tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160417013906258852024-02-07T03:03:11.365-08:00WesDotPhotography BlogTravels with Wes and Dotty along with Photo Tips.WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-8536202068049026712012-07-13T20:50:00.001-07:002012-07-13T20:58:30.272-07:00Adventure in Alaska--Day Three 6/19/2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzBQIvEUNWgfM7-GnNPF_yEeqBvgcSKF94AXl1mAIkHn_sjNhsWcQHyZpEi3EuQfTXcT-YBkuBDUneUvzN6QcWON37_CR_GyrrhtI1Bm8y9GuVHSVbSQhAfllhkGQyGtMRQP3KlMUMGo/s1600/_MG_1523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzBQIvEUNWgfM7-GnNPF_yEeqBvgcSKF94AXl1mAIkHn_sjNhsWcQHyZpEi3EuQfTXcT-YBkuBDUneUvzN6QcWON37_CR_GyrrhtI1Bm8y9GuVHSVbSQhAfllhkGQyGtMRQP3KlMUMGo/s400/_MG_1523.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today we spent the majority of the day in Anchorage at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Here is a section from their website regarding what this center is about along with the link: <a href="http://www.alaskanative.net/">http://www.alaskanative.net/</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>"The Alaska Native Heritage Center, a renowned cultural center and museum in Anchorage, is an exciting place where all people can come to expand their understanding of Alaska's indigenous people. Here we share, preserve, and perpetuate the rich heritage of Alaska's eleven cultural groups locally, regionally and statewide. Our cultural center and museum is located in Northeast Anchorage, Alaska. The center is a place where young people come to learn and share their cultures and the broader community gains critical connection to Alaska's rich cultural history."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #777473; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Inside the museum are many artifacts showing the different tools, art and lifestyles of the native people of Alaska. On the stage were three young people who compete in the Native Alaska Games. These are games that have been played for many generations. They not only helped to pass the time during the long winter nights but to keep the hunters agile, strong and skilled. The games also taught skills needed to survive<br />
during the hunts.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbomV2h2BYMB2HjpFQ8obBxsQGuTLxY9SaqeKBCwMmdu_mqlEjp8useWxuQzX5ry_pC5gjWVAUfW_7Mhicf-3sa614eoboku4AZNeyOKbGc8TIx19DHtybkmz7XM3G6IsXzpaDwoxSZgU/s1600/_MG_1470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbomV2h2BYMB2HjpFQ8obBxsQGuTLxY9SaqeKBCwMmdu_mqlEjp8useWxuQzX5ry_pC5gjWVAUfW_7Mhicf-3sa614eoboku4AZNeyOKbGc8TIx19DHtybkmz7XM3G6IsXzpaDwoxSZgU/s640/_MG_1470.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Foot High Kick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"></span></div>
The participant would jump from both feet, kicking the ball with one foot and landing only on the foot used to kick the ball. For the girls the balls starts at 54 inches and for boys it starts at 72 inches. They are allowed three attempts and if they succeed the ball is moved up 4 inches. When there are only 3 participants left the increment is 1 inch.
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvBAsKzwwPqOkcFqZghK47EQBdl8HydP9dqmCLa3OocgyGl4M2ilGtHyehvz4lu2YnIVCWSQ7rihLfIZwxevLhOVENA_tVM5UHCnxqpqYwp_J5dNG0QHXhE4LWgl0QnaJVFtg76s_s7o/s1600/_MG_1489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvBAsKzwwPqOkcFqZghK47EQBdl8HydP9dqmCLa3OocgyGl4M2ilGtHyehvz4lu2YnIVCWSQ7rihLfIZwxevLhOVENA_tVM5UHCnxqpqYwp_J5dNG0QHXhE4LWgl0QnaJVFtg76s_s7o/s400/_MG_1489.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys can reach much higher.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHEGyHdf-kKplKjsRsMr5czJAMiloFpc7MUZ3AMNoERHMv3DWebK_szfvu6tst4HvjJ1AQJvP50oaffLFgkUIitSsPQLnvmSaqg2CypkrcLB0EV6oHyKO1_K_ThutXAkrk9pHiHX7xMs/s1600/_MG_1451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHEGyHdf-kKplKjsRsMr5czJAMiloFpc7MUZ3AMNoERHMv3DWebK_szfvu6tst4HvjJ1AQJvP50oaffLFgkUIitSsPQLnvmSaqg2CypkrcLB0EV6oHyKO1_K_ThutXAkrk9pHiHX7xMs/s400/_MG_1451.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Foot High Kick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
The Two Foot High Kick is similar to the One Foot High Kick other than the heights are slightly less. And they must keep feet together when they kick and land on both feet without loosing their balance.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW_052bbsc_hGsFGXWHvp84ESnnF5zW9RP6dhaSZ-xGu1CC8fDkY62-ssNt6wNLaXCj6Zl1-Xai3fO68KGyXkWxB4VR87TR5SNdKVQSR3lMImYez_5F_S5XCrUCRke_OS3vibaZd4aaM/s1600/_MG_1565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW_052bbsc_hGsFGXWHvp84ESnnF5zW9RP6dhaSZ-xGu1CC8fDkY62-ssNt6wNLaXCj6Zl1-Xai3fO68KGyXkWxB4VR87TR5SNdKVQSR3lMImYez_5F_S5XCrUCRke_OS3vibaZd4aaM/s640/_MG_1565.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knuckle Hop or Seal Hop for Boys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Each participant begins with bent elbows tucked close to the body, first knuckles down, and hands having fingers curled underneath so that the individual is supported by the heel of his hand and first knuckles. They then hop across the floor on his hands and toes only. They must not stop and restart, straighten their arms, touch the floor with his chest, knees, or stomach. The winner is whoever travels the farthest distance without stopping. It is very common for the their knuckles to become very bloody and much clean up is needed afterwards of the blood trails left behind. This game originated as a way to get close to seals when they appear from their holes in the ice. It is the only way the hunters could get close enough to spear the seal.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczRkOt0K_gM6lLzeF6Y_wE5HDokFUX7U_JeTDPJ7XUehuN_J4s3YU-ZHfjo_e3tTplqNz5AbIt2mA2QbszbYvJjTIoLN1Ayx8FjYvzwhpwTtaMimA8fo51u2fxKkNUrN93PC3dROV_NE/s1600/_MG_1572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczRkOt0K_gM6lLzeF6Y_wE5HDokFUX7U_JeTDPJ7XUehuN_J4s3YU-ZHfjo_e3tTplqNz5AbIt2mA2QbszbYvJjTIoLN1Ayx8FjYvzwhpwTtaMimA8fo51u2fxKkNUrN93PC3dROV_NE/s400/_MG_1572.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Hand Reach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The participants balance his body on both hands in a squat position. Once the balance has been attained he will reach out with one hand in an attempt to touch a suspended ball. At the same time he will bring the free hand back down to the floor before any other part of his body touches the floor. Control is stressed. The height of the suspended ball will begin at 34 inches for girls and 44 inches for boys. Three attempts at each height will be given to each athlete. The ball will be raised at two inch increments and reduced to one inch increments when three competitors remain. The winner is the athlete who touches the ball at the highest elevation. This game tests the control of one's body and basic balance and endurance used in hunting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD5HdBBZBNyV1BZz8oIJMlFu3zdowmXVqups8H5HGNfFkafUYHb1wAdxKyZHfpNBjFToqo-YGTVZRkEeql_M8PMLS5IhA_JSE9khdMmOe8dEFM3stbKjq-NKhVymUGnckj3aVMKF6fQQ/s1600/_MG_1759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD5HdBBZBNyV1BZz8oIJMlFu3zdowmXVqups8H5HGNfFkafUYHb1wAdxKyZHfpNBjFToqo-YGTVZRkEeql_M8PMLS5IhA_JSE9khdMmOe8dEFM3stbKjq-NKhVymUGnckj3aVMKF6fQQ/s640/_MG_1759.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4kMwpPD64RVPjTASgfiyyDJw45uQ6hhnYbbm8Mp3-wH0H_QFYKSIYK_HBm8lE89vaZlg4o50K9vBrTU20Xw88Zt_-Ey43VzRrzOaKmn4qFECW-RgNXeJoelWDCUTIpy6LRgTMXEv3lA/s1600/_MG_1547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4kMwpPD64RVPjTASgfiyyDJw45uQ6hhnYbbm8Mp3-wH0H_QFYKSIYK_HBm8lE89vaZlg4o50K9vBrTU20Xw88Zt_-Ey43VzRrzOaKmn4qFECW-RgNXeJoelWDCUTIpy6LRgTMXEv3lA/s400/_MG_1547.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The interiors of the Native Alaskans were mostly made of driftwood that was found from the beaches. In most areas of Alaska there were no trees to be harvested. But sturdy structures that could withstand the cold and heavy snow were needed.<br />
<br />
Note in this structure the walrus hide. All parts of the animals that they hunt are used for the native's survivals.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-qP1muzFdWxNW_iTp2EecABeLWkCb0UWSvhOkL0CebbWThLwzUrzKE6FdyOp1OWgHkWsbTVCsEZtfvBsFtbEaQO1pPDjD0vJZQ0kdoY-dMAGTuxa7nV7yIyEmNhXOnbVSRzGcxpwwUg/s1600/_MG_1720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-qP1muzFdWxNW_iTp2EecABeLWkCb0UWSvhOkL0CebbWThLwzUrzKE6FdyOp1OWgHkWsbTVCsEZtfvBsFtbEaQO1pPDjD0vJZQ0kdoY-dMAGTuxa7nV7yIyEmNhXOnbVSRzGcxpwwUg/s400/_MG_1720.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In some areas of Alaska these structures below were made to keep the food and meat from large predators. For that matter all structures whether for food or lodgings were made with this in mind. Many lodging had openings small enough to keep the large predators from gaining easy access to the people inside.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97Cm9Wlt-KepoY3VLhPAVvGmqmjKC5_LQEMPfm-oDmoLOyFvIh5ovCkwRpz73_mCQC_I4DhSBpRsfl_gE5BxUF9uQyTjxZQA55vqj6Z5bVkgHISDgt6_s2-OeiQJ7IVLIiuMGTLZUeOw/s1600/_MG_1687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97Cm9Wlt-KepoY3VLhPAVvGmqmjKC5_LQEMPfm-oDmoLOyFvIh5ovCkwRpz73_mCQC_I4DhSBpRsfl_gE5BxUF9uQyTjxZQA55vqj6Z5bVkgHISDgt6_s2-OeiQJ7IVLIiuMGTLZUeOw/s320/_MG_1687.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The museum was also showcasing the different culture's dress and dances. There were many masks used depicting animals or deities. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXlpPuI7dl6ZH1GmouWcQ_w8DoxNQwnG2lG7t-9BdcpEr1jAv-Fw2UmIhJTrNbJTpXIABO9NS8P_5zfD-ksxEbe_yOu8xNUfbFr3dC7iGiSVQ7WM16fYET0abNNDsD1TA0cwKqGYEpEU/s1600/_MG_1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXlpPuI7dl6ZH1GmouWcQ_w8DoxNQwnG2lG7t-9BdcpEr1jAv-Fw2UmIhJTrNbJTpXIABO9NS8P_5zfD-ksxEbe_yOu8xNUfbFr3dC7iGiSVQ7WM16fYET0abNNDsD1TA0cwKqGYEpEU/s320/_MG_1791.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnhXpBFw0aDr108o_zz2a1eCmsNTGyqdJ4O3qqLSFCa8uMvDfMnTsTNoIs-qMJg616w5GvaOnI9TojoKrswfJchTTBergmgZYpPg7JkUoarKSjPQwZehjJosnzPk5GF9Wkbtkrd1fAck/s1600/_MG_1686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnhXpBFw0aDr108o_zz2a1eCmsNTGyqdJ4O3qqLSFCa8uMvDfMnTsTNoIs-qMJg616w5GvaOnI9TojoKrswfJchTTBergmgZYpPg7JkUoarKSjPQwZehjJosnzPk5GF9Wkbtkrd1fAck/s320/_MG_1686.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After a great day in Anchorage we drove up a mostly gravel road, Arctic Valley Road. This road puts you way above the city of Anchorage. It was a beautiful evening and a great way to end the day. A quick point to mention.....nearly all the vehicles in Alaska have broken windshields. This road is one of the several reasons most Alaskans do not have them replaced. It is futile!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7KTEeSVI5CxQHfMlGOZ_TJolBClbZh6NXOGt9SdkJF11WtVBDZFHGAjQXsETgdzU0DsVq8KVvD5qbrJfqJPkzBJYF-IGXQEyddDdxF70vkErpf5pCrKcQPBIFPzymzcanC-0rAh5Esw/s1600/_MG_1834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7KTEeSVI5CxQHfMlGOZ_TJolBClbZh6NXOGt9SdkJF11WtVBDZFHGAjQXsETgdzU0DsVq8KVvD5qbrJfqJPkzBJYF-IGXQEyddDdxF70vkErpf5pCrKcQPBIFPzymzcanC-0rAh5Esw/s640/_MG_1834.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-54108985528722035822012-07-08T18:21:00.001-07:002012-07-08T18:22:46.874-07:00Adventure in Alaska--Day One 6/17/2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtRtC_cAi5sNtCyFttt4c-GoHcQeLbRE7D54RQcjVywB4x2vFszXVqptJUFn2V7vdqNb_tqIUCaM0nPf9Fnd1K7Q4j37u2p3BN5OINHUTCpVvGg-i8ckMhrZ2v2_9RIFc0OAgYcn5xk8/s1600/_MG_9602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtRtC_cAi5sNtCyFttt4c-GoHcQeLbRE7D54RQcjVywB4x2vFszXVqptJUFn2V7vdqNb_tqIUCaM0nPf9Fnd1K7Q4j37u2p3BN5OINHUTCpVvGg-i8ckMhrZ2v2_9RIFc0OAgYcn5xk8/s640/_MG_9602.