Chambord Gardens – Les jardins de Chambord

Today we went back to Chambord Castle, this time without the crowds, as it’s midweek. The gardens are not very easy to photograph with an iPhone so I’ve posted another two photos below! Aujourd’hui nous sommes retournés au château de Chambord, cette fois-ci sans les foules, puisqu’on est en milieu de semaine. Les jardins ne …

April Violets in Autumn – Violettes d'avril en automne

My mother always called these flowers April violets probably because she loved Yardley’s soap, but I know it’s not there real name. These particular ones have been flowering at least twice a year for over 20 years, despite occasional neglect. Ma mère a toujours appelé ces fleurs “violettes d’avril” sans doute parce qu’elle aimait le savon Yardley …

Crowds at Chambord – Foules à Chambord

Do you see that crowd? This is why we didn’t use our free tickets as residents of the Loir-et-Cher today – we’ll go back during the week. Expect a photo of the new gardens taken from the roof very soon! Vous voyez la foule ? C’est pour cela que nous n’avons pas profité de notre …

A Carpet of Cyclamens – Un tapis de cyclamens

We cycled pas this wonderful wood today full of cyclamens, near Monts, on our way to Saché. I thought they were wild but Susan from Days in the Claise tells me they were probably introduced at the beginning of the 19th century. They are self-seeding which means they reproduce very easily. Nous sommes passés par …

Postcards from Istanbul – Dolmabahce Palace

This modern palace built in the 19th century was the home of six sultans and their harems until the republic was proclaimed in 1923. It showcases the best craftsmen of Europe at the time and occupies a prime site on the Bosphorus. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take photographs inside. It then became the …

The Burglar-Resistant Gate – Le portail anti-voleurs

After a break-in at the end of last year, Jean Michel added some extra height to our side gate, with the advice of Jacky, who made the original gate, in order to deter burglars from getting around the front which is easier to break into. Jean Michel has just finished repainting it. The next step is to …