I like it when an area is of the same style so things match a bit. Though it wasn't ALL the same. Doesn't suprise me that dad wasn;t so into it though.
Robert Longo Can't say I've heard of him but his stuff looks interesting. Love your hostel window. We also liked Nice and Monaco. Do they still have the sculpture exhibition in the gardens opposite the "Posh" casino? they made a wonderful addition to the gardens. I'm fairly certain one of the side lanes in that Monaco Garden also had a small Woolamai Pine ( you remember the prehistoric one they found in Northern Territory somewhere and cloned so collectors wouldn't try and dig it up). I was very surorised to see it there. We don't have any in our Botanical Garden as far as I know.
We couldn't get into the casino either and the guards were watching us very carefully as they had a photographic exhibition in the large foyer area, which you could see for free, but they didn't want you sneaking into the casino afterwards!!
Chocolate too good to eat Lovely chocolate but who would want to eat it? Also love the stained glass. The bolder colours do make a greater effect on the floors, don't they. We didn't see much in Bordeaux as it was more just a stop off and sleep before getting the fast train to Paris. Dad says we weren't too impressed with the architecture as it was all the same. I can't remember it at all, so it obviously didn't make much of an impression. We didn't see much of what you're showing, although I do remember the fountain. We took a few shots of it. Glad you were able to have another couch surf and it went so well.
Gorgeous ceilings Love the ceilings at Notre Dame de la Garde! Absolutely GORGEOUS! I agree they are probably the most tasteful I've seen, too (in your pictures - haven't been there!) Glad you caught up with some good art. It's nice to see ones you like again. They never look as good on prints as the real thing do they? Chateau D'If looks quite spooky and austere from your shots. Was it less atmospheric than Old Melbourne Gaol (where you did that performance at uni)? Your roomie looks very nice.
Off peak visiting That's the worst thing about going to places out of season. No crowds - GREAT- but few attractions open either! At least you got to see the studio.
Sur le Pont D'Avingnon I'm glad you got such a buzz from singing that old song on the bridge! It looks good and I had no idea there was a chapel on it. Is it underneath? The town does look full of character, as most old walled towns do. The views are lovely and I see there is still a little of the Autumn colours on show. Gorgeous, aren't they. The Pope's palace looks lovely from outside, most imposing - what a shame it was empty. You're right about the carousels- we saw quite a few, not just in France. They are all so beautifully decorated, aren't they?
I love the Orange Theatre best of your shots here, though. Don't theatres like that make you want to get up there and sing? I was dying to do it in one on our holiday but I fell coming down the steps from the seats after the bagpipe performance we had just watched and by the time I recovered, more people had arrived and the pipers were ready to start again. Ah well!
Love reading your travel tales! Great pictures, interesting story and best of all you appear to be thoroughly enjoying yourself! Keep up the good work. M
No I didn't speak to the guards at all. Wish I had now. Would have probably suprised them that they weren't as discreat as they thought they were.
The dragon cannot be accessed because there's water around him. Don't know what the chain is for.
Ensuite seating That's what you get for having long legs. They obviously expected the tourists to be short! It looks as if you would knock your elbows on the sink while you are sitting there, too! The costume and room displays are very like the ones we have here and we saw at Hampton Court Palace, too, aren't they. However, I don't recall ever seeing one who looked as if he had been decapitated and then the head plonked back as an after thought! Looks mad, especially standing next to the 2 women who appear to be tipsy!!
The church and cathedral look good. Re the model village- if you enjoy seeing them make sure you find time to see Beckinscott Model Village when you are in England. It is huge and very well laid out with little characters going about their daily lives ( I remember one tiny man up a ladder hosing a fire in the chimney!). I don't know if it has been kept up as I haven;t seen it for about 35 years but Dad showed me an article about it several years ago so I believe it is still open to the public.
Ticket is French, too. I just checked in my French dictionary as I seemed to remember "ticket" came from French originally (as do most English words that end in "et"). It is French but of course they say it more like "teeke".
The garden looks fabulous - and seems to have a Japanese influence. Very nice. I also loved the ceiling in the Carmelite Chapel. Can't say I was fussed about the Madonna and child. She looks hardly out of childhood herself!
LOVED the gargoyle. Thanks for giving the close up - he's Gorgeous!!! Thanks for the dragon, too, although he is not gorgeous - in fact he's quite clanky. I was trying to work out if the metal steps were there for kids to climb on and what was the chain hanging from his neck for? I agree the clothed gentleman does look a bit like the young Dorian Gray. I like the sword, presumably also carved from stone.
Sorry you had such a traumatic time getting to Toulouse but is was worth it. I really love your description of the guards pondering over your nationality. Hilarious! Did you tell them you were Aussie not English? I would have. The French used to treat Aussies better than Brits and have different ideas about their character, don't know if that still happens.
Dinner is good too Never mind. I'm sure you enjoyed your dinner with your new friends. They'll probably have a heap of other interesting ideas of places for you to see.
I actually didn't get a chance to see any of the Dali jewellery (except what was in the gift shop) because I'd met a group of Americans and we ended up going to dinner instead of seeing the seperate jewellery exhibition. Looking back I do wish I'd seen that bit too but ah well!
The photos of the Sagrada Familia 50 years ago showed me more of the inside than I was able to see with my own eyes! I totally forgot all about the part of the market you mentioned so no I didn't eat anything there. Just had the smoothy.
Dali We have just had a very good Salvador Dali exhibition in Melbourne and I was also surprised by some of his artworks. I had no idea he had done jewellery, but they were unusual and interesting. I also liked some of his film sets. Like you, I discovered that his works are full of symbolism, however, I thought a lot of it was overly and obscurely sexual (like chops on his wife's shoulders in her portrait - just weird!) Some of his works were lovely, though. In your set, I like the planet/lady figure the best. Re Gironda - I have never heard of it. It sounds as though you found a little gem and it was good to experience a Catalonian festival. I had hear about the towers but didn't know they were so tall.
Gaudi I really loved Gaudi, too, although we didn't get chance to see the Park. I really wanted to but no time. I'm surprised you didn't like the inside of La Sagrada Familia. It was different, although the outside is definitely the highlight. Dad didn't like any of it! The market was amazing, wasn't it? Did you get chance to eat at the little stall we mentioned about halfway down on the left hand side of the market? DELICIOUS! I'm one of those who thinks opposite to you regarding Madrid and Barcelona. I found Madrid to be just a big city and thought Barcelona had a lot more character. Funny how things can strike you differently, isn't it? It can even be what is happening on the day.
About Me: I'm an Aussie from Melbourne and it´s definitely a beautiful city and a fantastic place to live BUT I've now been living in England since December 2009 and I LOVE it! Between leaving Oz and moving to England I backpacked Italy, Spain and France for three months. Best experience of my life. Most recently I've been working on cruise ships as an Entertainment Host but don't really find any time to blog about it! :( Moved to the eclectic and wonderful Brighton and plan to stay here for the forseeable.
Highlights so far: Watching the opera Notre Dam di Paris at... full info
Snap Shot Stacey
Snap Shot Stacey
Thanks Michelle! Glad you enjoyed it. :)