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ARRIVING IN ANCHORAGE AT MIDNIGHT FOR A SUNSET!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We left Portland, Oregon at 4:30 p.m. with a layover in Seattle, Washington where we watched the sunset at 9 p.m. Our flight left shortly after that for Anchorage, Alaska. During the 3 1/2 hour flight it never got totally dark and shortly before landing in Anchorage we saw the sun come back up. Sadly enough I had put my camera away under the seat in front of me as we were going to land shortly. I say sadly because I couldn't get it back out quickly enough to catch the most incredible light I've ever seen. We came down through the clouds and when we saw the mountain peaks, the underside of the clouds and the ocean we found they were bathed in the most amazing shades of red. As any photographer knows these sights are fleeting. I did capture this light in the image above and had to be satisfied with that.</div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-84364443328332018582011-08-28T12:02:00.000-07:002011-08-28T12:10:34.997-07:00How I Did It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn5IVr7z_0e6EyUGGXcPJSpw86Bd0PS3nnIkxkpFydDHfF9WMKu6HmZEo3W4kF-zhL7ralRuQS3Ds1OA1PAYzA7MIyeGlSDLHPkEqUTvjIb_Wn9f6tXfN1toyk6e_tOutb4UNxG-bee4/s1600/_MG_6797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn5IVr7z_0e6EyUGGXcPJSpw86Bd0PS3nnIkxkpFydDHfF9WMKu6HmZEo3W4kF-zhL7ralRuQS3Ds1OA1PAYzA7MIyeGlSDLHPkEqUTvjIb_Wn9f6tXfN1toyk6e_tOutb4UNxG-bee4/s1600/_MG_6797.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><div>I have talked with many people just starting out and wondering how to set up their camera. I've been taking digital photos for over ten years and am still learning. Here is my advice....read as many magazines, books and articles online in regards to what you are going to be shooting. For each different situation there are totally different settings. Another tip...shoot like a maniac, check what you've just taken and adjust. At this shoot I took over 700 images. Maybe 20% were OK, 10% were good and maybe 1% were WOW.<br />
<br />
With that being said here is what I did to get this shot.<br />
<br />
This was early evening at an indoor arena with East and West open areas. There was not spot lighting or flash, just the light from the sun going down. I was shooting with a Canon 7D and Canon 28-135mm lens using shutter priority at 160th second. I kept changing from ISO 400 to 800 and either spot metering or partial metering. Also I kept changing the exposure compensation to allow more light in but making sure I kept a shutter speed fast enough to stop the action.<br />
<br />
Now go out there and shoot. It's the best way to learn and it's so danged much fun...especially when you get the results you were hoping for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">.</span></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-54833063850454834472011-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:002011-08-09T18:02:02.089-07:00Revisiting the USA Desert Southwest 2005<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqbrWplmQzyRDHfWvcL1vsP3Wk-aV1JeE7t6bXPBmuVzTLbQNqh4y2tGWWY6lvFFdWQO8BCyS3LLVcQ-sSkTBof1KAElaceC0-Q-IWM6oPSAOW_dBtXmJcaOH6OoqEtxCYBeimKcr-GE/s1600/IMG_4606_148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqbrWplmQzyRDHfWvcL1vsP3Wk-aV1JeE7t6bXPBmuVzTLbQNqh4y2tGWWY6lvFFdWQO8BCyS3LLVcQ-sSkTBof1KAElaceC0-Q-IWM6oPSAOW_dBtXmJcaOH6OoqEtxCYBeimKcr-GE/s640/IMG_4606_148.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This was my first ever''Wowser' photo taken in Antelope Canyon Arizona</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Way back when in 2005 I was just discovering the wonders of digital photography. I had my little Canon Rebel X and was on top of the world. Looking back now at the images I took on this beautiful trip I can only sigh. And wish I had understood my camera more. I wasn't used to being able to change my ISO, was scared to death of shooting in RAW and just did not grasp how bad my photos could look when the shutter speed was so slow. I did use a tripod (sometimes) but regardless of all that I did get some photos that I thought were pretty good. </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>So join me on a little walk down memory lane to some of our beautiful desert areas in the Southwest.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kKztYbpRc4OJy-XnT1B6jL3hKemiEnaulX_SU6rqK6AWV4J3IrZFJKxVfcHBGLKwzNWInG0a-Uw8tSUZrhdhe5W0f1z-G6PQs_9hVWvBUV22nKZ7QFjy6I8Cy9BQtyyDcv_h_UR3H-I/s1600/IMG_4294_329a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kKztYbpRc4OJy-XnT1B6jL3hKemiEnaulX_SU6rqK6AWV4J3IrZFJKxVfcHBGLKwzNWInG0a-Uw8tSUZrhdhe5W0f1z-G6PQs_9hVWvBUV22nKZ7QFjy6I8Cy9BQtyyDcv_h_UR3H-I/s640/IMG_4294_329a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bryce Canyon Utah at Sundown</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGCdc-EfwUXY9vxbb1bFC9IJe0-Rnm0RIpqtsBdjYK0IvF5QECEEb06gT97EP0sYPHRiUQcNzuRBbCGGgIvPat_XxeOG3bUKxTzZKIHtifYTNQ0bimE96Ibw6B_Cb2E79b3LdsxBRSpY/s1600/IMG_4323_101b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGCdc-EfwUXY9vxbb1bFC9IJe0-Rnm0RIpqtsBdjYK0IvF5QECEEb06gT97EP0sYPHRiUQcNzuRBbCGGgIvPat_XxeOG3bUKxTzZKIHtifYTNQ0bimE96Ibw6B_Cb2E79b3LdsxBRSpY/s640/IMG_4323_101b.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And Bryce Canyon at Sunrise</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoimlUWRzdDJIvYbr3Hl8EnnE5sIW6tke0Nsugo-DJin2ZZGYUsqQEwSWXEZidYGuoOK2BkjWTR3eaEuz4kib7q5unzs3tbjxgFyjjjJfqWbpxX1kErZbYSM8XGSKJcSgFZTYZ5_1g0bo/s1600/IMG_4405_218a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoimlUWRzdDJIvYbr3Hl8EnnE5sIW6tke0Nsugo-DJin2ZZGYUsqQEwSWXEZidYGuoOK2BkjWTR3eaEuz4kib7q5unzs3tbjxgFyjjjJfqWbpxX1kErZbYSM8XGSKJcSgFZTYZ5_1g0bo/s640/IMG_4405_218a.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">North Rim Grand Canyon Arizona</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aV0krTQ_sko5wezsppfElj8h5qAOCI9ygcpr0v7FDXNgnk3uuid2FzzpnNiazcxwSZZG4CsHWQEWNjKupK0B8uD5J1RELcnC7OJJnaCCmK2jcaH7rVN0nzEZ-8Xf9nVNPUws_ZgS8bI/s1600/IMG_4430_243a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aV0krTQ_sko5wezsppfElj8h5qAOCI9ygcpr0v7FDXNgnk3uuid2FzzpnNiazcxwSZZG4CsHWQEWNjKupK0B8uD5J1RELcnC7OJJnaCCmK2jcaH7rVN0nzEZ-8Xf9nVNPUws_ZgS8bI/s640/IMG_4430_243a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">North Rim </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grand Canyon at Sundown</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSssDQYydjFQM7dQQY0dg4fwkkQNz8veqeelpbmyGT3llxR-jNUYen4zQVgvZy4xUECwDeTwRO5gbtr5wOFwz2peB1fkwOyAzR6QSmrXhe0XIhbvEUlqcEeFXYv9Q58DAqfDaStiHUYE/s640/IMG_4655_197a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Old Paria in Escalante Utah This was the setting for many Westerns, <br />
including The Outlaw Jesse Wales.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Jwsz1o97bQUWtSR7UCXuZlR1LBhb4yOgVC6sJoiZ9qGNrcEyrtNfAQBBKx1MM6RCieRnS4lzjQqwPdgHtmeojuxfR3QYn-JPCy40MfgUoJ8WqGd2Wl3iQGqkg4vDVwbL9Y6b9Q-bvU/s1600/s+dot+Untitled_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1Jwsz1o97bQUWtSR7UCXuZlR1LBhb4yOgVC6sJoiZ9qGNrcEyrtNfAQBBKx1MM6RCieRnS4lzjQqwPdgHtmeojuxfR3QYn-JPCy40MfgUoJ8WqGd2Wl3iQGqkg4vDVwbL9Y6b9Q-bvU/s640/s+dot+Untitled_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Horseshoe Bend in Page Arizona. </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crawled on my hands & knees to take the 2 images that were later stitched together to create this shot. No way could I stand and shoot over the edge!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp2EaYh-tWasdcuKP_o6wFnqhhxhvdPItWQqGiGunZK35yC7TzGpi-K-IfI6nzB6SAtDupL2NjephfXLIeAgBbEU6z2mLoE9i0-g6UxEjPJ0L2S3q_oqgrytoUoyd-6YO_N_iGqXJRVc/s1600/IMG_4609_151a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp2EaYh-tWasdcuKP_o6wFnqhhxhvdPItWQqGiGunZK35yC7TzGpi-K-IfI6nzB6SAtDupL2NjephfXLIeAgBbEU6z2mLoE9i0-g6UxEjPJ0L2S3q_oqgrytoUoyd-6YO_N_iGqXJRVc/s640/IMG_4609_151a.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Antelope Canyon in Page Arizona Followed behind a photo <br />
group and was able to catch remnants of their leftover sunbeams.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDr0qBm8lotZ-GLeGEBSU7HSeVShVRSQR47wsM40HUe0UFSE7RnFoVG3PTfV_mWoDKxo6My2yrkVEbvj99tPAok55dRgY-FsfnJoo2fQT4r6kdz67KRL_OLjVKWvKuO0OmZol0j9W5Y/s1600/IMG_4611_153a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDr0qBm8lotZ-GLeGEBSU7HSeVShVRSQR47wsM40HUe0UFSE7RnFoVG3PTfV_mWoDKxo6My2yrkVEbvj99tPAok55dRgY-FsfnJoo2fQT4r6kdz67KRL_OLjVKWvKuO0OmZol0j9W5Y/s640/IMG_4611_153a.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>More of Antelope Canyon I liked the ghost like figure in<br />
this sunbeam. This is created by throwing sand into the sunbeam.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzN2b6UMnIXFMM2-nhICTIqh2MR2Ges2GcP-osnumv6iJ8y5w-ecWD6PWVnFJFn86JUiGo3c2K4viVsyhMFxdYEIuLzI_nWF_qR5jHbN5gs6PuigD7olUKrXkPtxjGnN69WNeM6N4ShQ/s1600/IMG_4916_0215b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzN2b6UMnIXFMM2-nhICTIqh2MR2Ges2GcP-osnumv6iJ8y5w-ecWD6PWVnFJFn86JUiGo3c2K4viVsyhMFxdYEIuLzI_nWF_qR5jHbN5gs6PuigD7olUKrXkPtxjGnN69WNeM6N4ShQ/s640/IMG_4916_0215b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The famous Mittens of Monument Valley Arizona at Sundown</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahM8boO3vxkuVqNtAci5bV8KzZQaGoXR5FL2h8hjeVSiuvyo2Hf-TqCniP6QG_snMBMRQJH92OcqUem3g9X3FRmPTaaTC7h7iXbb7JBobS18DJyYAsHohlzJ3AFsLMIvgB0RN9znZdO4/s1600/IMG_4822_0123a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahM8boO3vxkuVqNtAci5bV8KzZQaGoXR5FL2h8hjeVSiuvyo2Hf-TqCniP6QG_snMBMRQJH92OcqUem3g9X3FRmPTaaTC7h7iXbb7JBobS18DJyYAsHohlzJ3AFsLMIvgB0RN9znZdO4/s400/IMG_4822_0123a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Navajo Indian showing how she weaves baskets in a<br />
native dwelling in Monument Valley</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Dod_Z9uNI4v9lQ9fMSpem4G-x9WQsT5ZsK3UjCeaP847-tsJ5SoqlGewgnyVzCi91mK8aFO42AmpnaSOAa-J-708xYJNb9tB4712auOMd3vijqIXT8TuQ-ICu2uFpTfDgLSRWb_7qY/s1600/IMG_4997_0004a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0Dod_Z9uNI4v9lQ9fMSpem4G-x9WQsT5ZsK3UjCeaP847-tsJ5SoqlGewgnyVzCi91mK8aFO42AmpnaSOAa-J-708xYJNb9tB4712auOMd3vijqIXT8TuQ-ICu2uFpTfDgLSRWb_7qY/s640/IMG_4997_0004a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aztec Ruins in Northern New Mexico</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQrnfDBqCR3A6yA10wXUOIkB0lhYMQj2MU0wS8rD3JGwzJ3ohoonYVSLoxBON_d_QoZOSomZeRFb8pDAiboxJGj0oT5xUsTX1chyphenhyphenbES0a3Bz9WMlegHznvX-sbE-oX2kLcmrp00tGWJs/s1600/IMG_5001_0007a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQrnfDBqCR3A6yA10wXUOIkB0lhYMQj2MU0wS8rD3JGwzJ3ohoonYVSLoxBON_d_QoZOSomZeRFb8pDAiboxJGj0oT5xUsTX1chyphenhyphenbES0a3Bz9WMlegHznvX-sbE-oX2kLcmrp00tGWJs/s400/IMG_5001_0007a.jpg" width="264" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Doorways in the interiors of Aztec Ruins.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWMxOGm26NtNJCNh5QkSe8A7S7eU2NzAq92R3gBS3FiUfIAToQoJBpJEQb4U7R5JPR_F54v_RLBwa2gUAubFlUtCefJF1uR9eiSkyFC9dl_KNkoSPI3wt3ETn6P-DRJ1KGM6s6-Q_rXw/s1600/IMG_5119_0110a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWMxOGm26NtNJCNh5QkSe8A7S7eU2NzAq92R3gBS3FiUfIAToQoJBpJEQb4U7R5JPR_F54v_RLBwa2gUAubFlUtCefJF1uR9eiSkyFC9dl_KNkoSPI3wt3ETn6P-DRJ1KGM6s6-Q_rXw/s640/IMG_5119_0110a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Taos Pueblo Taos New Mexico This is the oldest continual populated community in the USA today.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRcU7QCucLWf_rbEqJgikNECnqB25aECt4m3D11uvjb6T6qZ1Oo67whfWNDpxWXbplzhZY58-LQH-r3hFvJ-L0JpkzkPmlXtIViJHY1zIZDTBuvEPfXMXxIpqVmgra-WwAaE6i7gO9bk/s1600/IMG_5148_0139+gradient+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRcU7QCucLWf_rbEqJgikNECnqB25aECt4m3D11uvjb6T6qZ1Oo67whfWNDpxWXbplzhZY58-LQH-r3hFvJ-L0JpkzkPmlXtIViJHY1zIZDTBuvEPfXMXxIpqVmgra-WwAaE6i7gO9bk/s640/IMG_5148_0139+gradient+map.