Freda's Girl

Summer's turning to autumn ever so slowly. I'm back in the South, and should be glad, but right now my life has turned a corner, and I would just prefer to turn back the clock, or hide somewhere dark and quiet. My dear friend is gone and I will never ever see her again.
Most of us have friends we've had forever, or at least since our schooldays. That's quite common and we never question it. To find a new friend when we're already grown up is rare. Of course we have aquaintances, and friends to have a nice time with, and that's perfectly fine. But then there comes that person that makes you think " Ah, there you are, my friend,I didn't know, but I think I might have been missing you for some time now".
 Karen was that friend in my world, and I am so very happy we had what short time we did before her life ended. I will not write about the violence of the end, or the past week of sorrow.
Instead I want to celebrate this special and beautiful person who went through so much hardship in her life, and yet came out smiling and generous, to share her wisdom and understanding, and her joy in life. She set me on a path that I need to continue to follow, and for that I'm greatful.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Nothing will be changed now anyway.

There once was a small yellow play-house covered in clinging blue flowers...

Here's to Freda's Girl with my love.
Nin

L'Heure Bleue, and beyond

Views from my window...

Top picture; The Tour de Montparnasse, with the Jardin de Luxembourg just outside the balcony slightly to the right. Well, the next one doesn't really need any explanation...

Leaning over to the right I could just about catch the quartiers down by the river.

Nightfall, and the tower lights up! To the right, Dôme des Invalides.



The view from my narrow but pretty bed.



PARIS

A new year, and a new post. It's been some time now. Fall's been full of more or less lost time it seems. Me running here and there, doing God knows what with my time. Now 2011 is gone for good, except for what I've been recording from my stay in Paris and Dourdan over the Christmas holiday. I've taken more pictures than I care to admit, and even though my charger got a good kiss of current on the fast train to Paris, I've managed to take pictures with my trusted Coolpix, and also to borrow a Lumix from my employer. Everything's not in the computer yet, but from the more than 150 pics already edited I'm trying to make series to show here. Not all at once, the year's just started!
I will however start with some classic views from my speedy and long walk through a very small part of Paris. I got on the commuter-train from Dourdan south of the city, and managed to get on to the Métro to the "deuxième arrondissement". I had great but cold weather, and with my hat-clad head a-swiweling I started out westwards towards; The Eiffel Tower, I mean it's a must, n'est pas?



So, trudging along with the wind against me, I happened to look to my right; and voilà, Le Sacré Coeur, the fairytale-church on top of the Montmartre! Just what I needed to start my stay in the pretty city of Paris.



Looking right again a little later, I came upon the Church of...oh well, here my map had the Galerie Lafayette all over the name. Too bad.

A detail from l'Opéra de Paris aka Théatre Garnier. It was just to huge to fit into my tiny camera!

I spied the Eiffel Tower early on, but it was far away and I trekked for a long while, passing the Jardin de Tuileries and crossing over the Seine, and then onwards westward. No I did not take the Champs Elysées down to the Arc, just too windy, and too much traffic to be any fun.

Again with the small camera! Had to fit the tower in on a bias...

So, now I've started my two-day visit of this beautiful city. More is to follow ofcourse. Next I went on the Seine, teary-eyed from the chill breeze, but still, the views! A bien-tôt...

A Place in the Sun

That's how I think of Arles. The sun needs to shine on the beautiful Roman ruins as I sit sipping something cold nearby... This is a town I want to come back to, "in the summer when it sizzles", minus the tourists ofcourse. Utopia I know, but one can always dream...

... and no his house isn't one of them, it doesn't even exist anymore.

La Maison Jaune de van Gogh.

Pity.

Last Sunday

We're in a travelling mood right now. Last Sunday we decided to head for the hills in the back of beyond. We didn't hike as my feet wouldn't permit it, but we still managed to catch some very beautiful scenery. it was a "view-master" kind of day and I just hope that some of it shows in these photos...

The view over the Var river, towards the sea.



A touch of the View-Master...





The road was very narrow. We kept hoping no-one would come from the other direction!



These guys just showed up! Well yes, they were in a "park"-thing.

I think these are those horses with a Polish name. Being the last remnats of the wild European herd.



After this, the void!




Allin all it was a very pretty ride. Hope you enjoyed it.



More Magic

My Magical Summer continues in a very tranquil way. It's been quite some time since I've had free time that's this peaceful. The weather continues to be good, even though there's a haze in the sky today, which I hope will dissipate as the day grows warmer. To pass the time I'll decided to do some baking, and while I'm waiting for the dough to rise what better way to spend my time than to select some more magical moments?

Magical Moments of Summer

The summer's been magical so far, and I want to share some random moments here. I think this may well be the first of a series of "Magical Moments of Summer", we'll see.



Reflection I



Reflection II



Sitting pretty in the summer sun....

Found by peeping...