I have posted photos of the Denis Papin staircase on several occasions but it’s never been this empty! Just two elderly people keeping their distance. Today I discovered we can order vegetable plants from a local nursery – it will be faster than growing them from seed. No further deaths in our area today and …
Category Archives: Blogging
Chaumont Water Tower – Château d’Eau à Chaumont
The reservoir (also known as the “water tower”) was built at the time the estate of Chaumont was acquired by Prince Henri-Amédée de Broglie before the arrival of the landscape architect Henri Duchêne. The architect later turned it to good advantage, surrounding it with a copse of trees and bushes. In those days, the water tower’s …
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When State Meets Church – Lorsque l’état rencontre l’église
The town hall in the village of Seur looks as though it’s attached to the church from this side but they are actually quite distinct as you can see below. On dirait que la mairie de Seur est contiguë à l’église de ce côté-ci mais on voit dans la deuxième photo qu’elles sont distinctes.
The Christmas Train – Le train de Noël
I saw this train for the first time in Blois this week. Maybe it’s replacing the usual horse and cart in winter. Time will tell. J’ai vu ce train à Blois cette semaine pour la première fois. Peut-être qu’il remplace l’attelage habituel pendant l’hiver. On verra bien ….
Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke is a well-known and well-loved comic book character created by the Belgian cartoonist Morris in 1946. He subsequently worked with René Goscinny of Astérix fame until his death in 1977 then with other cartoonist until his own death in 2001. French artist Achdé has been drawing it ever since with the help of …
Beware of Falling Trees – Attention aux chutes d’arbres
Today I had lunch in a troglodyte restaurant in Mosnes. When I came out this tree had fallen on the owner’s car. I almost parked in front! Aujourd’hui j’ai déjeuné dans un restaurant troglodyte à Mosnes. En sortant j’ai vu qu’un arbre est tombé sur la voiture du patron. J’ai failli me garer juste devant!
Bécassine
Bécassine is a French comic strip and the name of its heroine, appearing for the first time in the first issue of La Semaine de Suzette on February 2, 1905. She is considered one of the first female protagonists in the history of French comics. I was very amused to see this village devoted entirely …
The Covered Walkway – Le passage couvert
This delightful half-timbered walkway joins the two parts of Hotel de Villebresme, built in Blois in the 15th century and thought to have been the home of Denis Papin, inventor of the pressure cooker. Ce joli petit passage couvert à colombages relie les deux bâtiments de l’Hôtel de Villebresme construit à Blois au 15e siècle …
Day #16 Postcard from Denmark – The Wave
When I saw this building on a website I knew I had to see it live. Fortunately it was on our way from Copenhagen to central Jutland today. Completed last year after a few hiccups, this waterfront apartment complex in Vejle is the work of Henning Larsen Architects, a Copenhagen-based architecture firm. The building consists …
Day #13 Postcard from Denmark – Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site, consecrated in the 12th century, is a wonderful combination of Romanesque and Gothic. A total of 37 sovereigns have been crowned here. I particularly liked the 1580 triptych from Antwerp. La cathédrale de Roskilde, inscrite au patrimoine de l’humanité par l’UNESCO et consacré au XIIe siècle, allie avec …
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