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cemetery & Bell Tower in Taos Pueblo</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKcyT6YyGLvE2a5X5zxHvOCwYKoPGNvNIOZyufTdQcnd_SO6XdK1OLKmW8Vxd_f8sxktSWwq1bgvvqnwewAboNgEqJQBQ9wrmBjyUlE-T3pgl9X4LKUcHiyJQGWJdu1LQeaGWNMO2jWs/s1600/IMG_5129_0120a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKcyT6YyGLvE2a5X5zxHvOCwYKoPGNvNIOZyufTdQcnd_SO6XdK1OLKmW8Vxd_f8sxktSWwq1bgvvqnwewAboNgEqJQBQ9wrmBjyUlE-T3pgl9X4LKUcHiyJQGWJdu1LQeaGWNMO2jWs/s400/IMG_5129_0120a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the homes in Taos Pueblo</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYd0UPkrKQXTxY7YEyBFQbu_5JJNjozHfrh1LTbZHMCVAHVnPyNYF8y115jijzs8ginNs0EP3MWWZRwDTxf-RrQCgs_n6o98VqzEQGbDXtWvGghPqzz6XqSTr0tWsElMT3eYnFROTfcw/s1600/153_5324b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYd0UPkrKQXTxY7YEyBFQbu_5JJNjozHfrh1LTbZHMCVAHVnPyNYF8y115jijzs8ginNs0EP3MWWZRwDTxf-RrQCgs_n6o98VqzEQGbDXtWvGghPqzz6XqSTr0tWsElMT3eYnFROTfcw/s640/153_5324b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mesa Verde Colorado</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQfOb3QcP3GAmGg6SEwwb0u4pZ2Mmv-Iv3WnIYboVD_RSWVkTheaFoTgvaKCtrGLZ5Oj4XZDMDJuTpMqP3hvM2k9qemkykdEx0SQNLGy64X81vEMYx5XsPtC3wMCDHNwO9XBlXgWQIPU/s1600/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Canyonland Utah This is several images stitched together to make a panorama.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznzgTNcnwFEryDB0oJpykEv2O1hyphenhyphen9zvF8tXI4kSbM3OQlz8BcIDfN2sc92Ebkd-hXvxy0U2XtE0jU9pxvHla7uH6WWtMp0it7Foy989kRLQkG_lfCYuc5OFJDiB9yOjAtQVzCBDx7PPs/s1600/153_5344a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznzgTNcnwFEryDB0oJpykEv2O1hyphenhyphen9zvF8tXI4kSbM3OQlz8BcIDfN2sc92Ebkd-hXvxy0U2XtE0jU9pxvHla7uH6WWtMp0it7Foy989kRLQkG_lfCYuc5OFJDiB9yOjAtQVzCBDx7PPs/s640/153_5344a.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Newspaper Rock in Canyonland Utah</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzdmGVI591rGbtmvbMpOegKssx00ivKDirtzbGWL7WN2U3o_uDIMPaVKZiy874ctar_r-_sY4zC8MfvTyxApRj67wy7xN19GhwztA8q01Bk14vzelmtnmsfXaa_JzGJdZU70Ux1VUHLA/s640/154_5439a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="427" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cactus Blooms in the Desert Springtime</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvzwkjd-aeAFzJaMKC50pe3e5n1OaIUyYHKmJ5Jhl1SaxDyuP1rg24TVPqub_e4Wm85_DWTZrxeGzk5ItoexQB8_AeTsLUBHp3380d4a-ZkXZ8ycIIXnwgGLUrWgi8cfUWOlR0weHA_A/s1600/155_5550a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvzwkjd-aeAFzJaMKC50pe3e5n1OaIUyYHKmJ5Jhl1SaxDyuP1rg24TVPqub_e4Wm85_DWTZrxeGzk5ItoexQB8_AeTsLUBHp3380d4a-ZkXZ8ycIIXnwgGLUrWgi8cfUWOlR0weHA_A/s1600/155_5550a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Overlooking one of the large canyons in Canyonland</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIpJBUU_WPLck8JOlBN0QwLDInzpJGv0UeKxIGf7tPiuHnx4n2Ywd5SjdlhhX-pz4EgIDyH6pIBk0aHNSV8ddCKQftxMyatp4jEnwxDPVsOUVnLgK1gsUEZuGY2v7I0C4uHbadLQE978/s1600/156_5622a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIpJBUU_WPLck8JOlBN0QwLDInzpJGv0UeKxIGf7tPiuHnx4n2Ywd5SjdlhhX-pz4EgIDyH6pIBk0aHNSV8ddCKQftxMyatp4jEnwxDPVsOUVnLgK1gsUEZuGY2v7I0C4uHbadLQE978/s1600/156_5622a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And last is an often overlooked little valley in Utah called Goblin Valley. Check out how large these rocks are. Can you find the people?</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-23211969030991640652011-05-07T22:30:00.000-07:002011-05-07T22:30:51.991-07:00April 2011 Klamath Falls OR Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G0a1A35x62tHPTGSObS5u4ZyIbUyymVKmW3xWCYGqJF2sFUbJhfKv-v91xx1Z-BF55Q9-7_7UZRRORp6p9LyMUvs8YpjI7i2VgNl8CCuBqnTBl3bL9HMu7f9IRe_yBvqtiLB0Rk81XU/s1600/_MG_4740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G0a1A35x62tHPTGSObS5u4ZyIbUyymVKmW3xWCYGqJF2sFUbJhfKv-v91xx1Z-BF55Q9-7_7UZRRORp6p9LyMUvs8YpjI7i2VgNl8CCuBqnTBl3bL9HMu7f9IRe_yBvqtiLB0Rk81XU/s640/_MG_4740.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Day 1 April 23rd, 2011</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5fwF0dZYW9FfXCegIl8wnke5Ysqzm5DsBqgc6U26BF-V8Bf6OQpehfeFk4NAMMLCfHGyVUpSZG1S194IR90qzMcV4gQVtniVK3J4dJSXi2T2y8G_IgIhIje25Ir8IOQofTeZZf3fMHU/s1600/_MG_4913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5fwF0dZYW9FfXCegIl8wnke5Ysqzm5DsBqgc6U26BF-V8Bf6OQpehfeFk4NAMMLCfHGyVUpSZG1S194IR90qzMcV4gQVtniVK3J4dJSXi2T2y8G_IgIhIje25Ir8IOQofTeZZf3fMHU/s400/_MG_4913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a long awaited trip to Klamath Falls, OR and a 3 night stay at the Running Y Ranch. Last year I won an online photo contest called 'Oregon Naturally' put on by Intel and Jeld Wen. I had cancelled our reservations twice before due to extremely cold temperatures and way too much snow. We had hoped to see the many eagles </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that gather to hunt the weaken water fowl </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> as the lake's ice begins to break up in late winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpZg_wCQsSnwM-MdmnsCnd9VPJ5Wn1ZMfkeAZEUUdUsw_Ny3jn586UsI8XY7jm1yOw9iq5ynbOyb2VhDRo83SP_uZdNoeOr_jnyt-i2KfUQm03_8l31YtfIenPXcVXdx9mE9_vlnCEwQ/s1600/_MG_4674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpZg_wCQsSnwM-MdmnsCnd9VPJ5Wn1ZMfkeAZEUUdUsw_Ny3jn586UsI8XY7jm1yOw9iq5ynbOyb2VhDRo83SP_uZdNoeOr_jnyt-i2KfUQm03_8l31YtfIenPXcVXdx9mE9_vlnCEwQ/s400/_MG_4674.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left early on Saturday morning after taking a quick drive up to the Ridgefield Nature Reserve to see if we could catch a peek at the Great Horned Owlets. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They must have been asleep as we did not find them. It was however a beautiful morning. And we did see these really cool yellow-headed black birds. This was the king of the cat-tails as he flew from one to the other squawking and letting everyone know he is boss.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a great day driving down to Klamath Falls with blue sky but gathering clouds as afternoon approached. We drove over the mountains and by the time we made it to the southern entrance to Crater Lake we found some snow. This is the only entrance open to Crater Lake in the winter as they average about 40 feet of snow yearly. But they keep the road plowed and the road was only wet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0KL_wQ5ZRbC532COj8oLrNR1SViVJMJXOgPnk-2i7TFKe5ZyKgIpQotX996Y0EvD76xi-yU1YuO2HgXrufe2hotrMijbJgzom4IpWO5DR84VzvBStSAg7LfW1Df7YCGUvWte-Xt0S_o/s1600/_MG_4716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0KL_wQ5ZRbC532COj8oLrNR1SViVJMJXOgPnk-2i7TFKe5ZyKgIpQotX996Y0EvD76xi-yU1YuO2HgXrufe2hotrMijbJgzom4IpWO5DR84VzvBStSAg7LfW1Df7YCGUvWte-Xt0S_o/s400/_MG_4716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are at the southern entrance to Crater Lake. I especially like the sign on the right of the ticket booth warning of the 'snow zone'. Do you think!! But we are feeling very optimistic as the road is clear. And we are to find that the snow here isn't too deep. It will get deeper the more we climb to the rim.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br />
</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-ccs1xycB6hnj_0LI0PVoNhbIWkeicRU6ckCmUYlW1SP29r6wORlf4pCy4O7iXV0Z9eXxMG0AydYsABesD7SqfhPImhYNv4Lwah6aOv7o9tqpTAMMfrzOLxAoizWDhaz3DVCRwv-yJs/s1600/_MG_4702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-ccs1xycB6hnj_0LI0PVoNhbIWkeicRU6ckCmUYlW1SP29r6wORlf4pCy4O7iXV0Z9eXxMG0AydYsABesD7SqfhPImhYNv4Lwah6aOv7o9tqpTAMMfrzOLxAoizWDhaz3DVCRwv-yJs/s400/_MG_4702.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we've made it to the top of the rim. And the snow is DEEP. The road dead ends at the lodge which is boarded up for the winter and can barely be seen for the snow covering it. As you can see from this photo the snow has covered nearly everything and the few things open to the visitors who brave the drive here has do be dug out. I thought the outhouses were kinda cute.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJJuOhjZ39DlNO3G72_0TCQcJ0vdSstgw5Ez_xYiIUDiz_jPIEq9wlrDuoFdgU5EZhlBybyL_2ACVFuf5Jk-K01niXi_azJEb3VmHK45MpGeXMwINE32TOO3NOp1-NNPHc-4qWbUPpjc/s1600/_MG_4704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJJuOhjZ39DlNO3G72_0TCQcJ0vdSstgw5Ez_xYiIUDiz_jPIEq9wlrDuoFdgU5EZhlBybyL_2ACVFuf5Jk-K01niXi_azJEb3VmHK45MpGeXMwINE32TOO3NOp1-NNPHc-4qWbUPpjc/s400/_MG_4704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is the visitor's center with only the one entrance in. We had no sooner gotten up here than it began to snow rather lightly at first. So we hustled up the one snow bank that has a pathway in the snow to get up high enough to see the lake. It was slick as can be but we managed to get up there just in time to catch a glimpse of the lake. It is roped off to not fall through the snow cornices. And within a few minutes the lake was invisible.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were later told that it had been a beautiful day with blue skies and the lake still & beautiful. That will teach us to now dally around when heading out on a trip.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof3NMTDYNHzd_Vsx56qhxXqexM2C1rufHdFMPsZujlao-WpkR_8qfXkT_nMiXD14OyMvqR9xN-fxkiDCmBEcq6IacSO1R3tFNtIeUeCk4KYNciwS5qw2aZZ4WvSDNwTYUtX8n24XW5kI/s1600/_MG_4700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof3NMTDYNHzd_Vsx56qhxXqexM2C1rufHdFMPsZujlao-WpkR_8qfXkT_nMiXD14OyMvqR9xN-fxkiDCmBEcq6IacSO1R3tFNtIeUeCk4KYNciwS5qw2aZZ4WvSDNwTYUtX8n24XW5kI/s640/_MG_4700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Day 2 April 24rd, 2011</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i></i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw9JugMvETBTzsjTB5F9-vErRgOQOhCvtsCjBhA2mzJzrEoL05CH0rZwBSYiFzBoBM1QbtTBr_2mukMk7EPKyaoFlq686mrbEkt8aD71ndAO37bOiAD7J3JyQ1zmCmd3_smtKWEpFBrc/s1600/_MG_4724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw9JugMvETBTzsjTB5F9-vErRgOQOhCvtsCjBhA2mzJzrEoL05CH0rZwBSYiFzBoBM1QbtTBr_2mukMk7EPKyaoFlq686mrbEkt8aD71ndAO37bOiAD7J3JyQ1zmCmd3_smtKWEpFBrc/s400/_MG_4724.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></i></b></div>The suite that we have in the lodge at Running Y Ranch is glorious. We have a full balcony which over looks the golf course. We have a full kitchen, a large plasma screen television over the gas fireplace in the living room, a large bedroom with a king size bed, a vanity area and a large bathroom. It is amazing, when we checked in last night the double French doors into the lobby automatically swing open as you walk up. I'm going to have to keep entering these photo contests!</span></i></b></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwtpCGgHIddw2KZbw79A9wMZPvUfcF3cpId-Do8fFBexhWyb-Vx7yC4l9MzOpm5K1Fw4Ecs_-mvf4o-h4oQUYyMZeOh_nD9xiFEEluA_nwt5oip40w0M0TzYFsFn3OkHLIzyFGfJ6XrY/s1600/_MG_4732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwtpCGgHIddw2KZbw79A9wMZPvUfcF3cpId-Do8fFBexhWyb-Vx7yC4l9MzOpm5K1Fw4Ecs_-mvf4o-h4oQUYyMZeOh_nD9xiFEEluA_nwt5oip40w0M0TzYFsFn3OkHLIzyFGfJ6XrY/s400/_MG_4732.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Our first full day in Klamath Falls started out rainy but then the sun came out and pretty much stayed out most of the day. With occasional spring showers and hail. But it was pretty nice most of the day. </span></i></b></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJpMQRN5SBQavAKuoKeD5nfTPizd4ohaSs3jAj0XGUIbkxPtX-f-Of05GwpYhIFIEDdWpMSZs2pjN-ai3WcHZ4StJPOK-uYMyMWg4Mf2Syx3jae-_q28K7vOK_blJDD2RTfyj8QcXhUU/s1600/_MG_4739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJpMQRN5SBQavAKuoKeD5nfTPizd4ohaSs3jAj0XGUIbkxPtX-f-Of05GwpYhIFIEDdWpMSZs2pjN-ai3WcHZ4StJPOK-uYMyMWg4Mf2Syx3jae-_q28K7vOK_blJDD2RTfyj8QcXhUU/s400/_MG_4739.