Bonjour  ~      If you must wait for your train's departure in any of Paris' railway stations, the Gare de Lyon is the place!  You can sit on a bench and gaze up at the great Belle Epoque restaurant, Le Train Bleu.  Built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition along with the Petit Palais, Grand Palais, Pont Alexandre III and the Gare de Lyon itself, many of its dining rooms and lounges were classed as historic monuments by André Malraux in 1972.

With its beginnings as a buffet for hungry travelers, it has evolved into a sumptuously decorated fine dining establishment that (its web site says) is a "feast for the eyes as well as the stomach".
                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~      We have discovered the most delightful hill village in the Tarn.  It is Lautrec, south of Albi and one hour northeast of Toulouse.  We found the perfect chambres d'hôtes facing the Place du Monument ~ a village manoir that has a classical French garden at the rear where you can sit under a grape arbor and look over the ramparts to the countryside beyond.

Also facing the Place is this very old sign, reminiscent of the Dubonnet jingle of decades past:  "Dubo....Dubon....Dubonnet". We couldn't resist taking this photo knowing that one day the sign may well be completely gone.

                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~      What a wonderful little city!

We're not only enjoying the lovely seaside (with magnificent views from
our windows at Villa le Goëland), but the bustling streets as well ~  upscale
shops, lots of restaurants and brasseries, superb architecture (the Hôtel du
Palais was once Empress Eugénie's villa), the Casino and the fine Sainte
Eugénie Church in this photo.  It's no wonder that Biarritz, with its distinct personality and great  location, was named "Queen of Beaches and the Beach of Kings".
                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~      Paris is synonymous with art, and it
isn't just found in the museums or galleries.  From fashion trends to the preservation of its rich architecture, Paris ~ and France as well ~ gives
viewing pleasure at every turn.

Apparently, the practical and functional should not go unadorned either, thus this excellent example of turning a common rain down-spout into a stylized fish.   Trimmed in gold, this attraction is found on the city's famed Île Saint-Louis and reminds us that beauty can be created in almost anything!

                                                                           ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~  Our visit to La Rochelle has been a very
enjoyable experience.  From walks through the narrow streets of the old part of town, to a quick lunch in a little brasserie, and finally a stroll along the picturesque harbor  ~  it is unlike anything else we have seen in France.

It is no surprise that when the famous towers guarding the harbor are depicted in paintings, photos or drawings, every French person immediately recognizes La Rochelle!   This photo captures fishermen ending their day and readying their boat for tomorrow. 

                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~  After driving up a narrow and winding 
road 2.5 kilometers to an altitude of 219 meters, we reached the 'Col de Crayssac'.  Two couples, one with small children, were gazing over the rail fence at the breathtakingly beautiful Lot Valley. 

We parked and joined them to happily discover this phenomenal panoramic view of the River Lot wending its way past a patchwork quilt in shades of green.  A tour boat entered the scene from the left, and as they passed
we waved to them, and they returned the greeting.   This stop was a lovely diversion and a great photo opportunity!
                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~    It isn't only in the small towns and country
villages where one can find the bounty of fresh produce and other delightful farm products at outdoor markets.  This scrumptious display of mushrooms, olives and peaches was at a lovely morning market in the heart of Paris!  Farmers and other artisans come into the city before dawn to set up their stalls and artfully display their wares.

We pointed out plums and peaches to the vendors, and they obliged us by putting our selection in little sacs for us to take on our way.  It was all we could do to resist taking a photo of every stall! 
                                                                            ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~  Designed by Jean Nouvel, this museum
featuring the art and civilzation of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas
is scheduled to open in 2006.  It is located on the left bank of the Seine 
not far from the Eiffel Tower.

Its very unique façade is covered in 15,000 live plants of 150 different species on a vertical surface of 800 square meters and is called 'Mur Végétal'.  The plants are from Japan, China, the United States and Central Europe.  We've never seen (or imagined) anything like it!

                                    ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~    This view is from the promontory, Rocher 
des Doms, in front of the Popes Palace.  Especially pleasant is the Musée du Petit Palais, the building in this photo, with the wide and impressive River Rhône below.  It was once a cardinal's residence but now houses 600 sculptures and some 60 paintings, including 15th century works of the 'Avignon school' and priceless 13th-16th century Italian paintings.

