengths to prepare for all eight of us, an exceptional, traditional meal of the region that included local wines, homemade </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">foie gras</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> and </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">cassoulet</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The meal began with aperitifs of cassis and her own orange wine. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Before we moved to the table, Claudine gave the three women a small gift, wrapped in coloured paper and tied with a small ribbon. It was a memento of her hometown. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We left the table with very full stomachs, and arms full too. We were sent on our way with enough cassoulet, cakes, orange wine, fresh tomatoes and aubergine from her garden for another meal </span>or two<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRb29NBvHNVQTU8zAwd8pAyI1V15NXUfCXDDztc11dpl10QLlQTOekgL1cDkj4rk9PdPIBjAdfOodaQsZwHBWLQt67JXzvvKRBpgWW8UFUSp8rHLLQXngiCBIf26WXRupYvXFrOW3_Ns/s1600/Joanne+Claudine+Colleen.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRb29NBvHNVQTU8zAwd8pAyI1V15NXUfCXDDztc11dpl10QLlQTOekgL1cDkj4rk9PdPIBjAdfOodaQsZwHBWLQt67JXzvvKRBpgWW8UFUSp8rHLLQXngiCBIf26WXRupYvXFrOW3_Ns/s640/Joanne+Claudine+Colleen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We will never forget how Claudine and Joseph opened their home to us in Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Grave! </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">A note about restaurants in Moissac:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Joanne selected our first night to dine out in Moissac from a brochure of recommended restaurants in the <i>Tarn et Garonne</i> that are noted for their excellent presentation of foods in the region. <i>L’Abbeye </i>is in <i>Place Roger Delthil,</i> the square right below our apartment, only metres from the abbey. Excellent meals at reasonable prices. We returned with our friends for our last dinner out in Moissac. Patrice, proprietor and formerly a Chef in Lyon, served us personally. The service and food was memorable. The first course of my <i>Plat du Jour -</i> grilled gizzards of duck - was delicious beyond comparison. Only the French could come up with such a plate. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF9qUJ99pdWT_HwaKQcunlVy_o-55YJeRLh8xveitCFyZPVamydKGCsQd_sPptMUPoglIjZGZHSwow1AVIUHxDuhU60uw-wS26ZXznObjW3TTa9gxMePLHv3SmQinU_yHRk_uTOt7zBY/s1600/Julie+cooks+at+Fromage+Rit.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF9qUJ99pdWT_HwaKQcunlVy_o-55YJeRLh8xveitCFyZPVamydKGCsQd_sPptMUPoglIjZGZHSwow1AVIUHxDuhU60uw-wS26ZXznObjW3TTa9gxMePLHv3SmQinU_yHRk_uTOt7zBY/s400/Julie+cooks+at+Fromage+Rit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">During our stay in Moissac, we enjoyed a couple of simple meals at Jean Pierre’s </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Fromage Rit, </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(a play on words) cooked by his mate Julie. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Jean Pierre, a friend of Claudine’s, ended our dinners with complimentary glasses of his <i>digestive</i> concoction. It lightened our steps for our return to the apartment.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The third restaurant of mention is the Hotel Felix. Just on the edge of the city is this place that is advertised by a French billboard that depicts a cowboy from the Wild West. No North American tourist would turn in there, but we heard this place served the best <i>escargots</i> and <i>grenouille</i> (frog legs) in the area. </span></div></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We ate there with Danny and Rozan. Wow! What a </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">delicious meal. And inexpensive.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The funny thing is, this is essentially a motel with a Western motif. The owner drives a big old Cadillac. The rooms are little houses, replicas (French versions) of the old American ghost town, complete with a teepee, which happens to be constructed of cement. Needless to say, the owner has a passion for the American Wild West.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsjHAs32wiP6enim_aflI6BITbSq9D-55l6nuYH394utbM836_mdmSM9JnHAGsJ-6IB9nP6GSjxfeGlb1VCghEu9jPLEoV1x2CwdLGeUCK1hCHli_6ByRhxhhI33VK97kh6vfBRPjBsI/s1600/Colleeen+eats+frogs+legs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsjHAs32wiP6enim_aflI6BITbSq9D-55l6nuYH394utbM836_mdmSM9JnHAGsJ-6IB9nP6GSjxfeGlb1VCghEu9jPLEoV1x2CwdLGeUCK1hCHli_6ByRhxhhI33VK97kh6vfBRPjBsI/s320/Colleeen+eats+frogs+legs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Colleen reluctantly tried the frog legs. She did not like them! But she was brave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The city of AGENS is in the Aquitane, about 45 minutes west of Moissac and well worth the drive for a visit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GsnSLwqRcb5V0LuH1PNtWc_X-zG28wt7k-5lhBdziRbdLF8f6Vu2eQ0teIb2KQyA4cghcWF3CCatIanbZzdR580huBkm4zw3aLP9omNffk2Ojyosy-YigjN49PhDrLsova3L7COX_wM/s1600/Agen+-+flatiron+building.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GsnSLwqRcb5V0LuH1PNtWc_X-zG28wt7k-5lhBdziRbdLF8f6Vu2eQ0teIb2KQyA4cghcWF3CCatIanbZzdR580huBkm4zw3aLP9omNffk2Ojyosy-YigjN49PhDrLsova3L7COX_wM/s400/Agen+-+flatiron+building.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We came here for a day trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9AM27ntYfVbvIk62Cfv8fRJd7MvoLSje22EYeePpBT2u8P4jx7gLu-tFPPfcNT-rtnhetf0y_UubHkVzlGBf9Lpk7tHUDWUq28ychgXgUrG658Ya1wNXarwoqtASWHqY7hClP34wsGE/s1600/Agen+-+meaning+of+sign%3f.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9AM27ntYfVbvIk62Cfv8fRJd7MvoLSje22EYeePpBT2u8P4jx7gLu-tFPPfcNT-rtnhetf0y_UubHkVzlGBf9Lpk7tHUDWUq28ychgXgUrG658Ya1wNXarwoqtASWHqY7hClP34wsGE/s320/Agen+-+meaning+of+sign%3f.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">It is a medium-sized, rather cosmopolitan "alive" city with a wide traffic-free, people-friendly, bright promenade in the centre of town. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>The sign in the picture to the right: what does it mean?</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbWmRN9C9RXGt_cnykEFDWJIMvthGTBgvhMZiiLao7C0HA8QiiP3cOp4Xg-8ZLiGiYyYT-KVAJpS3TzvKbMdLO3VGCYYieWi6KUl30NRq6uT-bsOMoY25BWwb-6VcrZ8rZxwHhkuCobc/s1600/Agen+-+cooling+down.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbWmRN9C9RXGt_cnykEFDWJIMvthGTBgvhMZiiLao7C0HA8QiiP3cOp4Xg-8ZLiGiYyYT-KVAJpS3TzvKbMdLO3VGCYYieWi6KUl30NRq6uT-bsOMoY25BWwb-6VcrZ8rZxwHhkuCobc/s640/Agen+-+cooling+down.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Cooling down </i></span><i>with water jets </i><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">on the promenade</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">MONTAUBAN, about 45 minutes east of Moissac, is one of the most important commercial, medical, and administrative centres of the <i>Midi-Pyrénnées.</i> The three bridges that cross the Tarn are the first sights that catch one’s attention at Montauban. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23OV3i8adEZdgcdtl-BIz-pDZvYPelef4CNwayc43YQQTgpCA1MwrjFgQJMvJr5Bv9UlFdbr3a0MWiv7rIOZnKJVrMbQN7s0WQPPMWqE86472agaFnG2ZxZi1RhBySAvz3Y1urpDuUGk/s1600/Montauban+bridge+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23OV3i8adEZdgcdtl-BIz-pDZvYPelef4CNwayc43YQQTgpCA1MwrjFgQJMvJr5Bv9UlFdbr3a0MWiv7rIOZnKJVrMbQN7s0WQPPMWqE86472agaFnG2ZxZi1RhBySAvz3Y1urpDuUGk/s400/Montauban+bridge+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">They are stunning with their unique architecture and adorned with lush overflowing flower baskets. </span></span><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-psP0YovaUcl_hMvs0PrPJyrcspcKCQ9EI6lhVZbc48sW1oEgy2G0WNS8S3BQPUM1XOAMH0JBD2wqQAP0t9h97KrJt4Iv14bVdpn-ll3KGVFIEWpWg1iF8W9EQ44rEf7bP-4AAfmqJ2g/s1600/Montauban+eau+potable+(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-psP0YovaUcl_hMvs0PrPJyrcspcKCQ9EI6lhVZbc48sW1oEgy2G0WNS8S3BQPUM1XOAMH0JBD2wqQAP0t9h97KrJt4Iv14bVdpn-ll3KGVFIEWpWg1iF8W9EQ44rEf7bP-4AAfmqJ2g/s400/Montauban+eau+potable+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">About 56,000 people live in Montauban.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN42evaFpRHfS3YMX0O7jljLh0hrSbU6GiJTaR34okVkSDwOd3EkZQMpzqyzIdbdjwv__Qe9ZQQj9impZzSQMrqpfX4xEslN3XINRofnZtWIiW0vb5islRCwGgfcvg_KY2qoSkHiYKFk/s1600/Montauban+tarped+sqr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN42evaFpRHfS3YMX0O7jljLh0hrSbU6GiJTaR34okVkSDwOd3EkZQMpzqyzIdbdjwv__Qe9ZQQj9impZzSQMrqpfX4xEslN3XINRofnZtWIiW0vb5islRCwGgfcvg_KY2qoSkHiYKFk/s640/Montauban+tarped+sqr.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1KBh2ybNY93I-72EuUV1TfgGiPI_EX-z3JeLiDU-2IXFtSXYMkaxR_eQcy5aV7EXJQDhkluXgz9AXJbgqIiS3eli-4Ulb5vV2J2EFrXspu6pIr6FOMezGA3izMsN5TLHEoP6oCb3Pws/s1600/Montauban+place+nationale+arches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1KBh2ybNY93I-72EuUV1TfgGiPI_EX-z3JeLiDU-2IXFtSXYMkaxR_eQcy5aV7EXJQDhkluXgz9AXJbgqIiS3eli-4Ulb5vV2J2EFrXspu6pIr6FOMezGA3izMsN5TLHEoP6oCb3Pws/s640/Montauban+place+nationale+arches.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgjmK_oaJd58Q1mpArk-VbBfwKWOIE9cocESkR5u5wnIKlSzj3WvXmgVzcYYAYgiA_YJVnQKjVRJt39N5m6DE179z08I2TCnqHWs3jFJaPArtDRWzV8XRQ5eFOla7rwEcWrFRLK_nexg/s1600/Montauban+canopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgjmK_oaJd58Q1mpArk-VbBfwKWOIE9cocESkR5u5wnIKlSzj3WvXmgVzcYYAYgiA_YJVnQKjVRJt39N5m6DE179z08I2TCnqHWs3jFJaPArtDRWzV8XRQ5eFOla7rwEcWrFRLK_nexg/s400/Montauban+canopy.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Some historical timelines in the history of Montauban help place its role in the development of France over a period of several hundred years:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">1144 - founded by the Count of Toulouse as the first new medieval town in Southwest France</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1560 - surrendered to the Reformation. Catholic Church is plundered and expelled. Became a Calvinist/Protestant </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span>stronghold</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1629 - Catholicism restored by the Cardinal of Richelieu in Paris</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1798 - after the French Revolution, Montauban is relegated to country-town status</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1808 - Napoleon reinstates the city as regional capital</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="http://noordinaryseaman.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Gary Karlsen's website</span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-90666484886213345172012-09-21T06:02:00.000-07:002023-11-25T10:42:51.434-08:00MOISSAC Pt 2<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Part 2 of 3</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">ack again to the Moissac stories... </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After our first couple of weeks here we wanted to get away to the light and the cheerfulness of the Mediterranean. The Camargue was a simple choice—only about 3 hours by car and a good price at this time of year for a Chambres d'Hautes. But now we've returned to Moissac for one final week in our home exchange. On the drive back up north we picked up our friends, the Lucases at Blagnac Airport in Toulouse. They will be our travel companions for the rest of our time in France and Spain.<br /><br /> MOISSAC: some impressions, stories and images.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">To recap, Moissac is situated in the southwest of France, in the <i>Midi-Pyrénnées, Département Tarn et Garonne</i>. </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This very old city, </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">about an hour’s drive north of Toulouse, is </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">situated about a kilometre east of where the River Tarn and the Garonne River meet.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c83Qq2jr-0A3e6k227j4hbEouGOWRHGighO8XEdrGtrgESq3i5vAcdp5tOe_uy4c2gqkDVt0EAT7iBqh5hLl0ZtAPr30-yd-L5ZxjLJQvrdgrv7QKYfRXcQcNWEeu4JnbnxW1QnqJoI/s1600/moissac+aerial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6c83Qq2jr-0A3e6k227j4hbEouGOWRHGighO8XEdrGtrgESq3i5vAcdp5tOe_uy4c2gqkDVt0EAT7iBqh5hLl0ZtAPr30-yd-L5ZxjLJQvrdgrv7QKYfRXcQcNWEeu4JnbnxW1QnqJoI/s640/moissac+aerial.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The confluence of waters forms a lake </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">at Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Grave. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">summer </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">drought and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">August heat wave</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> have resulted in exceptionally low water giving way to algae bloom and turbidity—not friendly to water sports.</span></div></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPc_gTvCrUMtayqO4tUarsbr3htZKmfaFJWf5y9vsBOAq4cZlcvbaKcoFoag4ArHVjrrWMZOfAHG8sfSQhuxbzW2LME5Q8T3dRNqhxVDy_-j72iVEBUhBcr17W6l_4FLlSk8XPl58IQc/s1600/Moissac+canal+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPc_gTvCrUMtayqO4tUarsbr3htZKmfaFJWf5y9vsBOAq4cZlcvbaKcoFoag4ArHVjrrWMZOfAHG8sfSQhuxbzW2LME5Q8T3dRNqhxVDy_-j72iVEBUhBcr17W6l_4FLlSk8XPl58IQc/s640/Moissac+canal+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The </span>240 km long </span><i style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Canal des Deux Mers</span></i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: right;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">runs between Toulouse and Bordeaux</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">. Along the way, it passes through Moissac. Th</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">is extension of the</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: right;"> </i><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Canal du Midi</span></i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: right;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: right;">makes it possible to travel by boat between</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: right;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">These waterways are just down the street from our apartment. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyy7YNnJ6bmqm_BNrj166hJK0xQt8LlFqJiZVyD48znwD-D9Y9OhOV3weAhUe4DdBqgTplJpUkPPk3kWucvpLT9H3Lkp12XJSe9DAwOI_P044pJL2jKGqOO2zI6D1ugnqDBQEyyJ8H7w/s1600/boat+on+canal.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyy7YNnJ6bmqm_BNrj166hJK0xQt8LlFqJiZVyD48znwD-D9Y9OhOV3weAhUe4DdBqgTplJpUkPPk3kWucvpLT9H3Lkp12XJSe9DAwOI_P044pJL2jKGqOO2zI6D1ugnqDBQEyyJ8H7w/s400/boat+on+canal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We often walk and cycle along the towpaths by several of the canal’s 91 locks, and sometimes we open a </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">gate for a passing boat.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">One of the canal’s 40 aqueducts crosses the Tarn here.<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywZSL6BPqxVyJoRVRxFERyQquCnj9iaQHeQIFPsGLQUphskU93euy_qCP8ijWOENlayxalZWvFqwSVduiEKnyJvSZ8Bl24t_milXul6iqObKX2ZQ4ivdz2jOqDHNcWuL42bLDfoC29CM/s1600/acqueduct+01.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywZSL6BPqxVyJoRVRxFERyQquCnj9iaQHeQIFPsGLQUphskU93euy_qCP8ijWOENlayxalZWvFqwSVduiEKnyJvSZ8Bl24t_milXul6iqObKX2ZQ4ivdz2jOqDHNcWuL42bLDfoC29CM/s640/acqueduct+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Pont Canal du Cacor where the Tarn and Garonne rivers was built in 1845 using stone from Bruniquel and brick from Toulouse. It has 13 arches and is 353 metres long. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;">These</span><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">aqueducts are the sections of canals that carry boats over rivers, roads, train tracks or valleys. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: right;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Garonne River flows right by the Tarn at Moissac. The Aveyron River, a tributary of the Tarn, is<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: right;"> </span></span><span style="text-align: right;">only about a half hour away.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Essentially, the aqueducts are bridges for boats, and of course, walkers and cyclists.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Moissac has been our home base for about a month. We are living in the 3rd-floor apartment of a building constructed about two and a half centuries ago for the </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Préfect</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">, or Chief of Police of the city (top two windows, left).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though rather dark and dreary, i</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">t is a spacious apartment. Looking out our </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">living room</span> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">window, slightly to the right, one can see that we are o</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">nly a few dozen cobblestones away from the old medieval town square—</span></span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Place Roger Delthi</span></i></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Looking straight out the same window is the abbey, <u>built more than a thousand years ago</u>. It is a UNESCO Heritage site and a major stop along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The Abbey bells chime on the hour; </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">they tend to be about ten minutes late—kind of like Moissac itself, rather behind the rest of the world, we feel. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This city, and much of the region has seen better days.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> One gets the feeling that the city is in decay. And this appears to be so for the entire region.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: large;">This area is largely agricultural, the main products being Chasselas grapes (for juice, jams and jellies), apple orchards and cereal crops. We have often remarked about how old the population is, I mean, how few young people there are. Indeed, farm families are in decline and the exodus of youth to large urban centres is not unique to the agricultural communities of France. It just seems more noticeable here</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">.</span></span></div>
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Council funds are </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">insufficient to maintain them; congregations have withered away; the Catholic Church has simply dropped the ball.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Few of the 12,000 or so Moissagais (locals) speak English. Moissac is not a tourist destination, except perhaps for the pilgrim trail walkers, and the occasional tour bus occupants who are herded here on a neo-Christian mission to see the awesome rock pile—the Abbey—and canal boaters who berth at the canal towpath and come ashore for a meal. All the people we meet, however, are friendly and courteous, and this makes us feel welcome. </span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Our hosts in Moissac, Gaby and Dom, are the people with whom we are exchanging homes </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">(they are in our house in Canada)</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">. They introduced us in advance to some close friends of theirs who have taken the time to show us around. We are very grateful for this. Claudine from St-Nicolas de la Grave and Christiane from Montauban, Jean and Nadia have all helped to make our stay here a pleasant one.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">UVILLAR is just over a half-hour drive to the west, across the Tarn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>La Chappelle Sainte-Catherine (below) </i>was first built by the Carolingians in (?) and it was reconstructed at the beginning of the 14th Century by Pope Clement l</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">V. Clement was one of a series of French popes who resided in Avignon at the same time as Pope Urban sat in Rome—a troubled time when there were 2 sets of popes. Near the end of the 1300s Christianity was turned on its heels. This pope-lookalike contest pissed a lot of people off, and a new view of the world, still with heaven above and hell below, gave rise to Protestantism ....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Auvillar had its origins as a Gallo-Romanic city and was once an important port on the Garonne River. It was invaded by the Normans in the 10 Century and was held by the Count of Armagnac in the 16th until in 1589 it came under Henri lV's crown of France. And like most of the region of the Aquitaine and southwest France, Auvillar suffered greatly during the 100 Years War. Englis, Frenc, Protestants, Catholics—power, property, and money hungry, the lot of them.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mounted in the old square beside the <i>Marie</i> (City Hall) is a huge single-tine boat anchor that was excavated from the river, below. Engraved on it is the date 1667. The boat it belonged to was a trader that sailed in the 17th Century between Auvillar and Bordeaux. </span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Auvillar is designated as one of the most beautiful cities in France. First impressions are strong and Auvillar really grabs you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">It is a</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">ll so quaint, and if decay and tumbledown are part of the French definition of beautiful, then, yes, it's <i>très joli</i>.</span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">However, I am not entirely sure what to make of the weathered, unrepaired, broken down, abandoned buildings that sit next to the city hall which is a fine restored hotel, with a thriving restaurant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scattered around the old market square of Auvillar are these mini-sculptures of pilgrims. You have to look up to see them, high on the sides of buildings. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Regarding the pilgrim walk </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">(</span><i>Saint-Jacques de Compostelle)</i></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">that I associated earlier with Moissac, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">let it be known that almost everywhere you go in France, from Puys in the northeast to the northwest border of Spain, you will find these tired walkers, frequently congregating </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">glassy-eyed </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">i</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">n the neighbourhoods of ancient stone and brick churches, cathedrals, chapels, and abbeys. </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Most of these real-life nouveau pilgrims are retired and middle class. They come in various shapes and sizes: endomorphs, mesomorphs and ectomorphs; and they are somewhat dazed after their long, rather solitary walks. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPH6m1IKXwa8XbddvIFckRYFipbo0b7ZPXP58jtwsUgfC8aVzURN_JdSPTpgVssYz6LMFZTFrVNjGpAmMj0i63pltGWE6XPsC14d21tKf_212jLu5Q6tWJrAElqJ5hyJvvRBSs2yHSQk/s1600/pilgrims+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPH6m1IKXwa8XbddvIFckRYFipbo0b7ZPXP58jtwsUgfC8aVzURN_JdSPTpgVssYz6LMFZTFrVNjGpAmMj0i63pltGWE6XPsC14d21tKf_212jLu5Q6tWJrAElqJ5hyJvvRBSs2yHSQk/s200/pilgrims+01.jpg" width="147" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Like us, they too have their digital cameras, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">recording th</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">eir epiphanies. Best not to engage them in </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">conversation, because, not all of them, to be sure, but the serious new pilgrims, have been on the road a long time; often alone. They are travelling light and they have necessarily shed all the baggage of home, physical and mental. "Normal" conversation may be neither relevant nor meaningful. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Their journey is personal and we have much respect for their tenacity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">BARDIGUES, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">5 kilometres south of Auvillar, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">is an unlikely little village, well kept with pride of place. It is surrounded by farmland and it just seems </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">to appear over the hill with entry at one end of town through this idyllic alley of plane trees.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKHeiAs9SDVffDDo01dC7EyGX11fl04K209IOrc3wEBRqQhM1kliEKmIbmz3zKF8x5xZZIdL6omSRn9l7Q2y6Rt3X4P_NEnFsDwgD_Grd8i435SoA3_Ny6XasveNBz1s-Uk5qkxL45SE/s1600/Bardigues+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKHeiAs9SDVffDDo01dC7EyGX11fl04K209IOrc3wEBRqQhM1kliEKmIbmz3zKF8x5xZZIdL6omSRn9l7Q2y6Rt3X4P_NEnFsDwgD_Grd8i435SoA3_Ny6XasveNBz1s-Uk5qkxL45SE/s1600/Bardigues+01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKHeiAs9SDVffDDo01dC7EyGX11fl04K209IOrc3wEBRqQhM1kliEKmIbmz3zKF8x5xZZIdL6omSRn9l7Q2y6Rt3X4P_NEnFsDwgD_Grd8i435SoA3_Ny6XasveNBz1s-Uk5qkxL45SE/s400/Bardigues+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This village may be best known for an incredibly good restaurant called </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Auberge de Bardigues</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span> We had lunch there once but had great difficulty reserving another time that worked for an evening meal because reservations must be made so far in advance.</span></span></div></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Still, one of our favourite meals is lunch in the warm noonday shade—</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i>le pique-nique:</i></span></span></div>