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">We headed south out of Klamath Falls driving down Hwy 97 until we get to Stateline Rd which takes us to the Nature Reserves. We saw few pelicans as we are heading down the road but I was not prepared for what I saw as we drove down the road. It was a 'Holy Shit, do you see that?' moment. There ahead of us was a sea of white birds flying up in the air and then back down again. As we got closer we saw a tremendous amount of a type of snow goose in a flock that had to number in the tens of thousands fly up in the air to our left. The flock split into two groups with one group landing in the lake to our right and the other group landing in a field to our left. We pulled off the road alongside the flock in the field. Every 10 minutes or so they would all fly into the air and land again just down the field. It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen.</span></i></b></i></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH7-MQ9xZFmXYjQrJd3imFo2ZHWFJrE0_PCSfqO-zEp3lDi8w-fx9AaurQr0fpMdIrcvRz6GYy7NwAHZPiu_hCdze_1i3W7GSG2yu2k-M2WQhymx4yndBDupQOBKZT9HPIPBdqr7ztog/s1600/_MG_4753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH7-MQ9xZFmXYjQrJd3imFo2ZHWFJrE0_PCSfqO-zEp3lDi8w-fx9AaurQr0fpMdIrcvRz6GYy7NwAHZPiu_hCdze_1i3W7GSG2yu2k-M2WQhymx4yndBDupQOBKZT9HPIPBdqr7ztog/s400/_MG_4753.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Again along Stateline Rd I spotted these birds roosting in some trees beyond a canal. I believe they are some type of Night Heron but I am not sure. There was about 10 of them that I could see from the road. When we drove by again on the way back to the lodge late in the afternoon they were still there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyTZ2UqTwMtj5qQDoHToVH5Og5Lya0HCUADSeiRmQiXYuyWGBDTVcPGI05ZnQXhoIXKicEpb12-oPR59ZiyAqwHqPYaJVezHW0hfLhW6yLC98LoEn4LnzyrGo_XROJuSpKZqcnS5ehoA/s1600/_MG_4762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyTZ2UqTwMtj5qQDoHToVH5Og5Lya0HCUADSeiRmQiXYuyWGBDTVcPGI05ZnQXhoIXKicEpb12-oPR59ZiyAqwHqPYaJVezHW0hfLhW6yLC98LoEn4LnzyrGo_XROJuSpKZqcnS5ehoA/s400/_MG_4762.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As we drove by the Night Herons we pulled into a side road to see if we could get a bit closer to see them. As we were looking to the left we caught a glimpse of something white in the canal to our right. It was our first close up look at a White Pelican. I am not sure if they all have that weird bulb thing on their beak but every picture we've seen of them they are always there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA9AucK-78kstPpqKfMwwFwQFjw0c7jvvPruSrw0XshS99mDG8x_Pr4k2eLxXMkM5a26MYQvsM-_rT6VTchjDPFyvE0iGHMe7IcOPjWF79pKk7ymSofHCwGe167z6KvbZgix7X0diEAs/s1600/_MG_4787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA9AucK-78kstPpqKfMwwFwQFjw0c7jvvPruSrw0XshS99mDG8x_Pr4k2eLxXMkM5a26MYQvsM-_rT6VTchjDPFyvE0iGHMe7IcOPjWF79pKk7ymSofHCwGe167z6KvbZgix7X0diEAs/s400/_MG_4787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We didn't see very many pheasants that were quite as easy to shoot as this one was. Most of them we would see would then disappear into the grass. This guy was pretty calm. I love all the wild colors on these birds.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhyphenhyphengbZb__3bf44mET58plboKeusPcqsQKPgbhpCcgNhB_r6zXNTY0B220R8Tw8br0590_7Nll9em2jtXsaRJ-vJhfNOp6XCvqcDWldjpglKLpvoKNinH5-Y-qNL7u914YjzDxNfuMEDw/s1600/_MG_4808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhyphenhyphengbZb__3bf44mET58plboKeusPcqsQKPgbhpCcgNhB_r6zXNTY0B220R8Tw8br0590_7Nll9em2jtXsaRJ-vJhfNOp6XCvqcDWldjpglKLpvoKNinH5-Y-qNL7u914YjzDxNfuMEDw/s400/_MG_4808.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Three Amigos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mNbCkkLQE6hQKoBtlnPZYWVE-2Bg-V-F8EGb60C7Oiki6o6-QKBQBO_fKpmcbXmuTEwHb7biuPEVBhxp-MVqOCOmnp8KntFOZ1D3jT17cPV_mFb2t2fwclkScKoq8a4Q7km4_kplr_g/s1600/_MG_4814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mNbCkkLQE6hQKoBtlnPZYWVE-2Bg-V-F8EGb60C7Oiki6o6-QKBQBO_fKpmcbXmuTEwHb7biuPEVBhxp-MVqOCOmnp8KntFOZ1D3jT17cPV_mFb2t2fwclkScKoq8a4Q7km4_kplr_g/s400/_MG_4814.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must have been a very funny joke.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We did see one Golden Eagle but before we could get into range to get a shot of it flew away. At least we got to see one if not being able to get a shot of it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are so many different kinds of birds down here that I've not seen before but I have no idea what they are. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMdUpYKfGYlZzGlBhrMc_hJy9Ph6TcxgEoVz6p9kz9_OTwJYUWob52D27krLhTrIn5T8ndhEsm8wcgpbnpdbPZUKk4chumyDW4O3wn5O-_G5x5z8MeUrpw5QZv4za5QkWDpQHIHli46g/s1600/_MG_4863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMdUpYKfGYlZzGlBhrMc_hJy9Ph6TcxgEoVz6p9kz9_OTwJYUWob52D27krLhTrIn5T8ndhEsm8wcgpbnpdbPZUKk4chumyDW4O3wn5O-_G5x5z8MeUrpw5QZv4za5QkWDpQHIHli46g/s400/_MG_4863.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another thing that we are seeing a lot of are Great Egrets. They are all over and every road that we turn down causes some big bird to fly up and startle us. We are slowly learning to approach the canals slowly and with cameras ready. The roads down here at Lower Klamath Lake and Tule Lake National Wildlife Reserves are plentiful. It is incredible and I can see why everyone loves this place.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9c1JELmovekUzF_1dLLxH4h26zmvj_CrxxSAwA2lw-KaIFhYxWj76OPdKwGo7BZcPXFv0SwJv-CjarvtqYV1n499n6KqikipTLvDW7YFRSjFsSpzCwrbCl5XyUubhQl2_rn5uqnQf-A/s1600/_MG_4854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9c1JELmovekUzF_1dLLxH4h26zmvj_CrxxSAwA2lw-KaIFhYxWj76OPdKwGo7BZcPXFv0SwJv-CjarvtqYV1n499n6KqikipTLvDW7YFRSjFsSpzCwrbCl5XyUubhQl2_rn5uqnQf-A/s400/_MG_4854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguuBUiHCF0YLA09ih3tP0ITAw_WrJMS694URcjjpT2sR15tE3ojBS4Mc01p0ZXTdHxu1a_SnANHwtXtABUutIBiMUIxQrb19eG2OPBhSoGMa8cjf1fxICyhEJh6r7ykX25IpFNxppm2E/s1600/_MG_4881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguuBUiHCF0YLA09ih3tP0ITAw_WrJMS694URcjjpT2sR15tE3ojBS4Mc01p0ZXTdHxu1a_SnANHwtXtABUutIBiMUIxQrb19eG2OPBhSoGMa8cjf1fxICyhEJh6r7ykX25IpFNxppm2E/s400/_MG_4881.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There was a couple of Jack Rabbits at the base of a large cliff that had a lot of nests. They were running around while a couple of hawks were circling overhead. The hawks were calling to each other and looked like they were looking to catch a bunny for lunch. But it didn't happen, at least while we were there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2ekn14_htD2cIOzbTMunjFERCF3wDMsVmhHd6eSQH7dB8SS-4G0E1iTgK0KfxjtQNv_dz5XoLnI5zGs90ebikJvi6A-1IyaP40i40bSeqKFKuNwgnyUc2s1_505eRLcklRiO_SNNDm4/s1600/_MG_4907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2ekn14_htD2cIOzbTMunjFERCF3wDMsVmhHd6eSQH7dB8SS-4G0E1iTgK0KfxjtQNv_dz5XoLnI5zGs90ebikJvi6A-1IyaP40i40bSeqKFKuNwgnyUc2s1_505eRLcklRiO_SNNDm4/s640/_MG_4907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE END OF A BEAUTIFUL DAY</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Day 3 April 25TH, 2011</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5wF72GX2GR4CTh0RGyAPZst2pGHH5Y4L7zd5N27WhTaxOwYoNZJeQ2wldBuLkvReoioAtcKk7G9Nk-k-3IRh7TTn9dWvSDbeOZiheVbwJFOlYHmfIPoFy8OoDHQctZUO850wV-6QYfQ/s1600/_MG_1276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5wF72GX2GR4CTh0RGyAPZst2pGHH5Y4L7zd5N27WhTaxOwYoNZJeQ2wldBuLkvReoioAtcKk7G9Nk-k-3IRh7TTn9dWvSDbeOZiheVbwJFOlYHmfIPoFy8OoDHQctZUO850wV-6QYfQ/s640/_MG_1276.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Today again started out rainy but also was very windy. We headed back down to the Nature Reserves again but did not have the huge amounts of birds again. And wow, the wind was fierce. The fields that have been plowed are creating huge dust clouds and there is some pretty wild hail storms. But in between the hail it's pretty amazing. We were able to see the Great Horned Owl and it's 2 owlets. When we first got there the adult and one baby was facing into the cave and appeared to be eating. Then she finished, came out into the sun and took a nap. It makes up for not having seen the two baby owls in Ridgefield on Saturday.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVCY0grPkt6BPIpgGSZYXyO1XIH8RZymv6YwVHkceHsY2yNXM66xiFQlpBE7dEqYbUAHGMBCWLfifvGdi_NZ3OWbh8SmjhjDtCIwcPJ16QjqLFJKc_p5UelASKVrJY2HNL5IM1hv5rRA/s1600/_MG_3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVCY0grPkt6BPIpgGSZYXyO1XIH8RZymv6YwVHkceHsY2yNXM66xiFQlpBE7dEqYbUAHGMBCWLfifvGdi_NZ3OWbh8SmjhjDtCIwcPJ16QjqLFJKc_p5UelASKVrJY2HNL5IM1hv5rRA/s400/_MG_3827.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Most of the day we drove about the same areas seeing the same types of birds again. <br />
<br />
At the south end of Tule Lake the road skirts right along the lake. The wind is blowing so strongly that the lake water is being blown up onto the road. And the birds have to stay pointed into the wind when they are on the lake. If they don't the wind is blowing their butts up into the air and almost flipping them over.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FjczGOOqqC1G8rbWmK8M8GfWXYJ-4Dy4pbWfZ1VtAGgAxZ81J7pag64D9kcgzCz0ihR_A_HSDihAFKBrIx9gH14uMiBFJHknuImPA59cJVhd5LkWpFDrfdkPDQiGAZGZHVFCdjQFmIo/s1600/_MG_3760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FjczGOOqqC1G8rbWmK8M8GfWXYJ-4Dy4pbWfZ1VtAGgAxZ81J7pag64D9kcgzCz0ihR_A_HSDihAFKBrIx9gH14uMiBFJHknuImPA59cJVhd5LkWpFDrfdkPDQiGAZGZHVFCdjQFmIo/s400/_MG_3760.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0IKQuhQwIwL0SwcohyrWU3RNoA8UXokOgNRD4P0PiWcCsKwPNulE7ik_ITNeq45ji4Sneu9rmjPtBHoVSpYIKoZSAAJBsH0FneavlM38UAq7aJ_yueKHkjunEOU6ng0wbihCRK7VIRo/s1600/_MG_3792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0IKQuhQwIwL0SwcohyrWU3RNoA8UXokOgNRD4P0PiWcCsKwPNulE7ik_ITNeq45ji4Sneu9rmjPtBHoVSpYIKoZSAAJBsH0FneavlM38UAq7aJ_yueKHkjunEOU6ng0wbihCRK7VIRo/s400/_MG_3792.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
One of the things besides the eagles, which we did see at least one Golden & several Bald was to see the Grebes dance. <br />