Across the Rhône is Villeneuve-les-Avignon, a residential area designed by Philippe-le-Bel and where, by the 14th century, cardinals lived in grand homes. 
                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~    This carefully sculpted garden reminds
us of the gardens at Château Villandry in the Loire Valley.  Here on the River Maine is the enormous Château d'Angers ~ open to the public for not only viewing the Moat Gardens like the one above, but Millefleurs tapestries, the Logis du Gouverneur and the Roi window, as well as formal gardens and Chapelle Ste-Geneviève.

We were lucky enough to arrive as a wedding party was coming out into the courtyard from the chapel, the bride's dress flowing and everyone enjoying the occasion.  We did as well!
                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~   The Porquerolles is a small chain
of islands -- an almost 'tropical' paradise -- in the 
Mediterranean off the coast near Hyères.  The main island, Île de Porquerolles, is only a short ferry ride between la Tour Fondue and the town of Porquerolles.

This glimpse of the harbor is from one of the many viewpoints at Fort
Sainte-Agathe on a hill above town.  Islanders get around on foot or bicycle
 ~ no cars are allowed ~ so the air is clean and fresh,  and the silence is blissful!
                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~  On this beautiful September day in 
the Dordogne of southwestern France we are in Monpazier, founded in 1284 by the English King Edward I.  During the reign of King Charles V of France (1366-1380), the town became French.

The bastide of Monpazier is a National Heritage Site and claims to be the best preserved bastide in the Dordogne.  Place des Cornières, the location of the market offering flowers, fresh produce, clothing and regional delicacies, is surrounded by marvelous 17th century houses, and the streets of town are on a perfect grid.
                                                                           ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~ This church, originally 2 joined by the
belfry, was completed in 1173.  The controversial 1852 restoration,
by architect Paul Abadie who preferred redesigning to restoring, was not well-received in the Périgord.  He even removed the Romanesque refectory.  The museum now houses those original carvings.

Byzantine inside and out, it became the model for Sacre-Coeur in Paris  ~
a commission Abadie received shortly after St-Front's completion. By the 
way, the old town surrounding the cathédrale is a medieval and Renaissance treasure!
                                                                  ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~      We adore Burgundy!  We've had some wonderful experiences here,  and our visit to Villeneuve-sur-Yonne is certainly going to be one of the most memorable!  It's a unique and lovely small town, ideal for strolls.

We stayed a few feet from its beautiful river at Leslie Caron's auberge "La Lucarne aux Chouettes" (The Owl's Nest)  where we had a delightful room (there are only four) and dinner in her very special restaurant.  The enchantment of the River Yonne, however, is the icing on the cake.  We shall come back again!
                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~      It's a beautiful Sunday in Paris, and we decided to attend
the International Mass.  The church was filled with tourists who were 
given limited access along the side aisles, as  the center was reserved for those attending Mass which was delivered primarily in French.

This photo gives a somewhat different perspective of the cathedral which is usually photographed from the other side.  It is a beautiful sight along the River Seine, and we are sad that this is our last day in Paris.

                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~  It's a lovely afternoon here in Montignac
following a rainy morning which was perfect weather for our going underground to see the cave paintings at Lascaux II.

Montignac is famous because the original Lascaux caves are here, discovered 55 years ago by a young man looking for his dog which had vanished down a hole!  Those caves were closed to the public in 1963 to preserve them, but Montignac still has lots of charm, and the Vézère, France's river with the 
most prehistoric sites,  is luminous in the afternoon sun.

                                                                        ~  A bientôt

Bonjour  ~      Along a country road, as we headed for Rochefort-en-Terre,
we came upon this classic Breton cottage, complete with thatched roof. 

We continue to return to Brittany, enchanted by its warmth, charm and quaint villages.  The Bretons are a sturdy people and that translates into the solid little houses they have built throughout the region  ~ many displaying not only a distinct architectural style but also making very good use of the local granite.  This pretty house is most likely much larger on the inside that its modest exterior suggests ~ and we adore it!
                                                                        ~  A bientôt 

Bonjour  ~ If you are looking for an idyllic French
country village, Argentat might just be it!  Surrounded by parks and perched on the banks of the Dordogne, Argentat is magnifique!

At the edge of the Massif Central, the roofs of all the buildings are tiled in schist, a crystalline rock found at the edges of the Massif that splits into layers and is very strong.  There are many historic buildings, three of which seem to be convents!  Tourists enjoy canoeing and kayaking on the river among many other outdoor activities such as biking, fishing and parasailing.

                                                                  ~  A bientôt