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- garden tomato with mayo</div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">- and of course, <i>vin de table</i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">... especially when sharing it with the woman who took this photo! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://noordinaryseaman.com" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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<!--Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-e601t0JDj3g%2FUFnt9-X45hI%2FAAAAAAAAB9c%2FJJAu9SVa-lQ%2Fs400%2Facqueduct%2Bw%2Bbicycle.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMheB2hNokEgjS3vab5eGmgI1-TkkeMvQ7njAWNl25EuDhp5KZ0PAhsLvCZYyhFsHwIxxpV5rYHO4Y0zE7kfX6odMLk3YRY65Gap-qVJO0a_IveLflfyaAZoLaPIBfI7_xnAQHl7p_E0/s400/acqueduct+w+bicycle.jpg"-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-81983751131882698372012-09-15T13:38:00.000-07:002023-11-23T21:54:28.370-08:00CAMARGUE Pt 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">CAMARGUE</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Part One</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I must be having a dream ...<br /> <br /> I am lying outstretched high up on a narrow shelf, shifting ever so slightly, fearful of falling off my perch and tumbling down into the water below. It is a hot night. <br /><br /> I quietly calculate how much of a push I can give myself to clear the shoreline and plunge safely into the soothing cool water lapping on the soft sandy bank of the river. </i></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi37TP087V6bf4QdvYZmbFarFBqHQvWJpukIUwca0bPsSIbM0Xeyx_qv3uwQ8exnp3J_fa9hVSUHIMzAB10lBHuZxm5BkP9GPbRypsgGGSSip7WdQMdtPJDhyphenhyphenA1x5mlhma6iYRZm4Ooc/s1600/Carmague+ponies+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi37TP087V6bf4QdvYZmbFarFBqHQvWJpukIUwca0bPsSIbM0Xeyx_qv3uwQ8exnp3J_fa9hVSUHIMzAB10lBHuZxm5BkP9GPbRypsgGGSSip7WdQMdtPJDhyphenhyphenA1x5mlhma6iYRZm4Ooc/s640/Carmague+ponies+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But there is danger.</span> </span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWyuQUAQhVpkrF0vcB4Nf5SR8Wemd4knLpOome6PP9N_-PXl8UbDRq3whIEdqvsf_c3PhX02ATGVeLB6tcTWQYmNxXyxByiaOE-q8-S99fDkTiW7tOtnGDGKJZaocfn-S_Hk8sBdtb8k/s1600/bulls+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWyuQUAQhVpkrF0vcB4Nf5SR8Wemd4knLpOome6PP9N_-PXl8UbDRq3whIEdqvsf_c3PhX02ATGVeLB6tcTWQYmNxXyxByiaOE-q8-S99fDkTiW7tOtnGDGKJZaocfn-S_Hk8sBdtb8k/s640/bulls+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I drift off again into a fitful sleep.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Now I am on the edge of my bed, this time more awake and making sense of the mix of images that have intruded on what began as a deep sleep. I lower my feet to </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">the floor and it all comes back to me.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdZs5yk_1RAEaVk2BkYxijX0OF5en8azbwVf5hVDKOXbeNsC2RF191yDO0sqNdI-MpHn716Xgd5-2_Gj34ZAQGHluWjs1Pztc1EBpJpQoWGgrQEQhCYbNY43bFp_MasWLODCvAii2nag/s1600/Aigues+Mortes+castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdZs5yk_1RAEaVk2BkYxijX0OF5en8azbwVf5hVDKOXbeNsC2RF191yDO0sqNdI-MpHn716Xgd5-2_Gj34ZAQGHluWjs1Pztc1EBpJpQoWGgrQEQhCYbNY43bFp_MasWLODCvAii2nag/s640/Aigues+Mortes+castle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">We've been staying for several days now in the Camargue, at Mas St Louis, a Chambres d’hÔtes, not far from Aigues Mortes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6xJFzdvu9KBG4q0eHAfyKhW5aNz3DT8GhqSBQ2pJ-zk9MxLt1gbAyqKYi6QUYT4-IQBhda7twnEXHonV9H0T4NaT2YqnP3A9x4QEunbnEdFRSf9xL_VEblW08uDOMB2T2RbfOGzowMk/s1600/run+of+bulls+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6xJFzdvu9KBG4q0eHAfyKhW5aNz3DT8GhqSBQ2pJ-zk9MxLt1gbAyqKYi6QUYT4-IQBhda7twnEXHonV9H0T4NaT2YqnP3A9x4QEunbnEdFRSf9xL_VEblW08uDOMB2T2RbfOGzowMk/s640/run+of+bulls+01.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1yHANSkJqaefiycPT7wVJH3IBN2CfGhX6l-iRbJ3f2WpiDx2bs8t55P5MXqstOdLUmhr1qaSyOopW6zxbyaaGiCSnMkD_v7Zm23ui4wDSZ9CZ3JUFeaEqKL4wtnoxwDIF3Du_aEi0RE/s1600/run+of+bulls+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1yHANSkJqaefiycPT7wVJH3IBN2CfGhX6l-iRbJ3f2WpiDx2bs8t55P5MXqstOdLUmhr1qaSyOopW6zxbyaaGiCSnMkD_v7Zm23ui4wDSZ9CZ3JUFeaEqKL4wtnoxwDIF3Du_aEi0RE/s640/run+of+bulls+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNLu12qdhyPDP6-o-HZvcq0y1se8674J99C8Di53zysv4q_RTPJJEEgC1ZUNI2AhyV41yYSKV_DIbrAhSxb0ud4sZQVy0_hKxJkbd7N8s2qrTyPwFHRda7sCSZviTo9Hp5eX54oOIxrM/s1600/run+of+bulls+03.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNLu12qdhyPDP6-o-HZvcq0y1se8674J99C8Di53zysv4q_RTPJJEEgC1ZUNI2AhyV41yYSKV_DIbrAhSxb0ud4sZQVy0_hKxJkbd7N8s2qrTyPwFHRda7sCSZviTo9Hp5eX54oOIxrM/s400/run+of+bulls+03.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">After days of being landlocked in the darkness of the <i>Midi-Pyrénees</i>, I plunged at long last into the sea, stretching out again and again and again with each stroke in the cool, clean exhilarating saltwater.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We took a long slow walk along the shoreline, waves lapping at our ankles, the sun beating down on our bare skin. The Mediterranean sea breeze was warm and cleansing.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">With still half a day ahead of us. We returned to the car and drove deep into the farmlands of the Camargue, destination Les Saintes Marie de la Mer. We drove the slow route passing by vineyards and rice fields. A small car </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">ferry </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">at Bac du Sauvage took </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">about ten other cars and twice as many cyclists </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">a</span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">cross </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">the Petit Rhone.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34DfbTixOLmPVckIpJr1Y-OKIP8gpa876cD_21CrN0oPIAjiESuk5kotAraPxKp-eKki6Td7o-avg4yPpufHYyUh9OO2WhlAnT8jnuEEVwLLDo-f8-pGcmS6jg9KAtdbWze40ZAtrbkE/s1600/bac+du+sauvage.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34DfbTixOLmPVckIpJr1Y-OKIP8gpa876cD_21CrN0oPIAjiESuk5kotAraPxKp-eKki6Td7o-avg4yPpufHYyUh9OO2WhlAnT8jnuEEVwLLDo-f8-pGcmS6jg9KAtdbWze40ZAtrbkE/s640/bac+du+sauvage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Camargue is the vast delta of the Rhone River whose waters fan out in the last few kilometres of the river's </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">long meandering</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> journey from central France to the Mediterranean. Marshlands and scrub lands, tidal pools, swamps and estuaries are rich with nutrients that sustain an exceedingly wide variety of flora and fauna. The history and culture of this intriguing region of France would take a lifetime to experience.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We stopped along the way to photograph flamingos feeding in the turbid still waters of an estuary. They are delicate but gangly creatures with long stick legs, serpentine necks and big parrot-like beaks.</span></div><div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cKsT2mU54X4silvExDhb3vTZUFnJv-mKJBEKJ2umJSeaikcwwCxx0Fqwx-5GYX7ZvoAnmRwrrwjI43xiSZ0H7njQaqpCRzY1gky92DORNu9ITTCE6D7LA0qWA1K2rAaI6noUwIoNVf8/s1600/flams+02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cKsT2mU54X4silvExDhb3vTZUFnJv-mKJBEKJ2umJSeaikcwwCxx0Fqwx-5GYX7ZvoAnmRwrrwjI43xiSZ0H7njQaqpCRzY1gky92DORNu9ITTCE6D7LA0qWA1K2rAaI6noUwIoNVf8/s640/flams+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">These flamingos are pale pink in colour, and when they stretch their wings as though in a great big yawn, they reveal a beautiful cerise of varying hues.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">We drove on from this peaceful scene to yet another and then rounded a bend in the road and were suddenly upon a small herd of stocky white Camargue ponies grazing in the pale green grass by the side of the Petit Rhone, the final navigable tributary of the Grand Rhone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The long manes and tails of the ponies were wistfully blowing in the wind in rhythm with the high blades of grass that surrounded them. It was still very warm here and the ponies were protected from the sun by the shade of</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> the leaning</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">windblown </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">trees. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNMB8rn_HGPOTiJFGLYgtML28-MusDkYx7LjqVFCv3NukM7IN6B1qRDbZ0uHNYJpRtNF_RJhrh_X4tlio_09Gy0_BruSw1teQ8sRoRj_fUbddZgYhBDda818QK8eqWEwDTxQQotej2MQ/s1600/ponies+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNMB8rn_HGPOTiJFGLYgtML28-MusDkYx7LjqVFCv3NukM7IN6B1qRDbZ0uHNYJpRtNF_RJhrh_X4tlio_09Gy0_BruSw1teQ8sRoRj_fUbddZgYhBDda818QK8eqWEwDTxQQotej2MQ/s640/ponies+02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>They are dynamos at rest. In the morning we watched them in a controlled stampede through the city to the delight of spectators seeking thrills behind steel barricades at the annual Fall Festival at Le Grau du Roi. But here the bulls were as free as they could be, left alone to please no one. <br /> <br /> On the way back to our abode at Mas St-Louis we stopped at a roadside Ferme Directe where we bought local <i>produit</i> for dinner—fresh tomatoes, a dozen <i>huitres</i> (oysters), a couple of baguettes (from the third and final baking of the day), v<i>in rosé</i> of the region, and yet one more local gastronomic specialty: Saucisson de Taureau. Yes, of course—bull meat sausage.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Vin de Sables</i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> is a wine of the Carmague where the vines grow in the </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">terroir</i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> of sand.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">We consume some of this daily while we are here, but only copious amounts during one memorable seafood dinner </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">shared with our friends, Danny and Rozann. That was the night of my fitful sleep. It started with deep REM but then the fantasies of a dream began. We are sleeping in single beds here. I am not used to such a small cot. Are they narrower here in France? </span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">I was tossing and turning all night, fighting not to fall out of bed. During the moments when I did drift off to sleep, I remember dreaming of falling into scenes of where we had been during that wonderful day! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRv_-hivZXvq6VzpL9TysZg6mewN7EXEo8b5QR7ZC71Jt9l76mBGciDXNgemyrtgvkdurSg2jMyWH3YpKdbkduV_unvsoevJGAA8k9zl_6776sAycRTKYcDUfiQgzM_FozqDiHEq9qik/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRv_-hivZXvq6VzpL9TysZg6mewN7EXEo8b5QR7ZC71Jt9l76mBGciDXNgemyrtgvkdurSg2jMyWH3YpKdbkduV_unvsoevJGAA8k9zl_6776sAycRTKYcDUfiQgzM_FozqDiHEq9qik/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://francewithfriends.