When we first arrived we saw on the front page of the local paper a photo of two grebes running across a lake side by side with their necks stretched out and their wings thrown back. Wes did see these two begin to dance as they stretched up high out of the water but that was the end of it. I would have loved to see that but it just wasn't to happen on this trip.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Day 4 April 26th, 2011</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82NBc-ycbXyDqju1Or_y1YxAmwei4OS1IcAecLHz1VI_o2zNY5UutKWrM08z6AuVA_m35vwU6dNFEEZtUZ-_bFMTO4GCRmEveYhI7az4UoCRYuybaQAGDvSeiJjbeWBwoOTRS-O79NxU/s1600/5248-5262+Painted+Hills+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82NBc-ycbXyDqju1Or_y1YxAmwei4OS1IcAecLHz1VI_o2zNY5UutKWrM08z6AuVA_m35vwU6dNFEEZtUZ-_bFMTO4GCRmEveYhI7az4UoCRYuybaQAGDvSeiJjbeWBwoOTRS-O79NxU/s640/5248-5262+Painted+Hills+a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKdB4mpWTxmkrGSzKhpTBHnezlVkV_PEVEfkGxrb74ta_zHCfmJrTGk0dfikq3Xo8AB8UrwHE85nw1MrbW7iHWaEhJ2klwd8uVdRJNAau0ByQdzPWdZ1R3OFfB_lg1rG1hDkysoIMuMI/s1600/_MG_5141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKdB4mpWTxmkrGSzKhpTBHnezlVkV_PEVEfkGxrb74ta_zHCfmJrTGk0dfikq3Xo8AB8UrwHE85nw1MrbW7iHWaEhJ2klwd8uVdRJNAau0ByQdzPWdZ1R3OFfB_lg1rG1hDkysoIMuMI/s400/_MG_5141.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow, but not too deep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We left for home today with totally blue skies after having some very light snow fall last night. I asked at the front desk how the road to Crater look was and they thought it should be pretty good today. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Well that was not to be the case. We drove over a small mountain range and had to put the SUV into 4 wheel drive. The road was pretty slick with snow. </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflf3YxzZGabymwKLGTQ-NOU7UewqVVkYTI0RUM3GB0WR7V5ymtDB0kjGnMcRlMXxwIf3qdICBf2ZlemU9_KowuqHBzxe5h5k1hELFRGWmoPFtzlqHROoIepZ7cu0fNe0ONYMndF0zMVg/s1600/_MG_5136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflf3YxzZGabymwKLGTQ-NOU7UewqVVkYTI0RUM3GB0WR7V5ymtDB0kjGnMcRlMXxwIf3qdICBf2ZlemU9_KowuqHBzxe5h5k1hELFRGWmoPFtzlqHROoIepZ7cu0fNe0ONYMndF0zMVg/s400/_MG_5136.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow is getting deeper but the road still passable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">As were getting closer to the road up to Crater Lake the snow was getting very deep. Wes was about to turn around and give it up when we got to the area where they plow. We got pretty confident that we could make it now as long as the plows were running. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">So we continue heading on up. There are some areas of the road that the snow has made it nearly a one lane road but luckily we've not ran into many people coming out. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW34cZ661AIHmQTJAGBQugO-v_bVam157w2R-8C2mmFIi-UMzZQ_41c6dFh_hL80AFtB1L7v4Q-HIMJzdQyC7ZaqWWqlub0Jl64AIEL_yXSOvFZHeRaYttG-5X8aFWoUAkZCaupZ4M28E/s1600/_MG_5139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW34cZ661AIHmQTJAGBQugO-v_bVam157w2R-8C2mmFIi-UMzZQ_41c6dFh_hL80AFtB1L7v4Q-HIMJzdQyC7ZaqWWqlub0Jl64AIEL_yXSOvFZHeRaYttG-5X8aFWoUAkZCaupZ4M28E/s400/_MG_5139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">And then we came to a snow plow which are pretty cool to see. These are the type that churn through the snow and blow it way up and over the bank.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We were so close when we came to a gate across the road saying 'Road Closed' 3 miles from the rim. We turned into an area for buses where kids where putting on snow shoes. A ranger told us they had received over a foot and a half of snow over the past two days. They expected the road to be open late that afternoon. It was not meant to be.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS8HF_7JIyfs8NE3LYlP4nvpEy9UfVPHbwc_larSaHn4xjSYTW-DoDhKa7K2N-7Fh-CioKbpEkDzhuaRP7FVJiGTLx_tOFVWYXxjk-E6RWAtvonHQxH9GR8BrKV1lWMIQE1gf41GXVhs/s1600/_MG_5170_68_69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS8HF_7JIyfs8NE3LYlP4nvpEy9UfVPHbwc_larSaHn4xjSYTW-DoDhKa7K2N-7Fh-CioKbpEkDzhuaRP7FVJiGTLx_tOFVWYXxjk-E6RWAtvonHQxH9GR8BrKV1lWMIQE1gf41GXVhs/s400/_MG_5170_68_69.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old barn on the road out of Crater Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We drove the rest of the way up Hwy 97 and visited the Painted Hills late in the afternoon. The sun was excellent and we had wonderful clouds. It was awesome. The only thing that was greater was the sunset as we headed out of Madras. It was so incredible but nowhere to really turn out. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S6GmcdmaeZlqhN_M3SAv_gtIm6ktlQEjOLe2TeEoPolAHWhSKrw8VSF5jE0do6ffIwx2OhVWxpTxH5AlZme-7PVMImxUhN1CVgknthhG0LQOxJ7pZZaIKmB7i82ahYwhE6nQXnSImt0/s1600/_MG_5222_0_1+b-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S6GmcdmaeZlqhN_M3SAv_gtIm6ktlQEjOLe2TeEoPolAHWhSKrw8VSF5jE0do6ffIwx2OhVWxpTxH5AlZme-7PVMImxUhN1CVgknthhG0LQOxJ7pZZaIKmB7i82ahYwhE6nQXnSImt0/s400/_MG_5222_0_1+b-w.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nE8omgHLShioY9MtbQoE1XWD92p69RnHUZlWbFQ5Ii1kfkQSJILwPR5YA0vLGZQwvcocZv9qlY_It8uWaRQmSNvZYCskvzQ-zvWA9Iq2k1IlR8dd7YQNxLecsdbh9ph-oxrQORdRq64/s1600/_MG_5291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nE8omgHLShioY9MtbQoE1XWD92p69RnHUZlWbFQ5Ii1kfkQSJILwPR5YA0vLGZQwvcocZv9qlY_It8uWaRQmSNvZYCskvzQ-zvWA9Iq2k1IlR8dd7YQNxLecsdbh9ph-oxrQORdRq64/s400/_MG_5291.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarLxywEphEE0SAKBz35P9kxU1DayBQlhpk7RRFFFSCLojhHpNj6Nzaq4nhtZZ4SyqyG64gtSgcYRbGhqXYvfwsssLAWK9fwozuaZFz63tl7jHrSZSTa53T2P52iB1mwdXIPxlvF-8m5A/s1600/5229-5232+Painted+Hills+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarLxywEphEE0SAKBz35P9kxU1DayBQlhpk7RRFFFSCLojhHpNj6Nzaq4nhtZZ4SyqyG64gtSgcYRbGhqXYvfwsssLAWK9fwozuaZFz63tl7jHrSZSTa53T2P52iB1mwdXIPxlvF-8m5A/s640/5229-5232+Painted+Hills+a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It was an incredible trip which ended with a hair raising ride over Mt Hood. It was not snowing much but the dirty spray from other vehicles, the lack of lines on the highway from people driving with chains etc. and the fog made it very hard to see. But we made it home around 10:30 that night and had work the next morning. But what a grand time we had. Thank you Intel & Jeld Wen.</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-2508686934852984762011-04-16T16:51:00.000-07:002011-04-27T19:08:44.777-07:00Improving My Photoshop SkillsIt is quite amazing to look back at photographs taken many, many years ago and really like the way they looked back in the film era. Yes, I know there are many people who will not go into the digital world. But for me it opened a whole new world and yes also an addiction. I can shoot as much as I want, experiment to my heart's content and I don't have to pay for all that awful processing of the film and the wait to see the if anything turned out. And the big bonus is the playing with the images in the computer. <br />
So here I am in the land of Digital and looking at what I've done within the last few years. I find myself thinking I must have been blind. So with CS5 and some additional software I think I'm getting better at this. <br />
Do you agree?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtVK-YQXjZcHodm78J8-kLSjBfBdIxtDS2noNbkXzku0IAzW5ROzfhcecxzJUg6shbc-Qt8YFuSFzf59zlu1lxe3rTIMry69Be4D9lcrrc1_jo2gZkxkxGZ4sOjpHpqsifg31L4d8g0s/s1600/_MG_0103a+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtVK-YQXjZcHodm78J8-kLSjBfBdIxtDS2noNbkXzku0IAzW5ROzfhcecxzJUg6shbc-Qt8YFuSFzf59zlu1lxe3rTIMry69Be4D9lcrrc1_jo2gZkxkxGZ4sOjpHpqsifg31L4d8g0s/s400/_MG_0103a+copy.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHmMWXfYjMj5jj9Mj1yySG127oxVD0dWQahFEmOqC5weRZ-Z7yWTHvfaMFO329C06lNQ8Zi-EIyQnH6VY6RTEuD2B1NwllBFrk6PI_uhNyF5hAQiIn0MkWl92SYigy2KY6tL_D2WJhj8/s1600/_MG_0103t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHmMWXfYjMj5jj9Mj1yySG127oxVD0dWQahFEmOqC5weRZ-Z7yWTHvfaMFO329C06lNQ8Zi-EIyQnH6VY6RTEuD2B1NwllBFrk6PI_uhNyF5hAQiIn0MkWl92SYigy2KY6tL_D2WJhj8/s400/_MG_0103t.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" jscode="leoInternalChangeDone()" onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-88674861796034707192011-04-03T09:55:00.000-07:002011-04-27T19:09:18.193-07:00Lipizzans of White Horse Vale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y4W3Bc1ADPv8v0ZzRMriUqgaE_hNPRMvX9wCN0ZAyM5FbN3NHOShN0NFz6inbVCMtXQeJyVxiZBLwNwLaoU3WK7Idlj_AgaV7upV4qs1r3EpzO1amrwKhDLOzfZ1DaYyHeoT1FMjCjM/s1600/_MG_7796b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y4W3Bc1ADPv8v0ZzRMriUqgaE_hNPRMvX9wCN0ZAyM5FbN3NHOShN0NFz6inbVCMtXQeJyVxiZBLwNwLaoU3WK7Idlj_AgaV7upV4qs1r3EpzO1amrwKhDLOzfZ1DaYyHeoT1FMjCjM/s1600/_MG_7796b.jpg" /></a></div>Here is a slideshow of the beautiful Lipizzans at White Horse Vale in Goldendale Washington. These horses are stunning as is the ranch and people that own it and reside there. <br />
<div>We have visited here twice, once in July 2010 and again with our photo club, Portland Photographic Society in October 2010. Both visits were glorious with the owner, June and her two foreign exchange students, Janne & Eirin showing us a wonderful time. And also Arne who greeted us on our first visit with some very tasty watermelon that we ate in the yard. What wonderful memories.</div><div>Sit back and enjoy the slideshow by clicking on the link below (first time I've tried this so hopefully it's successful) And I can learn some more from the experience. </div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60918617@N00/sets/72157625244041005/show/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/60918617@N00/sets/72157625244041005/show/</a></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" jscode="leoInternalChangeDone()" onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-82180675533236976892011-03-27T13:54:00.000-07:002011-03-27T13:54:16.179-07:00How to Create a Photo with a De-Saturated Border<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWlFKDl86CWmAcEuLQ9OWrSoBXzVZk6cS0tYfb14p_J4b5Czyjut7-p9Od39Td0i4TbrruCOl6E-LgZJh8c9QKED6ZZ9D0TzF8hBcajYAoIA55g7cK9E0gqlHOqBnrBBIXwi9YVv6dw0/s1600/_MG_1281a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWlFKDl86CWmAcEuLQ9OWrSoBXzVZk6cS0tYfb14p_J4b5Czyjut7-p9Od39Td0i4TbrruCOl6E-LgZJh8c9QKED6ZZ9D0TzF8hBcajYAoIA55g7cK9E0gqlHOqBnrBBIXwi9YVv6dw0/s1600/_MG_1281a.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>These instructions are for a PC using Adobe Photoshop CS5</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the many joys of Photoshop or any other photo editing software are the many things you do do with your images to make them even more uniquely 'yours'. By the way, this image was taken in a large arena of a beautiful Friesian horse. The arena was quite dark and I was using a low ISO and a slow shutter speed. Giving the horse this rather abstract, flowing look.</div><br />
<br />
<ol><li>Open Image you want to add this type of border.</li>
<li>Duplicate the background layer by using Control J. This will create a duplicate layer of the original image in your layer palette.</li>
<li>With the newly created duplicate layer highlighted/active click in the Edit drop downs. Click on Free Transform….click Alt-Shift & drag handle towards the center to make the border…press enter to commit when you are happy with the size. </li>
<li>Now click on Background layer to make it active….Click on the Hue & Saturation adjustment layer. Lower saturation & increase lightness to your liking.</li>
<li>Click on the scaled down photo layer (should be the top layer) and use Layer Effects to your liking. I like the drop shadow, inner glow, and bevel & emboss. These can all be adjusted individually in the Layer Styles box.</li>
<li>Before flattening you can also move the scaled down photo layer if you want to align the background layer to line up objects by clicking on the Move Tool. </li>
<li>If you want add some text in the border, select the Hue and Saturation layer you created directly above the Background layer.</li>
<li>Select the Text tool and click in the border where you want the text to appear. Using the background color you select and font type your caption. I then use the Layer Effects to your liking. </li>
<li>The last step is to flatten your image and do a Save As. I always do a 'Save As' so the original image is left unaltered.</li>
</ol><br />
<div><br />
