Blogs from Centre, France, Europe - page 33

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Europe » France » Centre » Chartres May 9th 2008

Friday 9th May Following our full day of visiting the sights we decided to do some tourist housekeeping since today was a standard workday in France, We were forced to use one of the hair-raising underground car parks again. The entrance (and exit) of this one were curved and our car's turning circle was "just:"under the curvature of the down ramp. First stop was the post office and then around to the mobile phone shop to get a new sim card for Marion's mobile. (We are not using global roaming because of the cost, but each country has their own mobile systems and we need to re-organise the phone after each change of country). Returning to the car park we paid for our ticket using the machine (same as in Aus, except these have buttons which ... read more
Stained Glass
Glass
Stained Glass

Europe » France » Centre » Bourges April 19th 2008

Hi Everyone I have been so busy and have forgotten to keep updating my blog! I have yet another strike today at school so I figured now was the perfect opportunity to write about the Printemps de Bourges. Printemps de Bourges is a huge music festival that has been running in Bourges (right in the centre of France an hour south-east of where I live) for over 30 years. It is an annually run festival and it goes for a week in April. I was lucky enough to go with some American friends and we have the most amazing time. The city is taken over with bands, acts, singers, dancers and just general rowdiness! We had so much fun going out during the day and just looking at different performances and the likes on the side ... read more
At the Cathedral
The Cathedral
More musicians in cafes

Europe » France » Centre » Tours February 25th 2008

Hi all This is an easier way of keeping everyone updated on news. Today is my first day back after the February vacation of two weeks. For the two week vacation I went to Spain and the south of France on a Rotary trip. We visited a futuristic based park called Futurescope, saw a famous castle outside of Toulouse called Carcassonne, roamed the streets of Girona and visited the Cathedral of Girona and did a full tour of lots of museums and galleries in Barcelona. I loved seeing the architecture of Gaudi in Barcelona, it is really individual and modern but at the same time it is absolutely breathtaking with all the detail. I also really loved the Dali and Picasso museums. Both of their art work was revolutionary in the art world and this was ... read more
Eiffel Tower
Carcassonne
Carcassonne

Europe » France » Centre » Tours February 15th 2008

Something that really struck me the last time I was in France was something my host mother asked me - a completely innocent question that caught me completely off-guard: “How many pairs of glasses do you own?” The thought had never occurred to me that anyone would ever have more than one, unless maybe they had one for reading and one for everyday things. Apparently this was not what she was talking about. French people are extremely into fashion in general. They put a lot of effort (or at least thought) into their outfits. This includes accessories - bracelets, necklaces, shoes, belts, bags (yes, all of these include guys AND girls)…and, apparently, glasses. It is not at all uncommon for a French person who wears glasses to have several pairs to wear on different occasions or ... read more

Europe » France » Centre » Tours January 27th 2008

I visited Azay-le-Rideau with my first host family in late January. It was a beautiful day and there was lots of sun...just what I needed! The château of Azay-le-Rideau was built from 1518 to 1527, it is one of the earliest French Renaissance châteaux. It is absolutely magnificent and I loved searching through the different rooms and looking at different portraits of numerous royals and nobles. There were some amazing tapestries and Renaissance era furniture pieces throughout the château that was great to look at. It was really beautiful walking around the château as well. I has a lake at the back of it and I could see the reflection of the castle perfectly in it. It was picture perfect! I felt like a little girl running around looking at the château from all the different ... read more
Inside Azay le Rideau
Azay le Rideau
Inside Azay le Rideau

Europe » France » Centre January 9th 2008

8/01/2008 Last day in Paris and we saw the Eiffel Tower, it was the coldest day in Paris so far and we decided today was the day to climb high. We caught the train to the Eiffel Tower, only to find out that that particular station was closed so we got off a station before and walked a mile in the freezing cold wind. Eventually got to the base of the tower and looked up, we couldn’t see the top due to the fog! The climb up was easy on the lift; we could only go to the second level due to renovations. The view was amazing none the less, windy but beautiful. On the way home we were accosted by a man wanting to draw our picture, he charged 60 Euro but we managed to ... read more
France
France
France

Europe » France » Centre January 6th 2008

At the moment I have made it to Lille and am taking time to check my mail as well as using an ATM.All gone easily so far .Cant believe it but lets hope it lasts.For the first time in my life I arrived at a ferry 13 hrs early(Dover). No problem however with the camper.Just drank,ate and slept. Now will close as I need to get backon the road again.Supergran... read more

Europe » France » Centre August 19th 2007

...continued Shortly after nine in the morning on August 9th, 2007 I took my first steps on Le Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle. I was on The Way, and up and out of Le-Puy-en-Velay the hills climbed. They took me onto a plateau and instantly I was in the French countryside. Here, clouds came closer to the earth and fields rolled along with their grains of harvest. Cylindrical bails of hay were stacked in open country and tractors groaned through the quiet of the day. Slowly, I came upon my fellow pilgrims who attended the morning’s mass, as well as others who had not. We exchanged French pleasantries, spoke briefly in our first day’s excitement and proceeded walking our separate paces. One man I met was German. He started his pilgrimage some years back from ... read more
The Tracker
Castles of Estaing
Walking Upon History

Europe » France » Centre August 9th 2007

The trail winds like the southern mistral. It twists and turns, left and right, and ascends and descends as if a direct route to the heavens. In some ways, it is. In some ways this pilgrimage is a test for all those travelers in Life. It is The Way, and I have become another pilgrim of an ancient tradition in the catholic faith. Welcome to Le Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle. This is The Way. Walking To A New Peace After three months of walking with Footprints for Peace from Dublin, Ireland to London, England I thought my body would be prepared. My thighs were like rods of iron, my back loose from the morning stretches and the day’s upright position. And most importantly, my feet were conditioned, walked upon as a traversing nomad’s and ... read more
Farmland's Silence
Landscapes
Nightly Shelter

Europe » France » Centre » Blois August 6th 2007

Blois is a pretty little town on the northern bank of the Loire. The 'Chateau de Blois' is in the centre of town. Each of its four wings, arrrayed around a central courtyard, reflect a style from a different pepriod: Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic, ealy Renaissance and Classical. Old City - a spiderweb of twisting medieval streets dominated by the Cathedral St-Louis. Behind the cathedral are the pretty 'Jardins de l'Eveche' (Gardens of the Bishop's palace). From the terrace is the best view of Blois, the Loire and the Pont Jaques Gabriel. Towering over the gardens is an equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, which marks her passage through Blois in 1429 prior to the Orleans siege. It seems every French town is eager to lay claim to Joan in some way. There is a hop on ... read more
Cheverny
Chambord
Double-helix staircase - Chambord




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