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-56913164540400765842012-09-11T01:36:00.003-07:002023-11-23T21:31:45.436-08:00MOISSAC Pt 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;"> few hour's drive south from the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Charente</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on the Autoroute and </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">in the region called </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Midi-Pyrénees</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">we take the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Castelsarrasin/Moissac</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">exit<i>. </i></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> W</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">e are about 90 minutes east (by car) and a little south of Bordeaux; 45 minutes north of Toulouse (the second largest city of France - Paris being the largest); 30 minutes west of Montauban, etc.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I find that one of the easiest ways to place things geographically these days is to use Google Earth.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgWuMHVxJJsjX6PqM3kINJkk3A5zOKsFYcop_cfE4tUXcIVInwFKjBBFQSZy3dIEbWtPh3ukey9OjrPKHyDmweyYL_rLzxtYoIk-HE0L0Dr28jzuyisKJAuGMWk43UJ5R7OVVuJmlGU8/s1600/Moissac+sign.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgWuMHVxJJsjX6PqM3kINJkk3A5zOKsFYcop_cfE4tUXcIVInwFKjBBFQSZy3dIEbWtPh3ukey9OjrPKHyDmweyYL_rLzxtYoIk-HE0L0Dr28jzuyisKJAuGMWk43UJ5R7OVVuJmlGU8/s400/Moissac+sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This region of France took some of the worst beatings </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">during centuries of bloody warfare, pillage, plunder, rape, persecution, and starvation of the common folk - all perpetrated by the </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">church</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">, royalty and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">nobility.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Check out the Hundred Years War if you have an interest.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">More on this later.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">congratulate each other about how lightly we got off in Paris without suffering really hot weather. Yes, all things considered, lucky. But vengeance comes the day we arrive in Moissac. The worst heat wave in, some locals say, 25 years, melted our brains for about a week.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjYObka_tRfWhCIsBd6ya4RaYlHhiFKUuj9ilq7rSXtd5tLLd8_eQESaObNe06nepw5QEj4uihE4APMLnzUci_330uGYlQOh5H1GlJQkdT_1IwCA_4iC9WZueh6-WFud_DNj-lza9GAA/s1600/hot+woman.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjYObka_tRfWhCIsBd6ya4RaYlHhiFKUuj9ilq7rSXtd5tLLd8_eQESaObNe06nepw5QEj4uihE4APMLnzUci_330uGYlQOh5H1GlJQkdT_1IwCA_4iC9WZueh6-WFud_DNj-lza9GAA/s320/hot+woman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Forty degrees Celsius ... 39, ... high thirties. Had there been some relief somewhere we'd have been okay with it but we were living on the third floor of a circa 300-year-old building which was a tower of brick attached to similar old apartment buildings, all of which were islands in an ancient stone square in the medieval town centre.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zL06txP68IiE2a2xrNK0BEbw2udWNeeQ7slhVnOCToVD2PIGIfdNI4hWNwVI5cIqL5BGeqmc_8m8Bdr6yjxOOJzFeZouKTjh1vHbET3iuCl7g3B4CjQgFuksjP1UfjmbxwOtG25E9Hs/s1600/hot+at+the+cloister.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zL06txP68IiE2a2xrNK0BEbw2udWNeeQ7slhVnOCToVD2PIGIfdNI4hWNwVI5cIqL5BGeqmc_8m8Bdr6yjxOOJzFeZouKTjh1vHbET3iuCl7g3B4CjQgFuksjP1UfjmbxwOtG25E9Hs/s320/hot+at+the+cloister.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">No air conditioning. This is old urban France. No green grass for as far as the eye can see. No movement of air. For a</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> couple of nights, the temperature inside was 30C with two fans going. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh77zTacpel1Mw6hPJUuaFFS2ChIHoD4v3ltKQvkLS-z0yVuVL83_JTOgJqZJbyxCyrhlj94czMpOcGBFWRGmQCkek9wYts6tulwYG188uYVAPRwJtO67Tawuk_gQo74USkaXFhQBmwGo/s1600/allee+marengo+5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh77zTacpel1Mw6hPJUuaFFS2ChIHoD4v3ltKQvkLS-z0yVuVL83_JTOgJqZJbyxCyrhlj94czMpOcGBFWRGmQCkek9wYts6tulwYG188uYVAPRwJtO67Tawuk_gQo74USkaXFhQBmwGo/s400/allee+marengo+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Well, the windows have to be shuttered during the daylight hours, then when the sun goes down they are opened to let the stale air</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> out and the warm air in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Windows are very small because in the day when these homes were </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">built, owners were taxed on the size of </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">windows, so, it's naturally dark in these homes ... kind of like living in a cave.</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> Quaint? Well ... only from the outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Our relief came by exploring the countryside with our air-conditioned</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> car. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> The old villages, perched on cliffs and mountainsides were too hot to walk in. And they were like ghost towns. Where was everyone? We guessed that they were all sitting behind the closed shutters, in the dark. We'd come back to these lovely old towns and walk around when it cooled down. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">It did not take long to discover where the locals were. They come out after dark. Because it is cooler. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Outdoor restaurants are full and they stay that way 'till around midnight. We learn to do the same, then sleep in so late that we lose the best part of the next day - the cooler useable mornings. Duh! Well when it's hot hot hot, if you are sleeping, let it happen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We are not governed by wake-up calls or early appointments. We are not going home for 3 weeks. We</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> are here for the long term.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">There is time to do what we want to do.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt4As5zZRPL9zAa93NZznInEZzKpmmSxsCS8AcWb_-DvZSa-ridfpLTNnx-DuxU7ZfpSwxB-l2rhfkgdUTuoTyWB5n5utHd45H9KqjFA1AgEFejFXJRzKrfQ1Q41KaWAd33gTymStqto/s1600/window+view+of+nt+sq.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtt4As5zZRPL9zAa93NZznInEZzKpmmSxsCS8AcWb_-DvZSa-ridfpLTNnx-DuxU7ZfpSwxB-l2rhfkgdUTuoTyWB5n5utHd45H9KqjFA1AgEFejFXJRzKrfQ1Q41KaWAd33gTymStqto/s640/window+view+of+nt+sq.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We rarely eat meals during these sizzling days. It is no fun sweating over the stove or dripping perspiration onto our plates. Dining out a lot is fun, though it is stretching our budget.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JbYft5bREfLQ9MjDk8MfB2QNTXbzQW1Mh7fupphMSbZi32x26tn5fUqSt1xJmyoK4FDDl4BFFqXaj7gt83S7DnpxcEqJA06byA_cFXm91T5Pki_cRqGQSVb8dOy8kCX3i7YWe5y90Rs/s1600/Julie+cooks+at+Fromage+Rit.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JbYft5bREfLQ9MjDk8MfB2QNTXbzQW1Mh7fupphMSbZi32x26tn5fUqSt1xJmyoK4FDDl4BFFqXaj7gt83S7DnpxcEqJA06byA_cFXm91T5Pki_cRqGQSVb8dOy8kCX3i7YWe5y90Rs/s320/Julie+cooks+at+Fromage+Rit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It does not take Joanne and I long to meet people. The photo left is of Julie, the cook at Fromage Rit.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We will savour her wonderful <i>vichyssoise</i> later tonight.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4i5RzkGSs4eH4gcNw3swTdoPT2gaeliDMAJhBm_RVs_ybtBj9Y1VmxB6aaALZscYpk-bug2YDH5dMbUpFnMLDkrsVCF3JHOR87FoR5fWjTdtdZ65t0plgjFx55YHgkHblC1vRTfScbc/s1600/Raymond.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4i5RzkGSs4eH4gcNw3swTdoPT2gaeliDMAJhBm_RVs_ybtBj9Y1VmxB6aaALZscYpk-bug2YDH5dMbUpFnMLDkrsVCF3JHOR87FoR5fWjTdtdZ65t0plgjFx55YHgkHblC1vRTfScbc/s320/Raymond.jpg" width="219" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5n-DxdtPR-a1FWh6ANODyVQTlcCWAn49gbmXSe9SRzGWFT1MEOnHLRYd5Wi4Q2WRi2cwhIcdLJkZOLwv7lv20xyXM1Nbdgp_Fj0cAHpLshVTUh9Hu88QfPwOvSCrgvjtu6VJDu-pAa4/s1600/Raymond+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5n-DxdtPR-a1FWh6ANODyVQTlcCWAn49gbmXSe9SRzGWFT1MEOnHLRYd5Wi4Q2WRi2cwhIcdLJkZOLwv7lv20xyXM1Nbdgp_Fj0cAHpLshVTUh9Hu88QfPwOvSCrgvjtu6VJDu-pAa4/s200/Raymond+%25281%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Raymond (man) and his best mate, Balthazar (dog) are occasional regulars at Jean Pierre's restaurant. One day we see him walking through the square. Another day he is talking with staff in front of the Marie (City Hall).</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The night we dined on Julie's vichyssoise, l'homme et son chien occupied the table beside us. Not able to pass up a chance to speak with the locals, I practiced my French with them. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">One of the staff told me that Balthazar speaks better French than Raymond. This didn't matter to me. They were both nodding just as much when I was talking. That's all I care about anyone who listens as I butcher the </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">language gets a gold star from me. </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Raymond and I conversed in simple exchanges. Balthazar ate up my butchered French. Joanne watched and listened and we all sort of became friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This heat wave will n</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">ot last forever. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwK0WhBM7OM8e2yhyaLsPjCBQE5KuDFEsBqBgvc169WrOBbrXQZJjt7V4JmKr491WGPB0__8ek4YZv1FRcV92syEH83MHEYkeSn-1q7-HKBrn2LhkDZvlcCg_aXXcSZUgGq_DnxmjbMc/s1600/G+hot+on+the+phone.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J7_H8NJaeLhWyycMjOb63BUstriu3Pu6X-Rf7PhzNFS35ckcrDP9Yt7rrxIn2Ha91r2FC-Thwvc8mkemE-P7xIJDPBVsDwgx-61wltzwPk1kakQPVF-PW08Wg8AQukIUpPTkTCsQeec/s1600/J+hot+on+the+phone.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J7_H8NJaeLhWyycMjOb63BUstriu3Pu6X-Rf7PhzNFS35ckcrDP9Yt7rrxIn2Ha91r2FC-Thwvc8mkemE-P7xIJDPBVsDwgx-61wltzwPk1kakQPVF-PW08Wg8AQukIUpPTkTCsQeec/s320/J+hot+on+the+phone.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwK0WhBM7OM8e2yhyaLsPjCBQE5KuDFEsBqBgvc169WrOBbrXQZJjt7V4JmKr491WGPB0__8ek4YZv1FRcV92syEH83MHEYkeSn-1q7-HKBrn2LhkDZvlcCg_aXXcSZUgGq_DnxmjbMc/s200/G+hot+on+the+phone.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The break came after </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">about a week - rather </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">violently, with thunder and lightning</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> and a torrential downpour. This was followed by warm light rain and cooler days of usable </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">weather. Okay, time to explore now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><a href="http://francewithfriends.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-48004822296965366082012-09-07T15:47:00.000-07:002023-11-18T11:50:12.494-08:00SEGONZAC<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;">fter</span><span style="font-size: large;"> our return to Paris, we pack in preparation for the next day's drive south to the Charente. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">One last ride on the metro and train to </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG)</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> to pick up our </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">vehicle for the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">next leg of </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">our journey through France. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">But first, in order to </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">find the location of </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Peugeot Open Europe at CDG </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">we carefully read, re-read, and read again, the agent's "Instructions for Dummies" (my words) on exactly how to get there</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">. We think we have the directions dialled, but nope. They were obfuscating: as clear as mud!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5cUbnJXApGT6paAuQi0cdDMJ34olZXdWR7uXFGvvAI-6nKOGhLqbpKv_jR-Mc3OTWvUNjEVBDl82Xl-D3y59hEj09O0QxhpPEiE-Av3G7SwItbaaB4UqPBJkcliRq2YB8WxT9dMEeT4/s1600/5km+on+pickup.