</div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-71072235353238975452011-03-13T14:47:00.000-07:002011-03-13T17:38:11.146-07:00Focus Blending with Photoshop CS5<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxgwiQeGkIG1oqcBF3QE6k9Iz7PvQikjomfXHjKRGRDEecnI8z3cagG0ZlQ5Tbjlk9dBBk90ZXn4OviRjE7XofhTchbAMOtrTxCUeaDDtCVwWtHLKkDfaEvcfGohIwifG0EPiuCyjP6w/s1600/IMG_2217a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxgwiQeGkIG1oqcBF3QE6k9Iz7PvQikjomfXHjKRGRDEecnI8z3cagG0ZlQ5Tbjlk9dBBk90ZXn4OviRjE7XofhTchbAMOtrTxCUeaDDtCVwWtHLKkDfaEvcfGohIwifG0EPiuCyjP6w/s400/IMG_2217a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583686618609846834" /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yyEkxP4dgxtNXdrZ1du6vvI11sFagq3HosVQnmumFigcnOkyaYwu33h39gNtVQ2-xTpy7xYjuHQII-go_pHFO09afwDeFKiFo36T6L4d5Tr0sXa4P65NSg8Ps_26cT6V_Hl_ZOVuqRI/s400/IMG_2216a.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583686538247183890" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is my first attempt at a tutorial using Photoshop CS5. Many of the photo editing tips I will show have been self-taught so we can be learning together. Please always feel free to make comments if you give this technique a try for us all to learn together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here I am blending two images with different focal points to make one image with sharpness front to back using CS5. I knew there was a process to do this even though I've never had great success at it, but I still shoot many images with merging them later in mind. Always a good thing to keep in mind, even if you can't do it yet, take the images for when you have found the way to create the magic. Memory is cheap. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have recently found CS5 has a very easy process to make this happen. It is most useful on subjects with no movement. These images above are not a perfect subject but I included a step to help align the subjects.</div><div><br /></div><div>These two images above were shot on an overcast day and in the shade. A good setting to cut my teeth on as there was a slight breeze and low light preventing a small aperture.</div><div>Camera settings: </div><div><ol><li>ISO 200, 1/50 second at f.11. </li><li>It always helps to have a camera set on a sturdy tripod.</li><li>Manual setting with the first image focusing on the foreground and the second focusing on the background.</li></ol><div>CS5 Post-Editing Steps:</div><div><ol><li>In Camera Raw, select the images you will be using. To do this select your first image by clicking on the thumbnail. Then while holding the Ctrl button select each thumbnail to include it. In my case I had only 2 images but you can use several images with varying focal point front to back. </li><li>Select Tools>Photoshop>Load Files into Photoshop Layers.</li><li>If as in my example you know there was movement in the subjects, select both layers by holding down the Ctrl button and clicking on all layers.</li><li>Select Edit>Auto-Align Layers which will bring up a dialog box where you click on the Auto button, then OK.</li><li>Now to work the focus blend magic you select Edit>Auto-Blend Layers selecting the Stack Images button and clicking the Seamless Tones and Colors box. Then click OK.</li></ol><div>This will show you the complicated masking and blending that CS5 will do behind the scenes for you. It's not always perfect so you might need to go into the masks and make some manual adjustments by using the brush tool and painting with black (to conceal) or white (to reveal) areas that aren't quite right. But you will get the idea the more you play around with it.</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODnK0Pz6gyrTl8Dnk8J-h-tN0hHFuWq5ShwdkiD8PJqjLQUppp0njH62gIbSsvDIdxR7gDTZVyO6gOb_8nzLqNSHOk5WvvVaZOTpCArVAW5HAQ6-LhEimQsnuJNCvRYBZp5JkGJfcQC0/s400/Img_2216-2217+Focus+Blend.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583695340276792130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>Here is my final result with the sharpness front to back even under low light conditions.</div><div> </div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-79056935421692247742011-03-12T09:23:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:15.981-07:00May 17, 2008 Homeward Bound via Frankfurt and Denver<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng2FEYD48urkzKoU5mjBJDKaLQYUY-tpD_Hoye5wkWAY1ldk_CrJbmadBGlN9pH81ep-uvZWGobhXrD0RhwoA_kKolRI5STIta7vqqa60zhgvvu6c3NCKSdCWQZXsCu77bBHYxRqmEhg/s1600/_MG_2819b+copy.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEmJ0ECnFJRrbrqsRWj43UcUwA1rPCKGhNs8vp6LNTcjx77Gnl8C9XUfE5hw8A9RlEZy-iVDi2swJRQFsT6mIjF9bOAalsZSJMWEDUXh9lIA2ClJVWArjo5jX-n6UHAAlbMbAjlArKkU/s1600/_MG_2805b+copy_1.jpg"></a><br /><div>Beautiful sunrise & clouds in Bordeaux and beautiful sunset in Portland with the temperature at 95º</div><div>We got into Bourdeaux in plenty of time. And Thierry helped us in the terminal to make sure we got in the correct lines and got everything checked in before he headed home. His plan: go back to bed. The terminal in Bordeaux is much smaller and is very low key which is nice compared to the other airports we’ve been in. Our flight was at 7:15 am so we watched the sunrise which was spectacular.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEmJ0ECnFJRrbrqsRWj43UcUwA1rPCKGhNs8vp6LNTcjx77Gnl8C9XUfE5hw8A9RlEZy-iVDi2swJRQFsT6mIjF9bOAalsZSJMWEDUXh9lIA2ClJVWArjo5jX-n6UHAAlbMbAjlArKkU/s400/_MG_2805b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583245848127315026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Then it was on to Frankfurt where we went through a inspection where they took away our pate. We probably would have been fine if we hadn’t declared it but we were paranoid that we would get in trouble if they found it. We had brought 4 bottles of wine for the kids which was our limit and had declared that which wasn’t a problem. They explained that if the pate had been a bird pate it would have been fine but it was pork pate. So off it went into a trash bin, which Wes was sure they split up at the end of their shifts. </div><div>We didn’t have as much of a layover so after we got through the long lines we just looked around in the gift shops until our next leg of the flight which was into Denver. This was the longest part of the flight but we had our own monitors in the back of the seats. So we could watch any movie we wanted. There was about 15 different choices and naturally mine was broken. It would play the movie but it was so pixilated you couldn’t make it out. It took almost 4 hours to watch one movie which was ‘The Bucket List’ The attendants were finally able to fix it after 3 attempts and 3 hours. So I watched several movies which kept me awake. </div><div>The Denver airport was new to us and was it every great to hear so much English being spoken. Finally the last leg of our trip and I was so tired that I slept right through the takeoff. I closed my eyes for a few moments while everyone was getting seated. And was very confused when I heard the attendant taking orders for soft drinks or juice. I couldn’t figure out why she was doing that before we had even left the ground. I was surprised when I found we’d been in the air for over an hour. We had left at 7:15 am and we got home at 8 pm. But there was also a 9 hour time difference so we had been traveling for 21 hours. Previously I had never been able to sleep on a plane. That sure can change given the circumstances.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgng2FEYD48urkzKoU5mjBJDKaLQYUY-tpD_Hoye5wkWAY1ldk_CrJbmadBGlN9pH81ep-uvZWGobhXrD0RhwoA_kKolRI5STIta7vqqa60zhgvvu6c3NCKSdCWQZXsCu77bBHYxRqmEhg/s400/_MG_2819b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583246291364180834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>As we flew into Portland we saw something we’ve never seen before. The sun was setting, there were a few clouds and the view of Mt Hood and all the other mountains in the range was incredible. Every other time we've flown the cloud cover kept Mt Hood obscured.</div><div>So concludes our trip of a lifetime. </div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-25251267080339627422011-03-12T09:15:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:15.984-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 16, 2008 Le Citadelle<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHTthANRRcGBwXAZmEeidvZr19udi2OS8GdSPe3PS1jnL-aJDR6nTeeaHEnrKGX39eKp8aUipndq6aqkjhyphenhyphengFmsujehtB9CSxrI6su4e6VBMWw_2DnIOR5TvcU5JieYW_rMuR45GYqso/s1600/_MG_2773B+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHTthANRRcGBwXAZmEeidvZr19udi2OS8GdSPe3PS1jnL-aJDR6nTeeaHEnrKGX39eKp8aUipndq6aqkjhyphenhyphengFmsujehtB9CSxrI6su4e6VBMWw_2DnIOR5TvcU5JieYW_rMuR45GYqso/s400/_MG_2773B+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583243751062536066" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65OL55N7XZxspFUz6WksJ2rymIvBYGSJpJnOttaS1MXd83Xi7M0r8fVLcNsFqOgaevO-RqIvLBF99K6Zy8RGrH7BO31qiI57UL9zfscWPShheIKfjWKi6wUL8eBxry87bEpKylBq_9ww/s400/_MG_2772b+texturize+canvas+copy_1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583243825104689042" /></u></span></div><br /><div>And this is our last day in France. We visited a fortress near Rochefort, Le Citadelle. It is on the ocean and has the usual walls surrounding the interior fort. On the land side there was four archways in a moat which they could pull in the walkways that was on top of the arches if they were under attack.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsrZ_WkUrEmoU26KKK2D2LWdpOc7GH4XOblTNQrCSP7J1DZN1AwP2XOdObeCaf4gbIk7ZZeAoeXjLoAGmyO_aYSlcO5qX8EDiUC0_33oyDzidqncw_AhH4s-2szmphMDURc_6LTkGYww/s400/_MG_2781a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583244141926495826" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-VkzVtx5p2ktCOGnMqKkcnsVdG4RDk3luoKsJG3M5uMBLhPHkmp65_3aGMn4VDbDpis_rlSDv0hoLfkZISogQSJeJeP-_K95EKCldvNFV0NEZpbxGTc2ouDt6JxPB8cBeMCHP8nsP-4/s400/_MG_2792b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>And one last shot from Thierry's backyard of his father's beautiful flowers.</div><div>We had our last dinner with everyone, said our goodbyes and then packed everything tonight as we were leaving at 2:30 am for the airport. The airport is in Bordeaux which is 2 ½ hours away and Thierry is going to drive us. Like I said a few times already, he is great and has made this trip wonderful. As we w</div><div>ere getting up so early we just slept in chairs downstairs in the living room. Which wasn’t too bad, we both fell asleep pretty quickly. All of our bags were ready to go and at 2:30 we were loaded up. </div><div>One last thing that was really cool before we left for the airport was we heard a cuckoo bird. They really do call ‘cuckoo’ just like the cuckoo clocks. Pretty cool. </div><div><br /></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-51890666560918059642011-03-11T21:14:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:15.988-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 15, 2008 Le Pere Lachaise Cemetery & TGV to Marennes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX15SgsXTiwohHP10Q0hfGsWnIRJQBiehjOYYChM6t_zJfByZqrqRCU1mvjSK48vgdoEtUtJR08oOExpW9B9wbQV6aZvG-UmeUic5mIjNxV1-VYwwoPIbTTkpN8Ba1KlthHzBdJe7jvs/s1600/_MG_2732b+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX15SgsXTiwohHP10Q0hfGsWnIRJQBiehjOYYChM6t_zJfByZqrqRCU1mvjSK48vgdoEtUtJR08oOExpW9B9wbQV6aZvG-UmeUic5mIjNxV1-VYwwoPIbTTkpN8Ba1KlthHzBdJe7jvs/s400/_MG_2732b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583058284728388578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-k1uopa0EQMFcVYB5_iqAMnDQYxJvfz7FUkQ90BnYto0LAg3DNglYQls0BQbbtNu8u2PvblOOK7Egh6lMmjG8wYz4yTMPcaJ4YWU3165ux0balbgow5-At-luchHg2V7G4AHlSQ6TLY/s1600/_MG_2748b+b%2526W+copy_1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-k1uopa0EQMFcVYB5_iqAMnDQYxJvfz7FUkQ90BnYto0LAg3DNglYQls0BQbbtNu8u2PvblOOK7Egh6lMmjG8wYz4yTMPcaJ4YWU3165ux0balbgow5-At-luchHg2V7G4AHlSQ6TLY/s400/_MG_2748b+b%2526W+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583058074795928434" /></a><div>Today was our last day in Paris, so we packed all of our stuff and took it down to the lobby. We didn’t have to catch the train until mid-afternoon but since we had to check out before noon the hotel will keep the luggage until we return to catch the TGV.