Bordeaux: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Today we go to Bordeaux, on the Garonne River near the Atlantic coast. The city has nearly 350 buildings that are "classified" and buildings that listed as Historic Monuments, including 3 World Heritage sites considered part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. Then, on the 19th, I head home.

Vaux-sur-Mer on the Atlantic Coast

The seaside and the market at Vaux-sur-Mer

Visiting more cousins. The sea food and the oysters here are an epicurean delight. From here we will drive down the coast to Bordeaux.

Restaurant in Tours on the Loire

On Wednesday M and I ate at a restaurant that was outstanding for the quality and freshness of its seafood, as well as for the attractive presentation of the dishes.

On to Montagrier in the Dordogne

Today I arrived to visit more cousins in the Dordogne.

Le Loir et La Loire in Pictures

See the region of Le Loir et La Loire on TracyZeye.

The Chateau d'Amboise on the Loire

Yesterday we visited the Chateau d'Amboise on the Loire. M participated one year in an equestrian event where she rode up the wide spiral entry in the round tower on horseback. The 'ramp' is wide enough for a wagon. We also saw the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci where he lived nearby.

Night back at the farm brought rain and a thunderstorm--39 mm of rain.

White Wagtail (motacilla alba)

I love seeing this bergeronnette grise

hop around in the grass at La Coutairie.

La Vallée du Loir

Le LoirEglise de la Trinité, Vendôme

La Courtairie is situated 15 kms from Vendôme, on the Loir river. The Loir is a tributary of the Loire, not to be confused with the latter which is one of the five large rivers of France. The countryside is lushly green, the small villages picturesque. This is not only "another place", but seems like another time.

On the Way to La Courtairie

The shield of Prunay-Cassereau

Today I travel by train, to the Paris suburb of Bourg La Reine to meet cousin MD. I will ride with her by car to her restored farm house at La Courtairie, near Prunay-Cassereau.

Musée du Quai Branly, Paris

Musée du Quai Branly

Today we visited this museum which features indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Former President Jacques Chirac was an influential supporter of the project. The Museum opened in June, 2006. The Oceania collection was of particular interest to me, and had many familiar objects.

This prickly little guy from the Congo, Nkisi Nkondi, may be able to solve your problems. An object believed to have magical powers, it probably needs to be handled with care, in more ways than one.

Le Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Discover the Musée d'Orsay.

Montparnasse is in the background to the left.

We visited the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection at length and left saturated with images. There were a number of artists and paintings that we did not know. We finished up with a Soupe à l'Oignon and salad at a nearby Brasserie. Perfect for a cool day.

Two works (among many) that I particularly liked because of technique and detail:

Caillebot - Raboteurs de Parquet (The Floor Scrapers)

Monet - Déchargeurs de Carbon (Unloading Coal)

And I loved Henri-Edmond Cross whom I did not know.

La Foire de Paris 2009

Strolling the Champs Elysées

Le Break Dance Parisien

The Champs Elysées: A babel of tongues.

Starbucks on the Champs Elysées.

Sephora, the place for me. An orgy of French perfumes,
arranged in alphabetical order by parfumeur.

Quartier de la Défense, Paris

We visited A. and M. of Papara, Tahiti, who spend time every year in their Paris condo. A. fixed us a delicious ma'a tinito for lunch. A mini trip back to Polynesia.

Perambulating in Paris

Pontoise

Le jardin de Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

Today I visited cousins at Pontoise, just to the north of Paris. We had not seen each other for many years. It was a real pleasure. The RER train leaves two blocks from G's for a one hour ride each way.

About Pontoise.

The Eiffel Tower

A chilly 7 Centigrade, but sunny. I walk the left bank of the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. The sun is shining. Northern Europeans, thinking they have arrived in the southern tropics, frisk about in short-sleeved shirts, some women in gauzy skirts and a few men in shorts.Visitors queue already in long lines for tickets and access to the elevators. I buy my ticket to walk up and head up the stairs in less than five minutes.

I enjoy the view from all sides, identify landmarks and take photos. Then I sip a hot, fragrant capuccino as I sit in the sun and listen to the rise and fall of happy conversations in a multitude of languages.

A fine May day in Paris.

Les Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen

Today we took the metro to renowned Les Puces (Flea Market).

Fun--and we didn't get our pockets picked.

Cloudy, chilly weather.

G's Place, Paris

View 15ème Arrondissment, Paris in a larger map

Paris: Out and About

We took the metro to the 13th Arrondissement to visit the Asian quarter. We ate delectable duck and shrimp dishes, and then visited food stores and shops and watched people. We bought some dried bananas.

We walked on to the Place d'Italie where this man began his performance, sporting a t-shirt with the name "Papy Dance". G.thought that a street performer of his age really needed a tip.

Then we went to the Foire des Livres (Book Fair) which is held every Saturday and Sunday at Parc Georges Brassens. I didn't buy anything, although I really wanted an Asterix. There were beautiful, classic travel and history books with plates of photographs. We vicariously visited parts of North Africa, Asia and Polynesia. G. hoped to find something good on Australia.

A Stroll along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower

Geneviève and I ate a copious and delicious Algerian lamb couscous at Tipaza, a Berber restaurant on nearby Rue Saint Charles.

I planned to walk it off by taking the stairs up the Eiffel  Tower, but the lines were hours long because of the holiday. I will make the climb on Monday in the morning, when everything is quieter.

A view along the Seine. G's condo building is the

tower with dark windows, to the right of the red tower.

(Sorry, does not have an interesting  sound track.)

Paris: May 1st

Today is Labor Day and the country of France is closed. Yesterday we bought some produce and some fresh bread at the boulanger for today. Geneviève and I have been catching up on Tahiti news. Coconut Radio reaches as far as Paris.