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5cUbnJXApGT6paAuQi0cdDMJ34olZXdWR7uXFGvvAI-6nKOGhLqbpKv_jR-Mc3OTWvUNjEVBDl82Xl-D3y59hEj09O0QxhpPEiE-Av3G7SwItbaaB4UqPBJkcliRq2YB8WxT9dMEeT4/s400/5km+on+pickup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The Peugeot <i>Partner-Teepee</i> is a great vehicle for 4 people with luggage. We drive it away all </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">new </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">and </span><span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">shiny with only 5 km on the odometer and enough fuel in the tank to drive another 5km! </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Fortunately, </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">the closest gas station was only 1</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"> km away. We fill the tank with <i>gazole </i>(</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">diesel fuel). </span></div><div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Anticipating a tricky drive back into Paris, we plan a route on the GPS that will take us right to our door </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">in the Marais. It is as easy as melting butter in a hot pan. We could have parked on the street right in front of our door for hours because as luck would have it, August 15 is a national holiday in France and few people are driving today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Our drive out of Paris is just as easy. I must say, it was a strange feeling driving through the streets that we had walked along so many times during our two weeks in Paris. What a different perspective one gets of the city from a car.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ktcJ0roHlmoSL7o_7RibWdhGeenFc4936CTQWMPgLOgWVqXpeZQpS5hX6DU9vwnh8twjoRzURlfggfXtjmT587iTIWk2ulurYlU1ghbmKTVZ52DQqZdlgvp4ZtNICc9lf8nT1rN3vmM/s1600/teepee+in+sunflowers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ktcJ0roHlmoSL7o_7RibWdhGeenFc4936CTQWMPgLOgWVqXpeZQpS5hX6DU9vwnh8twjoRzURlfggfXtjmT587iTIWk2ulurYlU1ghbmKTVZ52DQqZdlgvp4ZtNICc9lf8nT1rN3vmM/s640/teepee+in+sunflowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We have a reservation for two nights at Chez Thomas, a <i>Gite</i> in Segonzac where we had stayed in 2009. Segonzac is in the cognac region of the Charente, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">a half-day drive south of Paris on the Autoroute toll highway, and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">about 20 minutes by car from the city of Cognac.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">An uneventful trip except for one rather dumb, then hilarious <i>faut pas. </i>I choose not to try to read the car manual which is, of course, in French. Who reads manuals anyway?</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I am trying to set the cruise control on the steering column and can't figure it out. Everyone who has driven a French car knows them to be "different" than any other car, so </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I persist. </span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I have been travelling for quite a while at the posted speed of 130 kph then I am locked in at 105 for about half an hour and the car just will not go any faster.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Maybe it's got some kind of automatic governor in the software to break in the new motor," I suggest to Joanne.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Maybe a sensor </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">is restricting my speed </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">so I don't abuse the break-in period. I wonder for how long? It's going to take us forever to get to Segonzac. Have you noticed that all the big trucks and tiny Smart Cars are passing us?" </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Weren't you playing with the cruise control? Did you set something?" my partner asks.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Duh! I had "locked" the speed at 105 kph and even with the pedal on the floor driving downhill I could not drive faster. I switch off the control and wow, I am back up to 130, and then some.</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">We are passing everyone. Trees are flying by. Joanne says, "I feel like I'm pinned to the back of my seat!"</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">"Ya, and look at my hair blowing straight back at this speed."</span></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We break into laughter. I've never heard of a cruise control with a speed lock. Must be a French thing.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At Chez Thomas we make new friends this year, eating, drinking, and sharing stories, and once again touring Raymond Desse's cognac distillery.</span><br /></div><div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKy1fPzH-MSiFJRMotKr8hr6nUcgicNQJIe0442xN6Hh4jfjaVDqFFkLOixqeYbF42aheskhV8_Go-x9pe7CVcVf5Z6KwnaYA-fgyjb1hBXg8HoV3wdpsz0TSgZXC48YNPCLccWA7Vag/s1600/Marigold+Group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKy1fPzH-MSiFJRMotKr8hr6nUcgicNQJIe0442xN6Hh4jfjaVDqFFkLOixqeYbF42aheskhV8_Go-x9pe7CVcVf5Z6KwnaYA-fgyjb1hBXg8HoV3wdpsz0TSgZXC48YNPCLccWA7Vag/s640/Marigold+Group.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dave, Barbara, Susan and Wilson from Nottingham, Daniel and Francoise from Lille, Raymond and Marie from Segonzac; and of course, Theresa and Tommy, the proprietors ... </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">and the family chicken if you look real close</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Somehow, in a rather communal moment, we seem to have dubbed ourselves "The Marigold Group". We'd all recently seen and loved <i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWuMShWo8Tmzk8gk4VunsfqL-_5-otfnv8LDvqz8J-BDrhPD3zCciU01IXP6vxf3pbV9anYF5QRwIYPlC-Q-T7FlLu5XcAOsZNyDrifeLqJAJIHt-14CX9-U5OxGcSSiYOpnPZakju8E/s1600/garden+lunch+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWuMShWo8Tmzk8gk4VunsfqL-_5-otfnv8LDvqz8J-BDrhPD3zCciU01IXP6vxf3pbV9anYF5QRwIYPlC-Q-T7FlLu5XcAOsZNyDrifeLqJAJIHt-14CX9-U5OxGcSSiYOpnPZakju8E/s1600/garden+lunch+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWuMShWo8Tmzk8gk4VunsfqL-_5-otfnv8LDvqz8J-BDrhPD3zCciU01IXP6vxf3pbV9anYF5QRwIYPlC-Q-T7FlLu5XcAOsZNyDrifeLqJAJIHt-14CX9-U5OxGcSSiYOpnPZakju8E/s640/garden+lunch+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On our second day here we all join together for a long slow lunch in the Chez Thomas garden. A wonderful French feast with food and drinks <i>du pays.</i></div></span>
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<br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Raymond Desse gives our group a </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">personal tour of his distillery and his cellars. He produces cognac for Remy Martin and for his own label. He also produces spectacular <i>Pineau de Charente.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>We are on a mission to stock up on Pineau and Cognac for some friends and for the long days ahead of us in France.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span>The reader may want to take a look at a short 6-minute video I produced while in Segonzac and Cognac. For those who are interested in <i>Eau e Vie—</i>that splendid drink that is cognac—my video provides a brief lesson on how it is made.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Our final stop before leaving Segonzac is Tommy's favourite local winery where we stock up on some <i>Vin Rouge, Vin Blanc, </i>and<i> Rosé. </i>The former is a 10-litre bag-in-a-box for 29 Euros. That's about $2.75 Canadian per bottle! And this is much better than just plain table wine, which, incidentally, I can get pumped into my empty water bottles at most local <i>Caves</i> (Cooperative Cellars) for about $1.20 per litre.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Regarding the prices of wine in France, I should add that we also bought good bottles of wine for around $5, and excellent wines for close to $10 for which we would pay up to $25 back home in B.C.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">While in Segonzac, I began photographing window shutters for my photo and video project titled, <i>Shutters of France</i>. The project includes more than 120 shutters from around the country. The 3-minute video may be seen by clicking on the image below.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For more travel photography with local information visit my website.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://francewithfriends.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-3503406263875493262012-09-02T14:50:00.000-07:002023-11-18T11:18:30.077-08:00BELGIUM<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuUjZjWvv8_fIBgHyXfXnkUDznrgD2YWb_HUHBfm5G7DPhQjj5u3u97MHbcrkl7BhGbqISQEf9RbjbMlkiv1l5944Wov9cu-Ujz6ZxoPQubZYernCpNnVGPVuPW7ZJl_88Q5-3OmXXlY/s1600/pink+face.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuUjZjWvv8_fIBgHyXfXnkUDznrgD2YWb_HUHBfm5G7DPhQjj5u3u97MHbcrkl7BhGbqISQEf9RbjbMlkiv1l5944Wov9cu-Ujz6ZxoPQubZYernCpNnVGPVuPW7ZJl_88Q5-3OmXXlY/s320/pink+face.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span><span style="font-size: large;">e took a side trip from Paris to spend a couple of days visiting our friend Edith in Belgium. Then we returned to Paris for a few days before beginning our </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">journey </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">south through France to the <i>Charentes</i>, and then </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Midi Pyrénees</i> for a home exchange.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">But first, Belgium ...</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">Edith lives in Knokke, a coastal resort town about a half hour by train from Bruges. We first visited her there during the great deep freeze of December</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> 2009. We wanted to see Bruges in the summer. The weather on this trip was perfect.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Hugs, memories, renewed friendship and laughter with Monk's Head cheese and Malheur Beer!<br />And we got to meet wonderful daughter Margot</i></span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>I had to capture these compelling masks in Knokke. The little face in the eye was a bonus.</i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A colleague of Edith's let us borrow his apartment on the beach for the two nights we were there. Thank you so much, Phillippe. We hope you will come to White Rock sometime so we can put you up at our (near) beach home.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Albertstrand is the happening beach street, pedestrian and bicycle promenade. It is the heart of Knokke on good summer days. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Rather unique sculptures stand out along the strand.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8Kl5vYToF2nWkzhNr7IazVLCeohnVsc1MMEOJeahHszMQCdgCn9wTr19FAsshDacrBhbY8Qag2uJWv1Q5vNt1Wlm06cr6knFYCoXewxTABQFPCmzmPrRx2A172dGcWXj01CDOMbTYAc/s1600/Albertstrand+03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8Kl5vYToF2nWkzhNr7IazVLCeohnVsc1MMEOJeahHszMQCdgCn9wTr19FAsshDacrBhbY8Qag2uJWv1Q5vNt1Wlm06cr6knFYCoXewxTABQFPCmzmPrRx2A172dGcWXj01CDOMbTYAc/s640/Albertstrand+03.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bicycles prevail here, for people of all ages. One has to be <span style="text-align: center;">vigilant on foot to avoid getting run into by a two-wheeler, or if you are on one yourself be very adept and in focus to survive the mad bicycle traffic.</span></span></div></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">The clear coastal air on the shores of the North Sea was </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">exhilarating.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GXdI0YgNPu4ol_ELh3EwKCW2-x6YukWzNh262k_x5D8Q4VHWDzO577u0JKnu6NNzp982SZB_XrIl_3B2aKdwBcywRoQRrxQsd0ksGYvE_q4n_-1n3cW2n_ebOGuVjZTqjAJFQGqPb-E/s1600/windsocks+green+white.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GXdI0YgNPu4ol_ELh3EwKCW2-x6YukWzNh262k_x5D8Q4VHWDzO577u0JKnu6NNzp982SZB_XrIl_3B2aKdwBcywRoQRrxQsd0ksGYvE_q4n_-1n3cW2n_ebOGuVjZTqjAJFQGqPb-E/s400/windsocks+green+white.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvarURyibisRtghvJYLChCxGv3nLgADNiiqB_bSyoyycWN0QpAoVdUzt9CV5ZHqVlFan-4ObisrQqQTKqf3ODrTTC04sElVGHPevepT_gE7uLiHNnULKc_d7hIL2M6w2yUkysNFHa1bo/s1600/windsocks+multi+colour.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvarURyibisRtghvJYLChCxGv3nLgADNiiqB_bSyoyycWN0QpAoVdUzt9CV5ZHqVlFan-4ObisrQqQTKqf3ODrTTC04sElVGHPevepT_gE7uLiHNnULKc_d7hIL2M6w2yUkysNFHa1bo/s400/windsocks+multi+colour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">W</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">e were not alone in these thoughts. The Knokke beaches in summer have wide appeal. While I did not plunge into the cold North Sea, I did wade in after a long bicycle ride on the promenade. The water was bracing. This is not the Med! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6agnzaAscJTDfhS1Il3JFw9gP9bWRL4pL8I8OsUpt51O1pfsiE2usOTX5ZKmJvdhI7Kvg3kMi5vpZbC_tLoi04LAIdV7dxwcS9QgBk8RjMO0V4CmDwebwhEdHJm7TDDB00E4S4SZB8A/s1600/beach+bar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6agnzaAscJTDfhS1Il3JFw9gP9bWRL4pL8I8OsUpt51O1pfsiE2usOTX5ZKmJvdhI7Kvg3kMi5vpZbC_tLoi04LAIdV7dxwcS9QgBk8RjMO0V4CmDwebwhEdHJm7TDDB00E4S4SZB8A/s640/beach+bar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1KiPfOLfNKIwiddtMLLfDqLzBC8-zNNyGvcQ6B6umH2zT-h2ZVzDCC4Au98lAoDEVWkD0ehnZ0sUdD0nsilVVIFFFr6k2tPshwIYu9WbD_HywOTQKO9HWE4gq17AM01Mag50P0T0Kxk/s1600/highrise+to+beach+hut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1KiPfOLfNKIwiddtMLLfDqLzBC8-zNNyGvcQ6B6umH2zT-h2ZVzDCC4Au98lAoDEVWkD0ehnZ0sUdD0nsilVVIFFFr6k2tPshwIYu9WbD_HywOTQKO9HWE4gq17AM01Mag50P0T0Kxk/s400/highrise+to+beach+hut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><i>This beach bar is decidedly European. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><i>This does not look much like a scene from North America.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">Seaside Knokke is a summer destination for Parisians and other landlocked Europeans. In </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">the month of</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">August, they</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">leave </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">the cities </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">f</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">or </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">oxygenated</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"> countryside and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">large natural bodies of water</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;">.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiaNCXuEeEKgqBrx4A6goUBveOPyirM3GKo_Mlpw1sQfc2tl9GEP6AALbXqHHl5170UQvI5TQnP5Ckf7jxrM5LyWvwwMO-wyicxogaLqJhTEY9xxTT0ojc6aFCZ16To1vlunKP3gqasE/s1600/beach+huts.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiaNCXuEeEKgqBrx4A6goUBveOPyirM3GKo_Mlpw1sQfc2tl9GEP6AALbXqHHl5170UQvI5TQnP5Ckf7jxrM5LyWvwwMO-wyicxogaLqJhTEY9xxTT0ojc6aFCZ16To1vlunKP3gqasE/s640/beach+huts.jpg" width="640" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">From Paris to Knokke is a few short train rides away, about 90 minutes in all. This common mode of travel in Europe is always a bit of an adventure for North Americans. We departed <i>Gare du Nord</i> in Paris, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">to Brussels then took a connecting train through Bruges to Knokke. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFAm3WWCxrLJ1bMthDXOW0jaH1qPuv-syDCuPBMFyF2iuhfYvaGzdOBG_cj4D5Y980XLx03LALF5GpYNpRlSOz6T6LUK2DL_4IHzWDUNics07r2ov4rsqqE41vjWrqNcbOFMpzzTCknA/s1600/nous+arrivons+bruxxeles.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFAm3WWCxrLJ1bMthDXOW0jaH1qPuv-syDCuPBMFyF2iuhfYvaGzdOBG_cj4D5Y980XLx03LALF5GpYNpRlSOz6T6LUK2DL_4IHzWDUNics07r2ov4rsqqE41vjWrqNcbOFMpzzTCknA/s400/nous+arrivons+bruxxeles.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Joanne bought 1st Class tickets online at home without really intending to but the price was good and the meal service with wine was better than the airplane flight to Europe.</span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We stopped for about three hours in Brussels to have a look around before travelling on to Bruge and Knokke.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL4CJ2eZtwocmHR8TqFgljOmcmW-occYVr1nUeiFvBev77-LMweQnyIJyzaqvesJpxyrruG_xHQ6-xGzr7ZwEnr6SZNLNliyxovnQbGIUIsu4QME96j1-SJ6Tf8fed6Fy9FC4CliJxj8/s1600/Brussels+01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL4CJ2eZtwocmHR8TqFgljOmcmW-occYVr1nUeiFvBev77-LMweQnyIJyzaqvesJpxyrruG_xHQ6-xGzr7ZwEnr6SZNLNliyxovnQbGIUIsu4QME96j1-SJ6Tf8fed6Fy9FC4CliJxj8/s640/Brussels+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Grande Place is a magnificent square surrounded by commercial buildings erected during the Hanseatic League of the early Middle Ages.</span></i><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A longer lens on my camera revealed intricate details of the architecture. Try to expand some of the photos to see what I mean.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrJut7uaPpqGoLWKcuVpzb-7jjSCAjgXWegmHP1qjcgu8UZ7R6V58BT6Ex3Ak2-9-1QpdQyMBZ8dlLxFM-iIgOCfbMVB6cgp79gasiWAMZaVOj0HaM8uAdAs_YC7Yc8nOwvEug4VzIkA/s1600/Brussels+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrJut7uaPpqGoLWKcuVpzb-7jjSCAjgXWegmHP1qjcgu8UZ7R6V58BT6Ex3Ak2-9-1QpdQyMBZ8dlLxFM-iIgOCfbMVB6cgp79gasiWAMZaVOj0HaM8uAdAs_YC7Yc8nOwvEug4VzIkA/s400/Brussels+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds throughout Northern Europe<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaISrjaV5ozyX7SvMSh7kOEphMUSPzPFAYWn0FrmNcqQzirRowuzkg_mkSzEiwTzirAWzjB6906Gjg5uHwkJYMYvEGaLHMdroBocQ95jvqYvdmeq8aH7TJQrOCZ60pEQ-0EdKwGvv68E/s1600/Brussels+03.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaISrjaV5ozyX7SvMSh7kOEphMUSPzPFAYWn0FrmNcqQzirRowuzkg_mkSzEiwTzirAWzjB6906Gjg5uHwkJYMYvEGaLHMdroBocQ95jvqYvdmeq8aH7TJQrOCZ60pEQ-0EdKwGvv68E/s400/Brussels+03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Each of the rooftops of these buildings represents a guild.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt0Bx_T2E3xT9_avLdKnG6nHDBX49FNLjub_YFuimbRKs1Jhg5b-qZNLWF_aVi8RihgbYUmgJL6YWsA8M2xj6A6Ku_R1PEjxDYiK4lWRRI-Yae4Rq52xO71saM1SXopZZ4H7j42gl6DM/s1600/Brussels+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt0Bx_T2E3xT9_avLdKnG6nHDBX49FNLjub_YFuimbRKs1Jhg5b-qZNLWF_aVi8RihgbYUmgJL6YWsA8M2xj6A6Ku_R1PEjxDYiK4lWRRI-Yae4Rq52xO71saM1SXopZZ4H7j42gl6DM/s400/Brussels+04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zlwv4dKsmJqs0DGw9avL9uZIv6FGFp9XSGVOvWyUiyJLwLki37DLZP_xs-9NyNHIGNyi-OpuZgil0Po-qt4FSVIN1stYYzPjG257-oOtljY48Dg8D2Y3zE9_PGH_EXGHfH_XrLpKGY0/s1600/Brussels+05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zlwv4dKsmJqs0DGw9avL9uZIv6FGFp9XSGVOvWyUiyJLwLki37DLZP_xs-9NyNHIGNyi-OpuZgil0Po-qt4FSVIN1stYYzPjG257-oOtljY48Dg8D2Y3zE9_PGH_EXGHfH_XrLpKGY0/s640/Brussels+05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJxZc26sOrFNtYB9nnwACRXPOxMSBGubiMafB-RSJSnJmqS782lxSfTAXOUdM_kssf2hu11n-pLchbOch0dHu861LkCPSPJHXyFcCMhlAA1gZnn6B65rd34-PBR0_KK18B0PaXNSnM74/s1600/Brussels+06.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJxZc26sOrFNtYB9nnwACRXPOxMSBGubiMafB-RSJSnJmqS782lxSfTAXOUdM_kssf2hu11n-pLchbOch0dHu861LkCPSPJHXyFcCMhlAA1gZnn6B65rd34-PBR0_KK18B0PaXNSnM74/s400/Brussels+06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">... and looking even closer</span></i></span><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAD0l3mSlhBsgdO3w1uT_B7B5DDOLxe0TBLSXvfMCa-L-Gt562Dw4lBmWGo_VIdPJoJctWmQliX4DR77CHgjmeBxzQOga1c0t9piwHkctS_zMeJ6B4Q4BrrHrlYcHUcc3lCnGt_n_H4M/s1600/Belgian+frites.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAD0l3mSlhBsgdO3w1uT_B7B5DDOLxe0TBLSXvfMCa-L-Gt562Dw4lBmWGo_VIdPJoJctWmQliX4DR77CHgjmeBxzQOga1c0t9piwHkctS_zMeJ6B4Q4BrrHrlYcHUcc3lCnGt_n_H4M/s320/Belgian+frites.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Before catching the next train we had to satisfy a craving. Belgian french fries with mayo, totally have to be the best. There is even a Frites Museum in Bruges.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyoZtu6uEgZ25zwKohrIZb-MchuuCDA_-CYFJ1_VBli3NYuLiY43E49fKqxlKCx_GAXo_QWpMe1b2O_9TkiYdg8JI5ELBWZGTo2zOSKwNu7P5jr6wDho5__h0etT6Nx_JNl1XMIS4yOw/s1600/Knokke+station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyoZtu6uEgZ25zwKohrIZb-MchuuCDA_-CYFJ1_VBli3NYuLiY43E49fKqxlKCx_GAXo_QWpMe1b2O_9TkiYdg8JI5ELBWZGTo2zOSKwNu7P5jr6wDho5__h0etT6Nx_JNl1XMIS4yOw/s640/Knokke+station.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Notice all the bicycles under the canopy. Edith met us at the station and said she could not remember when she was last here with her car. Except for the ride to her apartment, we never used a car while we were in Knokke. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">RUGES</span> <span style="font-size: large;">in the summer is like so many other European destinations in July and August—overrun by tourists. </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>C'est la Vie!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3xpijM0JDGV2ThfXqoqFsss0E_BejbF4F6AazkXoYwPpOJ4Rxz-SqhDmcAineE1mYHQRUZq_DJiKjT6qkY66MZGjEJt0JFPd8QU-aYuNJzj5UPGia5PE1wvIOUZAU68lUPrv8Ny3yyY/s1600/canal+boat+ride+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3xpijM0JDGV2ThfXqoqFsss0E_BejbF4F6AazkXoYwPpOJ4Rxz-SqhDmcAineE1mYHQRUZq_DJiKjT6qkY66MZGjEJt0JFPd8QU-aYuNJzj5UPGia5PE1wvIOUZAU68lUPrv8Ny3yyY/s400/canal+boat+ride+01.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Bruges is a beautiful old city, often referred to as Venice of the north because of its extensive canals and early history as an important seaport and commercial centre. Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYnlZgXV8JyhPBqqNGh4mLzkEqpvWehLlAYmIBMjpZppOO4oL2nYlI2AuW8gPPALnXOIlVQtw_uzTsmr2xGDR6vJXBjt-0MMaByoRuk60WvAV6HRXbuzzXC6fn4-c_2W3PdFgwUNOHYE/s1600/canal+boat+ride+02.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYnlZgXV8JyhPBqqNGh4mLzkEqpvWehLlAYmIBMjpZppOO4oL2nYlI2AuW8gPPALnXOIlVQtw_uzTsmr2xGDR6vJXBjt-0MMaByoRuk60WvAV6HRXbuzzXC6fn4-c_2W3PdFgwUNOHYE/s320/canal+boat+ride+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Yes, we did the canal boat ride and we were surrounded by a riot of languages, lap dogs, cameras ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I tried to get a seat at the bow but to no avail</span>. <span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I needed Kris' long arms to reach over passengers' heads with my camera, so </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">above is a </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">sample of </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">canal boat hairstyles.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmenryTVQpy4w9VPT5VjCxQGZjwMABWg_HhNKxXV9_oKNOldQUeWRJfRFpRujVkiM6zT0DkBe96YdFHNVQILuZpfinXs_N5McA7mfX1bFyvbJPp2m7yIB7UGatEXyBMee7jy0kEHWTJ0/s1600/canal+boat+ride+04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmenryTVQpy4w9VPT5VjCxQGZjwMABWg_HhNKxXV9_oKNOldQUeWRJfRFpRujVkiM6zT0DkBe96YdFHNVQILuZpfinXs_N5McA7mfX1bFyvbJPp2m7yIB7UGatEXyBMee7jy0kEHWTJ0/s400/canal+boat+ride+04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbYPw4HgCY7ri3wE8YYirzvW3AxrTyGYxcL4GZxNDI1Ho0034DstkkE62R5BZOB6IkGVJNLtNbnJh8JiUtxzeSSaA7D7VC__nUNlsBiQ7Vpom2GfgW5gX2kvr5YjNYh8cMdH18m5C568/s1600/huisbrouwerij.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbYPw4HgCY7ri3wE8YYirzvW3AxrTyGYxcL4GZxNDI1Ho0034DstkkE62R5BZOB6IkGVJNLtNbnJh8JiUtxzeSSaA7D7VC__nUNlsBiQ7Vpom2GfgW5gX2kvr5YjNYh8cMdH18m5C568/s400/huisbrouwerij.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Thirsty after the boat ride, we stopped for lunch at the Halvemoon Brewery and had a Zot beer, one of their best on tap. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOMaVa4Oy7R4MqOI_hobadrUtADEVp2f1kXlEwAEWGlYQ0COMhAS40fxZmXREoZ_3qbV8oEsR5imCb-deKKYethgXbJtV2pgBzCHSPpOMCZl9IDIS84maR6F7o21uhS-Iwl_YssZuDgQ/s1600/leapfroggers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOMaVa4Oy7R4MqOI_hobadrUtADEVp2f1kXlEwAEWGlYQ0COMhAS40fxZmXREoZ_3qbV8oEsR5imCb-deKKYethgXbJtV2pgBzCHSPpOMCZl9IDIS84maR6F7o21uhS-Iwl_YssZuDgQ/s640/leapfroggers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlXNOAv-jkvUut2Bu8VP9PjcuKDnsZdeePqBAySE3bcJ96AlDbemIUF2cL_Kcl-73bSgjMOe48gSeShc-Zsdtn-zBIXF-hqiwQEdb9mVMmeVAy7o79DP-QkI7wG4VOh8-qkqAz54O6kM/s1600/mermaid.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlXNOAv-jkvUut2Bu8VP9PjcuKDnsZdeePqBAySE3bcJ96AlDbemIUF2cL_Kcl-73bSgjMOe48gSeShc-Zsdtn-zBIXF-hqiwQEdb9mVMmeVAy7o79DP-QkI7wG4VOh8-qkqAz54O6kM/s320/mermaid.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkiw_WtE30KwlU1Jnk3vBuZFi9DW5V6WZbfBH031lCL0zwoR1GFpTzCnMunqe39ZRbdfBUbbd0bBW5SKAwfxbgt0K1eDwtnIGtkzPncBHT1TSrZcnHvoINf-5_tlptgtcUXO5u-AC3qU/s1600/sanctus+joannes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkiw_WtE30KwlU1Jnk3vBuZFi9DW5V6WZbfBH031lCL0zwoR1GFpTzCnMunqe39ZRbdfBUbbd0bBW5SKAwfxbgt0K1eDwtnIGtkzPncBHT1TSrZcnHvoINf-5_tlptgtcUXO5u-AC3qU/s400/sanctus+joannes.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Joannes was Mother Superior in the convent here (in another life?) before I met her then she had a fall and became a mermaid. I rescued her when I was a sailor on the deep blue sea and we have been living happily ever after. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Back in Knokke, we had an evening</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">with Edith and her friend Phillipe from Versailles. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__jI9nByQiX5mGgMCB4JcwXobY2SYTb-PHFGy8ntuTSh0R1Hj0QfyIyKWiu2DMlBtHm7AYa98tHsP8SaS1o4dpvScEWb-6z_6HDkldpG8rQpBHASN5WfSXdt3nEbKkw1c7ocTvo9Rvtc/s1600/Gotha+Club.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__jI9nByQiX5mGgMCB4JcwXobY2SYTb-PHFGy8ntuTSh0R1Hj0QfyIyKWiu2DMlBtHm7AYa98tHsP8SaS1o4dpvScEWb-6z_6HDkldpG8rQpBHASN5WfSXdt3nEbKkw1c7ocTvo9Rvtc/w400-h224/Gotha+Club.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJEVqO-zmOyoJHNYsKNPBZcqRphMfeZEt2dha2_fKikW7lO0R0nNVQf1WyWjP-8tFr4M23nRAhnjStnklM1_6WKsyYBKwSx1kij1CkSe2tTiAwSMnxHzZDmoH1OTW3RHuOuNZFNWBm40/s1600/Gotha+Club+drinks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJEVqO-zmOyoJHNYsKNPBZcqRphMfeZEt2dha2_fKikW7lO0R0nNVQf1WyWjP-8tFr4M23nRAhnjStnklM1_6WKsyYBKwSx1kij1CkSe2tTiAwSMnxHzZDmoH1OTW3RHuOuNZFNWBm40/w400-h225/Gotha+Club+drinks.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJEVqO-zmOyoJHNYsKNPBZcqRphMfeZEt2dha2_fKikW7lO0R0nNVQf1WyWjP-8tFr4M23nRAhnjStnklM1_6WKsyYBKwSx1kij1CkSe2tTiAwSMnxHzZDmoH1OTW3RHuOuNZFNWBm40/s1600/Gotha+Club+drinks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJEVqO-zmOyoJHNYsKNPBZcqRphMfeZEt2dha2_fKikW7lO0R0nNVQf1WyWjP-8tFr4M23nRAhnjStnklM1_6WKsyYBKwSx1kij1CkSe2tTiAwSMnxHzZDmoH1OTW3RHuOuNZFNWBm40/s1600/Gotha+Club+drinks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This hot spot is where you will find all the young and beautiful, the stars and </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">wanna-bees. It</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> was dark, loud, crowded and smoky. I guess I was reminded of the <i>Star Wars</i> bar. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Joanne did not join us. She crashed early—good choice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paris has many faces, and for Phillipe, there are few "real" Parisians. Ask a French person where they are from and they will say, Provence, or Poitiers, or Limoges ... but not from Paris. They may live there and refer to themselves as Parisians, but they are always from somewhere else.</span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Ahh, the cross the Parisians have to bear. The stereotypical view is that the French in the rest of the country do not care much for Parisians, and the latter are not very accepting of the former. </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">We took a taxi back to the train station for our return to Paris. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I called it </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">the Edith walking-bicycle taxi. </span></div></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ1Lv9Je1EEwtpYQruws0K5-nDm9J3fNsUNw2o_0enZogZCP416CZFttOPm11IJgDgkmZ9vxwW6bC-G6e4HeU8v8SzeuNc2wvzNBT_-ubPP-cRXpjJzQMDRdWRK-8lcFqo7Mcesvxh2k/s1600/bicycle+taxi+02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ1Lv9Je1EEwtpYQruws0K5-nDm9J3fNsUNw2o_0enZogZCP416CZFttOPm11IJgDgkmZ9vxwW6bC-G6e4HeU8v8SzeuNc2wvzNBT_-ubPP-cRXpjJzQMDRdWRK-8lcFqo7Mcesvxh2k/s400/bicycle+taxi+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Many thanks, Edith for a wonderful time. We are looking forward to seeing you some time in our part of Canada.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit Gary Karlsen's website. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://francewithfriends.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-4791063255886763672012-08-29T14:48:00.000-07:002023-11-18T12:17:00.584-08:00PARIS Pt 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PARIS</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Part 3hree of 3hree</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJDSYkZhh3O5BmzGrOVdbYnfOEwO53iIWXTFku32UG5BZuCtoe5x2NZ6o5T2fFdjHl2H3ysym-uq11EcTT5U9s3KhEyU7tK8pmQJlYuNA7CK8AU1axAgabirUdyJTtdHWizAAvSTCDLE/s1600/Pompidou+Ctr+mural.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJDSYkZhh3O5BmzGrOVdbYnfOEwO53iIWXTFku32UG5BZuCtoe5x2NZ6o5T2fFdjHl2H3ysym-uq11EcTT5U9s3KhEyU7tK8pmQJlYuNA7CK8AU1axAgabirUdyJTtdHWizAAvSTCDLE/s400/Pompidou+Ctr+mural.jpg" width="400" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Living in the Marais is a pretty good choice for easy access to anywhere in Paris whether by foot, by bus or by metro. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: large;">The photos in this section of the blog are a collection of images that caught my eye. Some of them were taken in the Marais.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB70CzUuKA2d8Oc_bdem4sRDHTDtoVUiQfTnFNmJAjNCIRz3ZqNxbxFcQceRum6M6NaiouE-YDj10V45inzOzp8IaQx1Puiz9xLNg328BG5E27YVyb1KVI05U3FG0vSVtX3BQvMpuLL8E/s1600/Paris+Fashion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB70CzUuKA2d8Oc_bdem4sRDHTDtoVUiQfTnFNmJAjNCIRz3ZqNxbxFcQceRum6M6NaiouE-YDj10V45inzOzp8IaQx1Puiz9xLNg328BG5E27YVyb1KVI05U3FG0vSVtX3BQvMpuLL8E/s640/Paris+Fashion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSSDNH7tb9nqL1590aDeSDro3poTvhZHf23gTyCHhZI2TMGPkUtCSU8pnrzENODfEcdYM-BUF8azo1fhMZuTZJnIPO7_bexYX0pbU9JH19MVuibTg220Mc4Z21rUHWxDtmGkKoPXQf3Y/s1600/gay+bar+in+Marais.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSSDNH7tb9nqL1590aDeSDro3poTvhZHf23gTyCHhZI2TMGPkUtCSU8pnrzENODfEcdYM-BUF8azo1fhMZuTZJnIPO7_bexYX0pbU9JH19MVuibTg220Mc4Z21rUHWxDtmGkKoPXQf3Y/s400/gay+bar+in+Marais.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i> one of the many gay bars in the Marais</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2nIStKqRmizLlgfHCIk0BQzUGXqGtv086ECODyP_PEg9hrz4TcuZGgmWGYKvGwqqEDrzZBThMrIxWrP1cQJb9xnQiILvO7Qj-M_cqI2hFGqRijoHK4B-SR-3deypuwIFn_VfmKlAErw/s1600/Marais+sign+01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2nIStKqRmizLlgfHCIk0BQzUGXqGtv086ECODyP_PEg9hrz4TcuZGgmWGYKvGwqqEDrzZBThMrIxWrP1cQJb9xnQiILvO7Qj-M_cqI2hFGqRijoHK4B-SR-3deypuwIFn_VfmKlAErw/s200/Marais+sign+01.jpg" width="200" /></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_luhzAw1-5PUlFStEZcr1ssteAN_NQrj7n9FNAARNAH56XcgYstXq5gYXFVxQyooF2fjJekwtgqwgKA9vKDhOnZiS_P9bS3ZySWo7tlEn7JuIDRS_aU_14f7MZCFnOxQtoZlIOcLYTw/s1600/Marais+sign+03.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_luhzAw1-5PUlFStEZcr1ssteAN_NQrj7n9FNAARNAH56XcgYstXq5gYXFVxQyooF2fjJekwtgqwgKA9vKDhOnZiS_P9bS3ZySWo7tlEn7JuIDRS_aU_14f7MZCFnOxQtoZlIOcLYTw/s200/Marais+sign+03.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pk6v3RwdLyWkU6WKw9Gaa85QhVwnscS3L5rGWxXyWZ-joqx9hv7lEPxuBhMPwCLmHH7HjLFck7HHwtMH7LngmOga1H_25BUmXlBeRA0Gm8Flrrt4hRvT6INzCDWlmdWGAVkPbOdF7ZA/s1600/Marais+sign+02.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Pk6v3RwdLyWkU6WKw9Gaa85QhVwnscS3L5rGWxXyWZ-joqx9hv7lEPxuBhMPwCLmHH7HjLFck7HHwtMH7LngmOga1H_25BUmXlBeRA0Gm8Flrrt4hRvT6INzCDWlmdWGAVkPbOdF7ZA/s200/Marais+sign+02.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We lived only a couple of streets away from a terrific <i>boulangerie</i>, a Carrefour (market) for our wine and groceries, and of course, a great many bistros and restaurants.</span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The Pompidou Centre was also just down the street and we frequently used the public library there for its free wifi.</span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">A few more streets to the south and we arrive at the <i>Hotel de Ville</i> and the Seine ... </span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Beach on the Seine. Sand is brought in for July and August</i></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">... Notre Dame Cathedral is just across the Pont d'Arcole ... Continuing on across the Seine again, over Petit Pont to the Latin Quarter, past the Sorbonne and swinging to the right, is the spectacular Luxembourg Gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">On most days we breakfasted in and planned our day. Lunches were usually </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>le picnique</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> with a fresh baguette, cheese and paté, fruit and wine. There are so many great parks in Paris that lend themselves perfectly to this kind of casual lunch. Somehow this doesn't really work on park benches in cities back home.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveu6zBDd944FfzAlrFXydeDtOBHzeDD_MfU4ofiNRSPzxwIW7XjR_YgwvsiQa-sETO-Qnx7n4K8Bg_fXKS2etLI78sHzw_EybQTA44XFUUhsckinpwLeQ5gStXKSuy0xTp_3fbk_LzZo/s1600/napping+at+Tuilleries+01.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveu6zBDd944FfzAlrFXydeDtOBHzeDD_MfU4ofiNRSPzxwIW7XjR_YgwvsiQa-sETO-Qnx7n4K8Bg_fXKS2etLI78sHzw_EybQTA44XFUUhsckinpwLeQ5gStXKSuy0xTp_3fbk_LzZo/s320/napping+at+Tuilleries+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The Marais was home to the Knights Templar in the 20th century. We would take <i>Rue du Temple</i> to get our way down to the Jewish sector then over to <i>Place des Vosges</i> where we toured Victor Hugo's house. Hugo, a literary giant, may be best known for </span></span><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Les Misérables</span></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">,</span></i></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">or in English, </span><i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kepXJDEVptlrO2-KU_z8wNlPGomYLntvN7UQ0nOSyzT73TwCB_hJi0m2AMsXv2gw4IBifJVlAly-tQcRiIaUIMMgwQ3KZMj6Xcq_DJqURijqCqS6-jy4dF-OCtVLvsycRj8C_fgGIMU/s1600/Victor+Hugo%2527s+window+1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kepXJDEVptlrO2-KU_z8wNlPGomYLntvN7UQ0nOSyzT73TwCB_hJi0m2AMsXv2gw4IBifJVlAly-tQcRiIaUIMMgwQ3KZMj6Xcq_DJqURijqCqS6-jy4dF-OCtVLvsycRj8C_fgGIMU/s1600/Victor+Hugo%2527s+window+1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kepXJDEVptlrO2-KU_z8wNlPGomYLntvN7UQ0nOSyzT73TwCB_hJi0m2AMsXv2gw4IBifJVlAly-tQcRiIaUIMMgwQ3KZMj6Xcq_DJqURijqCqS6-jy4dF-OCtVLvsycRj8C_fgGIMU/s200/Victor+Hugo%2527s+window+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92opXuOJEXWS-GhSkHjoHcwuNbbDHu9J_XtAbJgju2nqAKVFoyGnpYhywNpG_IVw8Rrj3YPETZGMps7iRx1g8BWoH6YGkDLf4UdDONcIwnlX6FCtlKrIP5-YR5If1HVj_vwkngKU-hDk/s1600/Victor+Hugo%2527s+window+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92opXuOJEXWS-GhSkHjoHcwuNbbDHu9J_XtAbJgju2nqAKVFoyGnpYhywNpG_IVw8Rrj3YPETZGMps7iRx1g8BWoH6YGkDLf4UdDONcIwnlX6FCtlKrIP5-YR5If1HVj_vwkngKU-hDk/s200/Victor+Hugo%2527s+window+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">The home of the famous author looks out over the southeast corner of Place des Vosges. In the painting below, <i>Quasimodo</i> abducts <i>Esmeralda</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">For the history student, Paris is an unending study. There are </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">a million stories in the </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">architecture </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">alone. Look upward when walking around Paris, (be sure to secure your wallet or purse).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQM8r0SDpsKAMVGrS9eFuj55MLY2o-3vJud1TPoTdDC5WCaWbNoY6Cv1Z5BRvh8LGtTD3oVVfpMRcnLTfqY6nMv2q5ueB5mPJM7udQuMde8Kis8w4uw8k0xboVpLtDpdZ8vX5MfGSs_fs/s1600/rue+Etienne+Marcel.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQM8r0SDpsKAMVGrS9eFuj55MLY2o-3vJud1TPoTdDC5WCaWbNoY6Cv1Z5BRvh8LGtTD3oVVfpMRcnLTfqY6nMv2q5ueB5mPJM7udQuMde8Kis8w4uw8k0xboVpLtDpdZ8vX5MfGSs_fs/s400/rue+Etienne+Marcel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CWluR-toIluJ1JBJ4rQaz3vu7kGaJ9iGxRWtg5BTESC04fa5d97m1mIEMD2H4A3IMjJByQlzxLFuMTjBFU6r7Ly44nrfqIOfJFktDSiErRGNIu87ihCKUaG8XDZwHGBfOVQeXrY5U6E/s1600/gay+bar+in+Marais+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CWluR-toIluJ1JBJ4rQaz3vu7kGaJ9iGxRWtg5BTESC04fa5d97m1mIEMD2H4A3IMjJByQlzxLFuMTjBFU6r7Ly44nrfqIOfJFktDSiErRGNIu87ihCKUaG8XDZwHGBfOVQeXrY5U6E/s400/gay+bar+in+Marais+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8DNJ76WlhEQxCM7JC2T2M3M44lZnTVOFxurAo7PAOJyUpNL2un-iWn_X8e1HkliBBHj7mNhF_ddOpVHQc-n4kjLs7S8aKS39AArYpEjVHMRXDdkVYWDeScXhVTYCGRV4jrrjYXyyBoQ/s1600/Reading+old+&+new.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8DNJ76WlhEQxCM7JC2T2M3M44lZnTVOFxurAo7PAOJyUpNL2un-iWn_X8e1HkliBBHj7mNhF_ddOpVHQc-n4kjLs7S8aKS39AArYpEjVHMRXDdkVYWDeScXhVTYCGRV4jrrjYXyyBoQ/s640/Reading+old+&+new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">These two men really caught my eye. They are reading on the bank of Canal St Martin, perhaps a stereotypical scene in Paris. But notice the older man is reading a hard copy book and the younger man is reading his iPad. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">An interesting juxtaposition.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Aug 8 we celebrated our 43rd anniversary in Paris. Had a great dinner at <i>L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche</i> on Ile Saint Louis.