It seems like a very sophisticated cubby house, doesn’t it? C’est une cabane bien sophistiquée n’est-ce pas ?
Category Archives: Architecture
Postcard from Cyprus – The Salt Lake in Larnaca
There is a legend about the salt lake just outside Larnaca. When Lazarus asks an old woman for food and drink, she refused, claiming that her vines had dried up, to which Lazarus replied: “May your vines be dry and be a salt lake forever more.” A more scientific explanation is that the salt water penetrates the porous …
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Postcard from Cyprus – Byzantine Art
Cyprus is known for its Byzantine art. The finest example is the Kykkos Monastery founded in the 11th century and an immportant reference in the Orthodox world. The loggias, balconies and corridors are covered in gold-leaf mosaics and frescoes. Chypre est connu pour son art byzantin. Aujourd’hui nous avons visité le monastère de Kykkos fondé au 11ème …
Postcard from Cyprus – Salamis Ruins
I wanted blue skies, sun and interesting things to see. We’ve found them in Cyprus! These are part of the Salamis Ruins in the north of Cyprus (the Turkish part). It was the capital of Cyprus up until the 4th century BC and contains many Roman ruins. Ayios Ephiphanios Basilica was the last basilica to be …
Castel Macé – Le Castel de Macé
This original piece of architecture in the village of Macé has an interesting history. Pierre Hague bought the property in 1874 and made significant alterations. He added a belvedere formed by a dome made from 4 curvel panels, topped by a skylight surrounded by a circular balcony and covered with a copper roof in the shape …
The Castle Dovecote – Le colombier du château
This magnificent dovecote was once part of the castle in Saint-Denis-sur-Loire. Unfortunately it is gradually disintegrating and it doesn’t seem that there is a project underway to save it. Ce magnifique colombier faisait partie du château de Saint-Denis-sur-Loire. Malheureusement il est en train de s’écrouler et il ne semble pas de projet pour le sauver.
Postcard from Angoulême – La Cathédrale
The Romanesque cathedral of Saint Peter in Angoulême has a complicated past. It has been renovated several times and it is difficult to know today what it really looked like in the past. It dates from the 12th century but was partly destroyed by the Calvinists in 1562, then rebuilt in 1634. Paul Abadie, a friend of …
Ateliers Créations Minatures
You may remember a photo I took of a stall at the Blois Christmas market that I said I’d go back to. I was very taken with the handmade miniature garden birds. I did go back and we bought five little birds that we know well – the coaltit, crested tit, goldfinch and nuthatch love the fat balls and …
Linking East & West – Passerelle entre est et ouest
I’m embarrassed to say that although the footbridge to take pedestrians and cyclists over the railway lines in Blois, thus linking up the east and west of the city, was inaugurated in June 2015, I only seen the helicoidal ramp next to the train station. We came upon this wall recently and I realised it must …
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CDP Theme Day – Out of Focus
This month’s City Daily Photo’s theme Out of Focus which is a bit of a challenge for me because I am one of those people who likes their photos to be as sharp as possible. Since my photos are always taken with an iPhone, I used Instagram to blow up a sharp photo then I used …