Percy

Song - You're So Vain by Carly Simon

Percy the Peacock could not get enough of his reflection 

standing in front of a glass door. 

He kept displaying his feathers for the glory of all 

but mostly for himself.  

This photo was taken at Chateau et Jardins du Rivau in the Loire Valley.

Spring 2018

"Like a peacock, dance with an open mind 

and a loving heart to reveal your incredible beauty."

--Debasish Mridha

Arc and Ark - Day 14

Song -The Long Road by Mark Knopfler

 We have a long day of driving ahead of us today from Chinon to Sarlat-la-Caneda which is about five hours.  Our first stop was Chateau du Rivau where Joan of Arc obtained her war horses in 1429.

And look who was there to greet me on the draw-bridge!  Mr. B !

 Can you believe how much wood they must of used to keep the chateau warm?  This one holds an entire tree!

 My very favorite statue of Joan of Arc lives here.  I am not sure who designed it but I so love the peaceful look on her face.

As we entered the courtyard there was an all white peacock who couldn't get enough of his own reflection while looking into a window.  He was so impressed with what he saw that he never put his plumage down for a second.  I have to say that he was rather impressive!

Drove through Richelieu which was a very cute town and square.  Our next stop was Saint-Savin for lunch and a peek at the Abbaye frescos.

 When I saw this view of the town I asked Mr. B to please turn around so I could take a photograph. He is so incredibly patient with me and my camera! Doesn't it look like a painting???

We had to find a place for lunch before 2 pm when most restaurants stop serving food.  We found a comfortable place outside in the square just across from the Abbaye.

 View of the church steeple from inside the Abbey through the old wavy glass window.

The Abbey of Saint-Savin  is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Abbey was founded in the early 800's by Charlemagne to house the bodies of two martyrs from the fifth century - Saint Savin and his brother Saint Cyprien. 

 When you step inside you are immediately struck by the brilliant frescoes on the ceiling depicting scenes from the Old Testament. They were added in the 1100's.

 Above is Noah's Ark

And this is the building of the Tower of Babel

In the 1800's the frescoes were lovingly restored as were the marble-like columns.

Drove past Limoges and finally got on a freeway to Sarlat.  We had a funky Best Western waiting for us there!  Sarlat is a popular place and we planned this trip rather suddenly so our options were limited because we wanted to stay within the town.

The only reason I call it "funky" was because the elevator only went up two stories and we had to lug all of our luggage up the last flight!

 Once we got settled we walked into town and had dinner in the square that the woman at the front desk recommended Le Regent.  It was a warm evening bathed in the golden light of the local stones. Sarlat also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Everyone was outside on this lovely evening - children were playing & tables from various cafes were spread along the cobblestone pedestrian street, live music was coming from a bar up a little side alley, older people were strolling with their dogs......and church bells would ring on the hour and half hour. 

And guess what?

No one had their cell phone out.....

"Name your streets or no high-speed internet"  

- Sarlat had until May 25, 2018 to name 219 anonymous streets!

Returning to France Day 9

Song - A Thousand Years by the Piano Guys


 Welcome to Parc de Bagatelle which is located in the forest of the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th Arr.

The day we arrived at the park the groundsmen were working on the ornate front gates built in 1860.

(We entered through the East gate - Vers l'allee de Longchampe Porte Maillot)

They were actually painting them gold over a pinkish undercoat!
I asked one of them if I could take a photo of him at work.

He happily said "Oui"

Depending on which gate you enter the park through and if you meander enough

 this is what you are likely to see.......

Louis XV Pavillion

We always head straight for the Chinese pagoda where the peacocks like to hang out.

And show off their beautiful plumage......

...to any pea hen that happens to be walking by!

During courtship they not only display their feathers but they also rattle their back feathers against their display and it makes quite a vibration noise.

Ruins from the Abbey of Longchamp - c1255 - a convent of Poor Clares

This park was built in just 64 days in 1777.  It began as a bet between Marie Antoinette and her cousin. It took about a thousand workers and was designed by Scotsman Thomas Blaikie and feels like your very own "secret garden".

 The rose garden now has close to 1,200 varieties of rose bushes.

Unfortunately it was still to early for them to be in bloom but 

hopefully Mr. B and I will come back here in May on our way home.

Up a small hill overlooking the roses is another pagoda.

This is the view from inside the pagoda.

The Presentation Garden

If you look carefully at the statues at the entrance to this garden, 

the little girl on the right has cute little wiggly toes

while the little boy left has cloven hooves.....

mmm....coming from a mom who raised three boys I think I may know why!

These gardens were filled with tulips, peonies, roses, narcissus, clematis,  forget me not and pansies.

It brought you through to the potager - or kitchen garden.

The potager garden was surrounded by espaliered apple trees forming a fence.

And who can't live without a pink chateau 

with a formal courtyard & garden & 2 sphinx awaiting your horse drawn carriage?

I love the hand painted interior shutters.

There is so much more to show of this amazing park 

- waterfalls, iris gardens, grotto's, lakes, a bamboo forest, 

an orangerie where they hold concerts, streams with fish, etc. 

but I am running out of space!

We had lunch across the street from the Opera House or Palais Garnier.

After eating, Jackie & Sydney wanted to do some shopping and I wanted to go back to the Musee d'Orsay.  When I arrived, it was closed......it was a Monday!  So I walked back to our hotel to do some packing.  Mr. B was arriving the next day and we had to move into our own room the next morning.

On the walk back home I took some photos of various door handles......

'nuf said........it's Paris!

"In France we have a saying, 'Joie de vivre,' 

which actually doesn't exist in the English language. 

It means looking at your life as something

 that is to be taken with great pleasure and enjoy it."

--Mireille Guiliano