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...

Ever onwards!

In Carcasonne the imagination knows no limit. I just couldn't stop taking pictures!

In the morning Mixie and I set off to discover the surroundings outside La Cité. It's amazing how it looms up behind you, so huge!

Vi found the river Aude, and a nice canal. Then we climbed back to La Cité on the slopes leading up to the fortified walls.






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The thing with climbing is that you have to remember to look over your shoulder...

...and then once you've reached the top, to look up, UP!

One last look over my shoulder as we left Carcasonne in the middle of the vineyards, heading towards the Pyrenées.

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The rolling hillsides and the vineyards gradually gave way to the steeper mountains...

Ofcourse there aren't enough film or enough words in my world to describe and share the beauty of the Pyrenées. We followed them down to Perpignan, quite close to the Spanish border. Then we turned north-east following the coast towards Provence.

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Seaside dog, not the bravest of her kind, but still willing.

 Leaving the coast behind, we turned towards Arles...

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.