</span> </div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps2qUV17Tb1sqS0dT-8BXt7UnId_uzZbe_ZNtnZCUGF1UqPdgZHdeCyUH9oOrpLkdTrKz7AU00fn8xH6hFVSOLfmgd8sESrhjKuoF8R8iOOZg9nO7Oc0to5q3r-7l_1q4Rr-g1BXl3cs/s1600/joyeux+anniversaire+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjps2qUV17Tb1sqS0dT-8BXt7UnId_uzZbe_ZNtnZCUGF1UqPdgZHdeCyUH9oOrpLkdTrKz7AU00fn8xH6hFVSOLfmgd8sESrhjKuoF8R8iOOZg9nO7Oc0to5q3r-7l_1q4Rr-g1BXl3cs/s320/joyeux+anniversaire+%25281%2529.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, we got up early to catch a train from Gare du Nord to Brussels to visit our friend Edith. Before we boarded the train the conductor punched our tickets then looked closer at them and said, <br /> <br />"You leaving tomorrow, not today. Today is August 8. Your ticket are for August 9."</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Joanne and I both said at the same time, quite emphatically, "No, today is August 9!" After all, we knew about August the 8th. Our anniversary is always that day and we celebrated it yesterday, with a degree of romance, I might add. <br /> <br />Because we were both so adamant about the date, he pulled out his pocket calendar. We were sure we had him convinced of his error until he reaffirmed, "See, today is the 8, not the 9." <br /> <br />We saw that he was right. He initialled the tickets, handed them back to us with a smile and said, "I see you tomorrow."</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were both quite astounded, sat on a bench to collect our thoughts and burst into laughter. <br /> <br />"This was just a rehearsal then, finding our way to the train like this and all," Joanne said. <br /> <br />"Yes," I replied. "And so was yesterday's anniversary celebration." <br /> <br />More laughter.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, we had two anniversaries this year. We ate in and had an even better bottle of wine than we had at the restaurant the night before.</span>
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<div><span style="font-size: large;">The Marais is also known for its Jewish community—a very cool Arrondissement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">One sees wealthy Jews and poor Jews walking around amongst the tourists, whom they are pretty skilled at ignoring. They also share the streets and businesses with people of all colours and undetermined origins.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5r_xWa8XiujxZK16bptIMYjEOGh9vHJA2RpxJgsXNoBFZl7SakhybI5WmZaXuP-Bb2NkxAzGKI_ViGXyXdMGqIk52pwzBz0Uy1DDUDw_A33GQhHawQsM51yD3CdawvlN7WXCnUbY9jA/s1600/Hasidic+hawkers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5r_xWa8XiujxZK16bptIMYjEOGh9vHJA2RpxJgsXNoBFZl7SakhybI5WmZaXuP-Bb2NkxAzGKI_ViGXyXdMGqIk52pwzBz0Uy1DDUDw_A33GQhHawQsM51yD3CdawvlN7WXCnUbY9jA/s640/Hasidic+hawkers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />never before have I seen Hasidic hawkers <br /></span> <br /> </td></tr></tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAEWLJGjZ1f_bQ12vs4TU1Fe01hYsY14EEjRBYFa9w9_ZFo7Hdq3ZOLU4z4yUbf8FlYBL8irTprFnNbJG1J8oMAE6O9MulGf0NTUZBJwzBXQkytLQp4-3XTXu1UKy_CHfIImqg33S9GE/s1600/maccabee+beer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAEWLJGjZ1f_bQ12vs4TU1Fe01hYsY14EEjRBYFa9w9_ZFo7Hdq3ZOLU4z4yUbf8FlYBL8irTprFnNbJG1J8oMAE6O9MulGf0NTUZBJwzBXQkytLQp4-3XTXu1UKy_CHfIImqg33S9GE/s200/maccabee+beer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">I had my first-ever Jewish beer—a Maccabee—at the King Falafel Palace in the 4th Arrondissement.</span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">It sure beats Mogen David wine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We were seated by a multilingual Indian who reminded Joanne of Dev Patel (Slum Dog Millionaire, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), and then served by a very busy blonde French woman. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1kn9Jj9MyQQJ4M6khsqzTZ1o0yBLPpSbLKZZVCJPjxN0AiXWEb3jEGdxX0qBezK6QV_Rt-y0ev8MfEoa0ma5AR44lEQPZlRMocXBzcF05_4_Z9sZE_tcEDccsp5Z60bVH1LJhv-OigQ/s1600/quatrechevaux.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1kn9Jj9MyQQJ4M6khsqzTZ1o0yBLPpSbLKZZVCJPjxN0AiXWEb3jEGdxX0qBezK6QV_Rt-y0ev8MfEoa0ma5AR44lEQPZlRMocXBzcF05_4_Z9sZE_tcEDccsp5Z60bVH1LJhv-OigQ/s640/quatrechevaux.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">PARIS IS A PLACE OF COLOUR</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit Gary Karlsen's website.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSxQgB1fh5J-YCzP2eP3i_fvp-LD-bcuRllJZXhNx7BvuTZzIUDL-MDuQxSPDiW5UAE4OB9bRNAUoVNLhbMgJdutN1UJsGmjh5ZQleqH5LYZaUGO1KESzEJaGQXEaarlIxRr02fqwF_A/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSxQgB1fh5J-YCzP2eP3i_fvp-LD-bcuRllJZXhNx7BvuTZzIUDL-MDuQxSPDiW5UAE4OB9bRNAUoVNLhbMgJdutN1UJsGmjh5ZQleqH5LYZaUGO1KESzEJaGQXEaarlIxRr02fqwF_A/s1600/Self+Portrait+in+Paris.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="http://noordinaeyseaman.com" target="_blank">Gary Karlsen's website</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7325188474178628730.post-58143826758444825192012-08-28T04:10:00.002-07:002023-11-18T12:19:06.978-08:00PARIS Pt 2<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">Part 2wo of 3hree</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;">N</span><span style="font-size: large;">avigate Paris by the monuments. That’s what our new friend Philippe told us (more on him later).</span><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEieC0b9wBAysnDJFmJRNuUIgvPZqJ1vWvOdSX5x4NKZsLH5Eor6cajhyphenhyphenXyGe48zZUE77u0gubyKTJZG8Its0HIwS-3YHk_ukgAA6PTtB3ZXI5cfz4cUIJtc7P33gx109Zrv2L4zF9Y60/s1600/l%2527Arc+de+Triomphe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRxIkUXpRQg67Un6bI-C2JSaJebWTECIxnOi9DwLvoW0aDEKFFWSNxPZDHvHtwaU_c4_vhcAqfw9Th97SmAwbykOwsE-PnrtUH6mXkLs9hFThsZ4UglWrJmvfahgza5AzMe2T32e10Pw/s1600/Eiffel+Tower.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRxIkUXpRQg67Un6bI-C2JSaJebWTECIxnOi9DwLvoW0aDEKFFWSNxPZDHvHtwaU_c4_vhcAqfw9Th97SmAwbykOwsE-PnrtUH6mXkLs9hFThsZ4UglWrJmvfahgza5AzMe2T32e10Pw/s320/Eiffel+Tower.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEieC0b9wBAysnDJFmJRNuUIgvPZqJ1vWvOdSX5x4NKZsLH5Eor6cajhyphenhyphenXyGe48zZUE77u0gubyKTJZG8Its0HIwS-3YHk_ukgAA6PTtB3ZXI5cfz4cUIJtc7P33gx109Zrv2L4zF9Y60/s200/l%2527Arc+de+Triomphe.jpg" width="121" /></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">It is really not difficult to find your way around Paris. It costs you enough to get there so TAKE THE TIME to make your must-see wish list in advance and mark the monuments and cathedrals on your map(s) with a highlighter.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Seek out <i>Ile de la Cité</i> and <i>Ile St Louis</i> and use them as your frame of reference. Why? Because they are central on the Seine, and that is key for Paris—today, and a millennium ago. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa9yKtQblKaa2nviGDK3eNYTUvDPcCSBr9gWabr5KKRGbj0OB_2HmVICI07xGeQeeSwndaIw_1hqMd_MkK1dJXypGZoX-CtGDXw8gcjajX1db9aL55cdLni6BkYvBj5VSKNT77cL46c/s1600/1769+notre+dame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNa9yKtQblKaa2nviGDK3eNYTUvDPcCSBr9gWabr5KKRGbj0OB_2HmVICI07xGeQeeSwndaIw_1hqMd_MkK1dJXypGZoX-CtGDXw8gcjajX1db9aL55cdLni6BkYvBj5VSKNT77cL46c/s640/1769+notre+dame.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Also, get to know some of the bridges—they are all different, they are really cool, and they help you locate yourself. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ37FQziWlGgV-Rhr4dHuGx2fm_0p9WnG9HjhpAeLeYm0gzUXrnPuw83olcjzjVda27_ScXr6n6gEcBIiV-tbnFhok85vuUwoSHaJWnZiUmVod7Eri6qzxI1825bir8Wlh0pa6-YWTJs/s1600/1777+pont+neuf.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZ37FQziWlGgV-Rhr4dHuGx2fm_0p9WnG9HjhpAeLeYm0gzUXrnPuw83olcjzjVda27_ScXr6n6gEcBIiV-tbnFhok85vuUwoSHaJWnZiUmVod7Eri6qzxI1825bir8Wlh0pa6-YWTJs/s400/1777+pont+neuf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">And if you are with your spouse or significant </span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">other, the bridges of Paris are inarguably, indisputably, compass-neutral landmarks (says me).</span></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Now, be prepared to walk your buns off. We did—averaged almost 10 km a day until it hurt!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96g-ykycycNAclL9Vv61Qocrmufg0Ou1dCE0dbMS98NXdCEft4BfMuk0ncF0KH83sCpSPhq332RQ9O9Q6QMLJXEMQGnVEnyL3y5E4uKuhcmE4t8h5ImyGjSAlfKPkeVz0DLPt53AbFPI/s1600/Henro+%2521V.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96g-ykycycNAclL9Vv61Qocrmufg0Ou1dCE0dbMS98NXdCEft4BfMuk0ncF0KH83sCpSPhq332RQ9O9Q6QMLJXEMQGnVEnyL3y5E4uKuhcmE4t8h5ImyGjSAlfKPkeVz0DLPt53AbFPI/s640/Henro+%2521V.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Henri lV at Square du Vert Galant </i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Place Vendome</i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Place de l'Opéra</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zYZC0Njyl6o-na5TiiUEqPxJ6bnYoG2B1UkuD97901xJlvpiz_cJp1oMG_Zn5FgloFgpmH3f7dI77ipU0gvNo77fmPduwZih0bm7X-aKCxNqoLfal92V8ueU125cZ_1m4o5FTRZR_oY/s1600/Place+des+Victoires.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zYZC0Njyl6o-na5TiiUEqPxJ6bnYoG2B1UkuD97901xJlvpiz_cJp1oMG_Zn5FgloFgpmH3f7dI77ipU0gvNo77fmPduwZih0bm7X-aKCxNqoLfal92V8ueU125cZ_1m4o5FTRZR_oY/s640/Place+des+Victoires.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Place des Victoires</i></span></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Not only did we see most of what we wanted to see, but we also had encounters with and the joy of experiencing what we just stumbled upon along the way. We were on an unplanned bonus fitness program that included copious amounts of wine and lots of French things to eat ... didn’t gain an ounce</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span> (ou, un gramme - peut-être!)</span></i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span>. </span></span></span></div></span>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><i>Place République</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">NOTE: there are a few things we would recommend missing, if not, avoiding:</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipymaw2l-52xw4CFHD1v919OsjBznt73wVD1wPT3Z8tKKI9RG_9df9kAlXmVkLMwCSAlBI0ht7zl2ojC0VyrcWH1woAYhHNyBsb0kctSQyw8WuySt2pG-lHO7u2KrIgPSxOM3lQPwjV_8/s1600/Montmartre.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipymaw2l-52xw4CFHD1v919OsjBznt73wVD1wPT3Z8tKKI9RG_9df9kAlXmVkLMwCSAlBI0ht7zl2ojC0VyrcWH1woAYhHNyBsb0kctSQyw8WuySt2pG-lHO7u2KrIgPSxOM3lQPwjV_8/s400/Montmartre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Avoid the upper streets of Montmartre adjacent to the cathedral during peak tourist times. That was like flies to shit. <i>(excusez le langage)</i></span></span></div>
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<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">Maybe avoid getting on or off the metro at the Chatelet metro station. It’s quite possibly the busiest in Paris and the crisscrossing tunnels and caverns and stairs and occasional unserviceable escalators are enough to make a grown man cry, especially if he was already miserable from the stresses of hunger, thirst, neurothlipsis and predilection to agorophobia.</span></div>
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</span><li><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;">URINE ALERT: Learn how to hyperventilate and squint so you can hold your breath long enough, and see without your eyes watering while walking under certain bridges along the Seine, or when you turn a corner into an alley off the beaten track </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">... In all big cities, there'll be some drunkard from the night before who has urinated on the street after consuming litres of alcoholic beverages—most likely male gender.</span></li><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyO1Bbfa8I76tlOyWCvFOBFfKA-OodNxaAqkYffilIcL-uoni6fW14VutIU6Eai54O7nqwfr77XZMRm26f_w0LwP1bm-v8f-xbv7MpWykj_INXZKkXoD3g3n6hjtzFa_zELcxwtTOuFk/s1600/sparrows+at+Sq+Vert+Galant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyO1Bbfa8I76tlOyWCvFOBFfKA-OodNxaAqkYffilIcL-uoni6fW14VutIU6Eai54O7nqwfr77XZMRm26f_w0LwP1bm-v8f-xbv7MpWykj_INXZKkXoD3g3n6hjtzFa_zELcxwtTOuFk/s640/sparrows+at+Sq+Vert+Galant.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT PARIS?</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For more travel photography with local information visit Gary Karlsen's website.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://francewithfriends.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Gary Karlsen's website</span></a></div>
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