</div><div>We took the Metro to the Le Pere Lachaise Cemetery. As always the ride is even entertaining. At one stop there was a woman from Africa with a large tub balanced on her head. And the tub had all kinds of stuff in it. They make it look so effortless.</div><div>Once at the cemetery we just walked along the cobblestone walkways looking at all the very old graves and crypts. There is also a lot of statues and plaques that are very elaborate. Most of these are very mournful and some even ghoulish but all are intriguing. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP07N1BVUvU-AdjEmE1Ie3l2UWNQy93M5Qh4DvYmn4grw-4dtIyJDEzP216k3gVibwpC6pLYy5wSpklr3bNHcvd-Yx57kkw79EKm2rsmdmmbfdh45sSCwH2INPHz3Auysi5BB6yl9geg/s400/_MG_2736b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583058433339056642" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5VquTCtgAXkDV-71Tf_2BiIjsbfRitBowI5-y3AyoVuqof1t7c_MlIMK4mV5zW68EY7s_HTUtkLmgG7sq_s9cOeJabZZaYFWHYCjkTAOMZqbB7vy-XvH-31d5KRsCWxsyoZMoDYF_js/s400/_MG_2743b+watercolor+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583058938416786098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The cemetery is built on a hill and the tall crypts go right up the hillside.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f5y7vi3z_dZ5iLbJjGHuxFuVt1jZVkzK3r01Sy4rgM_cEnk68yK7oWeSwuUBlCsSFnaqexc_1xXXXG-5LGcWL2jMiWl8KMUVTrhberb4bgnBqEfyGUs5kKALPXLF5ZoZPkGAw9IbUIw/s400/_MG_2751b+b%2526w+copy_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583059460107517026" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61acGb3zVE-_bxDcZ40ND5c-tqygDRnALGs42ZQF0cq1d5a-rNFmr-3ow7hYNe4_J-MbHOnDr1GNU6Mj8wTbT0tguetP-2SlWQ-ID1pp5DtLJv9UIpVwfQrlscAK-NFoRgFk2XeW94zE/s400/_MG_2737b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583059814995786546" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq287nmnwcNiSGsI2F-Krcao12Qam7vecLFEj-V3Jl8PtruCPrwh89EhsDFj_5CVUwwT18UJYHM3yt23SCXxaNa904U6qXzsJH99azn10u0-c6VmWbJSxT_ec7xqKdAfS8Pjf8mHG76s/s400/_MG_2740b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583060030308584530" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeowbCXcPmbWV4EKErGsY0p1O3cfV3UPWhGHfLzbMm1KziUGKoun5Tie8XCQpzI5BC18M3rZgTFgRgAZy5eYcZf4pIGiRcQUvZbI0PFmuXg-uVmtsyB7J0TspWZxN5q36H-5usNi8g_Yw/s400/_MG_2741a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583060392881751522" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This is where Jim Morrison was buried and his grave site is usually very crowded with young people. Today it wasn’t crowded at all and it would be very easy to miss without a map. It was covered with flowers and candles. It has just a small tombstone but I had read in a tour book that there is always a cat near this grave. And sure enough right next to his grave was a calico cat just sitting on the tombstone. Pretty freaky.</span></span></span><div>As Paris is so big and there is limited burial space. So every 100 years the people in these cemeteries will be removed unless they have had a permanent internment. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFsCOXQlgEtvIyTxbIIdsja5M14ArLeUoQ3oLKnl4HN2MGSvyEIWSkCESctPH88XZGKiosAJ72Q4i1s-m097VxHGZmb2mGR1B1BuC1Q-gtKS-pdndFLupTMWPpgfd48fPZSbW4J2FDyI/s400/_MG_2754b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583060807540358642" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After we strolled through the cemetery we caught the Metro back to the hotel, grabbed our luggage and headed to catch the TGV back to La Rochelle. Not too far out of Paris the weather turned pretty nice again and it was a nice trip through the beautiful countryside and through many neat old cities and towns. </div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-1675188546129643482011-03-10T19:20:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:15.992-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 14, 2008 Catacombs, Louvre and Eiffel Tower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFiLKbvT4GB9_95hyphenhyphenRoeOxB4xNMDfsRC2n-hvrBKIOhghhTniN88Pmd2A0Q94J4ODv5NDLRRjPZVlywLfe4UnWf_xF4lbht_l3qoO0qHbbuUvGyflrFMmUfV_gP6jPZufsUbf452XYwY/s1600/_MG_2620b+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFiLKbvT4GB9_95hyphenhyphenRoeOxB4xNMDfsRC2n-hvrBKIOhghhTniN88Pmd2A0Q94J4ODv5NDLRRjPZVlywLfe4UnWf_xF4lbht_l3qoO0qHbbuUvGyflrFMmUfV_gP6jPZufsUbf452XYwY/s400/_MG_2620b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582658495250974674" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">We had planned on going to Versailles this morning and then later going to the Louvre. But Wes had barely slept last night and finally took what he thought was plain Tylenol around 3 a.m. What he actually took was a couple of Tylenol PM. These combined with little sleep really hit him hard. He was so wiped out and groggy he couldn’t do another day. So we skipped Versailles as none of us got up as early as planned to take the hour long trip there. And we figured another hour back we would really be cutting the time close to do the Louvre.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8SdAfLjd2qc5sd2dx4rX7U0UDoVLWADvOLae4XnloeZmy_B3t5ZU74-PaYKw2vzJbMnvq95hYtAAJ8pRWBPI_gr_omd3LG7hZL_Arwlv1ih0by8opTLIpkBVdXxVzNKMiWpwptne0xA/s400/_MG_2602a+copy_1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582658146157105634" /><div>So instead Mia, Thierry and I went through the cemetery in Montparneseas we walked to the Catacombs. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1JwhIFlTMx5JvtjnUK7s0IUL9M2ARWsGL8BAUc88SX26JGbIme25FRO-EG9EM6wT-oISBK7W44pYvMIHvXIrCDHKI1ddIsCJVYOHsuhpdfMB0RZA2TNFeUG6f2ca7zkxVfyoMHcvNoI/s400/_MG_2607b+copy_1.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582658697467471826" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPW_xpBZSW1_favOtF3kTv0_GBGyZ9jqgiAFtkULxBAtlw57xWu_3Yt_KDe4TiXvamMVHPynWXY5Yd0cv0oOPHE_X7dxV7yZuNDXnWBDHmSwos-mW3zCBxhgsf_mr1ZcyFByKf1tlJbVo/s400/_MG_2608b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582659631768224818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We went through a market place that was set up the next block over from our hotel. The outside markets are very popular here as most people like to shop there for their fresh foods.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhb1KIBZtKtWCIOj9gtV__hRW74Geot0lsGWQTZpgiqYPL7DiktDXWz_HDXAFn4pgiUv2V8PhD72AE5poWJynvih2IqtSOb4md2LGLSjClydMgQPitEHSQe1ADLWh_IAldZfGKrAm5OSQ/s400/_MG_2639b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582660131034649170" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>The Catacombs were only about a 30 minute walk from the hotel and there was not much of a wait to go in. There were more stairs to get to the underground tunnels which go throughout Paris. Here we saw areas where the bones go as far back as 90 feet. They had emptied cemeteries as they became so overcrowded they had nowhere to bury the dead, especially during epidemics, plagues and wars. So they brought the people (they don’t call them bones) into the Catacombs and for whatever reason they didn’t just stack them up but made very creative designs with them. There were hearts and all types of geometric designs. It is very eerie but fascinating at the same time. We could take our time as we walked through but they allowed no tripods or flashes. The guard that went along with us would shine his flashlight on areas to help illuminate it. The walls of bones just go on and on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8kk8JDvey_hbkd5YsLDMyx0QOQVcOAW4__CLOUHbOSIN1kdzuExI-YbPytRHKo6SoMh8Cd8UMXI8PvuneNHw3SQhLD2RCdzzbAqqDClgfR62U8Fnp8iMmtcPUzparOrokKapOFbgfaY/s400/_MG_2647b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582660462597603410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjY6fwg9RA4hFFAzq1LHW8nhmYjufIkE5GvcONw-0IQTMbE7V4rkNCJxibrthaWemJVjfrlRwoFyL-4W-pqzNM-2ySPx1K7xcEbYg_lahlO2TeEIJm-iLvOPoTdkJ4-Uz8QHtZx1rzuk/s400/_MG_2642b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582660793420154962" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMSQKIx1lmxA4lmGlv-YoU8rqP8ZYBxoWzEbPNaUPbY8bESOXS1Dnlbhgfr1LK8ENadZvsAIhHUCXGWuTtaLxvHJd-W9o1SmVcNBMZjT6n7_B5lsXbomBF1NS9DowDM9rNVdeRJE74lE/s400/_MG_2624b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582661156385677266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We headed back to the hotel around lunch time to see if Wes was going to be able to join us for the rest of the day. But he was still asleep and decided to stay in. I got him a sandwich from a small deli and did it all by myself. Most people here know a bit of English but it’s still hard to explain what you want. Wes got a real nice, dry turkey sandwich on that nice French hard bread. They just don’t do condiments here. And Mia, Thierry & I went to this Korean restaurant just down the street and had a BBQ lunch which was a do it yourself at your table. This was really fun as I even used chopsticks to take meat off grille as it cooked. We had an egg flower soup, rice, vegetables and the meat we cooked and it was all delicious.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4h0rI82-LNZMHEctAF_SOoxE8dXt01VDViSW-HjvJ-xFiMJ_w4lqta06kb4I9nVe9pCk2Xju9Qvfv5kLUpHPSObrCW1ddT9UoF78od4LsS81X0BhAj6aVFzHrW51ywpHeYUAW3T7JnQ/s400/_MG_2665b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582661730660060066" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>After lunch we went to the Louvre and while we were inside it rained outside and even had some lightning. This is one gigantic building with some of the hugest paintings you could ever imagine. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3jTHF8fN9sr6XsamyzVTel1pWjXUvSblyo-SCFcddeYqbZ_pd-aKIkb0Zoo6zrQULZQ-17LpuHaoTz3I_n6DA74Ayq6PcbLu74bvsxibtAjMqL-VGDeAVrQlCL3fIgy_nf_Dkvy7ogI/s400/_MG_2662b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582662005370919762" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And then you see the Mona Lisa which is surprisingly small. And besides being behind protective glass with guards all around it there is a roped off area that in front of the painting is about 15 feet back. The rope angles closer along the sides but the angle is not good for photos, lucky for my long lens with image stabilization. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPQZbpau4x7NHfLp68CUSn_DMWDr0eLHjlB7ZPtRdEN3Md2VtQl2xE8Qxmf4FsFYj1mbJsLqS304tTcs1ienlPMgey_qBO4I22IYRT3CBuPD0zXSN0QpcdSAn9jL2y2y2bx5iDi13byc/s400/_MG_2659b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582662431704523666" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Everywhere you look here is breath-taking, even the ceilings have frescoes and elaborate arches and gold trim. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGay0-wffbVfEh7OwDP0ISJFaP5pE1EX9R5THB4GudDT8LtL06wYYXG3TwbpKTwzEnSJO_E8sLS8-2qp5T1v0nnync64qAl4zBJ_YInzWVpQdZ_AHoDd5szVlkVMEKdz1RMC4DtzJsP8A/s400/_MG_2677b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>We saw the Winged Victory and Venus De Milo besides many other famous paintings. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM5XR435NM3_B_A5IGJZ7wLsCsQP6bKEbwowic4NyjqrZJp-50dNh3vR8chb6S_tZIReOjHTh6UV9UfUwBcG4uXs77s87GbUJiyf2pIQEFnlZechrmE3bWvJlMfCRZG_eKnGtHl1gxm8/s400/_MG_2681b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663170816640258" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUGyLOum3o-ZJo4xi83qQ-g8lU2B5AWxP0h-SH9CrY0muAF_E6R9T-N-JqODaTUHjfoKDsmfX_B9dRMQdbluRn4FM9IUIWlFZLIa7yz8aBEOj09oAgDJxk2iALshExooLCsGP8idXVBg/s400/_MG_2682b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663406630515458" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B4ifYPRmbvAYtTESA9IKxC2mMLYq4PfUHYcbTO8g6Zxdr9MEv5BEPTbOZT0kJfBscX8sYfuQM8cI5-Wb56YpgBL_W8XMjTPhK3NEQz1lj83Zsq7Z3KZ0RudPctJfctwMaLkUzo16874/s400/_MG_2660b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663767198952658" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0RMwQNLwZD3RRWRqWN9Vv5LVpR-hLcR4g5jhlMwLj7v-SWn_YHqKeEDYay2u9VmCzLpLDYYZNgUM7s5I11rMfC0UZGcq5yhuedE51JZL3QADynEK8acysjJ4gwP-dl9JRWFYCuhIhJ4/s400/_MG_2664b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663985758675682" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0w1T3_LzLKAbjCxryNGVXEBTs3ZIh1snsfdEEOuZ2HrkfjrRXGqgVgub_vszyY8gYPBHMYG3PA5aXFRUNN21pGSVurC4Roh1Ca6bhv3m3LRCMQxzV57JUglMZfuQ7suoORzEibszGfl4/s400/_MG_2669b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582664282610954914" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6erELAVLjIATK_wO_17ZtxX12Nk75-mE4p3QtceEKRZU6os0Ve1aiEr6XIs7PTWz4LYg_WgVo4nCE5dDH3JjKWAoEJwiduUphJ2bHIfZJwLNjbsSY_7IZLGe_vnFdxx0KmefdQ79J8o0/s400/_MG_2668b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582664608644102786" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6hjsnyHmmY_dJi3AgiJXpIhNKQYAFfDUTsVeV_VkIFuo9YH0OS-IoUB7argnzOAHM_BWb4LBnL3VlFXMXfPwh92HVLLh8ptllxc3W2iakL2RvqN0RGWUlhz6yndFeUiOJF2cu_FbITM/s400/_MG_2674a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582664879257564882" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcMirZhJePflnAlTvM-knFDE-HpH0y_6tATJTTZ8nHQiGypuoNveCznVLBxJb2j-FevL4aoPWdaTqrQK096gJCw4HrA7VOziZBkv3akqy5DT9dtqrNjrXOwtI5ok8G1KrS16E_sH2-rQ/s400/_MG_2672b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582665184875678050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aSpSbuhfA1nSjxgeRdzdb-HAjDGGVEveOiSlinnLh_5TAEjuHxxRI-QYvjnccv0S5lfTgD1nbHyyq93XylH4x-PwXCKPmtLJ29yBus_7Iy8JzRZmrZCdjfZsoDL7FkM4TwFZOAaHh7o/s400/_MG_2675b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582665430062154498" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uQj1-Hk8llvrqfoEKFvTC6e9yGbakzUYv9eYYSCVEq2o3QNd8eYuQHFk22ZcGSHBGItYUv6tduN1hDT_kJXzqLfFKcqKBaBglu81S3F_9hzCdVu8iXMsB91DjGCn8f_YeXl0l5GCiNI/s400/_MG_2693b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582665687780516274" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And there are many different wings dedicated to different European and African art. We saw some beautiful old art from ancient Egypt and one area had Greek sculptures. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhns9oxtOmpV8V75PBFzVZMiMcoy24tjak1WLxtbgpx1h3OKkVSOjFsILM9x9TDY5J57DoBQDbzmke3gXKAZV7BhuiCLp-YHxNb2dRnknerFtGTej8PR-19fw6-lLa1tbXPWHiYMO739Qk/s400/_MG_2683a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582665945811976530" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerzxaLIklY2y8Qo4zjeqzvlzb-HT6f0xDMtj51UIOJLD6Ta7tafMIq_8TUtFvNQHiyJ5VhnmOGz2DKt0iOSTIR53QCQfND8PhmB5p4nhtnUNkEPGfwBsrh2C2nTTOgv9wlSbhvs-HjHA/s400/_MG_2690b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582666140480869842" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5SyjLdT6CPR8wzlxY8c0wF9zy_QADfHbEsRuB19H4qVI258SLZq1NH0W470yEOz0-oCwCABkZ9tpIwwDMbQb3W4BhMkX3zQTZbasTLEIxIDKBynY7J4s6PQPBit58-HpFPaIxKqtMqU/s400/_MG_2703b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582666510513416642" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXWEeOdLUUqN1Nu8Q6mGtdUB5wqzDGyIrs9nRHHYFxLe4zxGMEdGt_qG3rUlsSo36RD3PEX6KaYll6wgVzKT4jujyy07tZoCdKJzL6JGOVMh4wlrvXAu8kKYnS3bV1BECpg79_oGVAsE/s400/_MG_2698b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582666775297062434" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_wyw5HbqE4aQ680TF3Vmh4Y2yFEgLtU9vu8UDPVY3m3TtlDxtz1cTm1fxdErdGJD7r-qFmL4-zizAib6spl0evCY_S6Ktw_gi2TuP9ZQIJPmVBPkYJp3qTIjrj6v2ibdQAOJxpXCtXM/s400/_MG_2704b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582666992267492914" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCi9SzOwpvg5TeLKvDnRmUcP4wgecWTMo82w08QS9VynBr4X6ZECg-FCWmUGa3v8WPMzAbwkpKvsKYtAgN77gp7t2eGVVScJom22SCwU2osyqNk5EDk7p5AqOkutys4VXvXd4mNjg_-8E/s400/_MG_2706b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582667299522100786" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There was one very strange art object that we saw that was surprising. It was painting on a wall with a mannequin leaning his head against the wall with a pool of blood at his feet. It was disturbing which I’m sure it was meant to be as at first it didn’t look like an art object. But instead a man leaning into the picture and bleeding all over the place. Weird.</div><div>We made our way to their cafe area that was like a food pavilion at our shopping malls where we had dinner. Nothing fancy but a lot of food. I had lasagna and couldn’t believe how much I got. It was gigantic.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbWjhnrNxYDWB0sEapP_OeXWYYe4OAcBDWQf1f2oad8rtpenQo6tTkfuZuzCAnNbqxxyQX5UhyU5Ovk-LrMSO8bZ10zfLK3BSfyZ8-I_RFFM4VjoYLEQLw8S9U2vzOe_2JCYjhBFSzcA/s400/_MG_2724c+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582667691149228098" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Then we were off to the Eiffel tower to see it at night. I was hoping to be able to take some pictures of it as the sparkling began. And we got there just in time, man is it every fabulous. The sparkling lights last for ten minutes at the top of each hour up until 1am. Then the rain began again. We were across the river from the tower so we hustled to get underneath for some protection from the rain. I took a few shots from underneath before we headed back to the hotel. </div><div>All in all, even with the rain at the end of the day it was another great day in Paris.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Vdfu40Vcw3GzIZAL2QqW5tfQfl4iGPyH6rKXamYZns4g9Vo5wVq_tCrXlg5uiElhOCVdTZimgMSyTw7iSMt-aqMmLDxiKSD4oBr8GHVs7GLAhMgMgR65Ja9kF6mKL5Iq40iLMMzZoLE/s400/_MG_2708b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582667948489959266" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-12155746714277120572011-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:15.998-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 13, 2008 Notre Dame, Outside the Louvre, Eiffel Tower & Seine River Cruise<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1mdcH1Uy7Hd-p45JpJ9PiPWFJpmxML_84ULSFakmEav2Cw5S1j6cgzjPS1YMNcFKjXOLJdsCVH7e97J7Qif4EDPjntBAqCXSwM0QntIxZCFx9RHj51OhCT45-4VeqR4_OXk7EAZSAT4/s1600/_MG_1797c+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1mdcH1Uy7Hd-p45JpJ9PiPWFJpmxML_84ULSFakmEav2Cw5S1j6cgzjPS1YMNcFKjXOLJdsCVH7e97J7Qif4EDPjntBAqCXSwM0QntIxZCFx9RHj51OhCT45-4VeqR4_OXk7EAZSAT4/s400/_MG_1797c+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581903969088422914" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F-21uUMrBSpVs2q2ff4mvHiAfBYhR7NLL1sdGrxPFBLkwQL1QwAdJXeqws-kHK8famKDTsepnOrgZQlYeish5HOa30hg-haM_sHmyIWDdp0Eqc0JryGDyb5tU1yagWuJQG7jCjbs898/s1600/_MG_1762b+copy_1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F-21uUMrBSpVs2q2ff4mvHiAfBYhR7NLL1sdGrxPFBLkwQL1QwAdJXeqws-kHK8famKDTsepnOrgZQlYeish5HOa30hg-haM_sHmyIWDdp0Eqc0JryGDyb5tU1yagWuJQG7jCjbs898/s400/_MG_1762b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581903782954324962" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We ate breakfast in hotel this morning, they had hard boiled eggs, croissants, fruits and cold cereal. It was quick and easy so we could get our start on the day.<br /><div>We met up with Yoyo & Delphine's friend, Virginie as she is going to spend the day with us.</div><div>The first place we visited was Notre Dame. This is on an island on the Seine and is spectacular. We went inside with the throng of people and found there was a funeral going on for one of the priests. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5pteGwM0lm5rJOPQ1smV0X5_z28iDeBXy9DtSozbr62VXfOpVVkdeom8kD0sF9I6_RnPlxibhy38QXlUS6QJC389IGOfX49s0AunvPl5Zd4ELgFfQmwdvDVIr0C8l4c7ayrjTVemtg8/s400/_MG_1768a+copy.jpg" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD67Rl7zgyelmrpaqocMHUHmUTbXUBjYTDbKPgShGYaFLfRiZ6b-GoXiSETQWJjkfkH2FrU9qL5D44Y13FySVcsIkiHclJsTnHqXtFfeBfCXgXD0SMQ9DbQRdGYDGmAwTNBqTlIVoLV4/s400/_MG_1800b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581907239318326322" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>The inside of the church is awesome and we also got to see what it’s like when there is a service going on. There was roped off areas that we could walk along and see the church. And when the funeral procession needed to pass we would be stopped and they would go past us.</div><div>We then went outside to get to where the tower tours began. We climbed a spiral staircase to see the great view of Paris and to see the Gargoyles. The stairs going up are made of stone or marble, I’m not sure which. But they are very worn over the many hundreds of years people have been using them. Once you half way up the towers you get to see the Gargoyles. They are all around the perimeter and are all different. They sure add to the view as it’s a beautiful day with just enough clouds to add to the scenery. I didn’t go up into the bell tower as it looked pretty steep and I would rather look and photograph the views.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sCGUo2ZW3MjGzC1HcGCYU2hpLL-Eqj-GicgG6pOxZhZOColHuuZpOjY7WLMiV-MMMMWhrvuFtafaIlrvV1358jPP4I0IToGfX6eiFC3QKZeGo9gzPn6xdut7YQNoeVe5qOY3Y1L6deA/s400/_MG_1788a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581904879497010290" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLidAQTdlODD5HjfM7OZHsQd_K_nT_GMjxJr0viWmac3f_cNXWew_jM6PaxYZImGaQnA_N24uo7RJsyTQ7w_t2_yPZEQM4JafUJPCd1WC7Zqllqj9XdR22l8nLjicIe3NPbcYQ2Qg-Bx0/s400/_MG_1786a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581905183387951538" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATKENpWvSrbiLj2-06tasBK6xyRcSo1FNFfM4eUeLU_xqTNWWeQvQcffx-aG9FVpOTszllAmvff9UbcNGxEOCQ0cP2RCnTwzRE0ApeSzOvCKjWB0tE0HPFwwFJitOpL47HbDrHO8XIXQ/s400/_MG_1784a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581905722822892834" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKccG44IaxA5J6SHJDLU79o2cjDtR5t83IzJPyEpNEpsdpt3uVpqn2s_YbG6dvxQtb2mtm3Cghmeaa1BdJUbbYIbITDHaI0K3E_PhIgGcqQPqEXOatsi5Wo2W8idCKaDt14mLFPyQm9g/s400/_MG_1798a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581906305450976418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwPa2iS9p_uXixBa9rksO2H64MqEW-fvaAPH_WXegVyNF8iaGMe6RypfydqcsXvqsBVJNMgji-nDhagvprEPIDU89YiYVQ-pK_lNeTZgR4-71Lod2dUwqKWkgiPDHkVQK8dZiwWketew/s400/_MG_1791b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581906718022796274" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceEf5W3aKK38jZ8ZJg5_3QfLruF1OGaCfalz3K4MexSQCNQf0AC3J50ZqOxbpvXOp7-rxtBe53joDuDg8IfwuhrPLIFnsmwy0_OzI9lsSwaLfowl18SrOHRvLd8uKnhBY8glXLiFc_nA/s400/2008-2426+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581907814927128466" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After we were done here it was getting to be later morning so we walked along the Seine River. There is a lot of traffic on the river with the majority being open cruise boats.</div><div>We found a restaurant that we were going to have lunch at which is near the Louvre. It was getting pretty hot and thought we might want to eat outside but it was very busy. And people can take hours to eat their lunch. But when we went inside we found that even though they don’t have air conditioning it wasn’t too bad inside. They had all the windows open and the ceiling fans on so it was very pleasant. We finished our meal so while Mia, Thierry & Virginia had coffee Wes went outside and took a few pictures. I hung inside for a while and then went outside as there was a small sidewalk gift shop to browse in. In the few minutes I was getting some postcards Wes saw two blonde girls with large sunglasses walk across the sidewalk and through a gateway hotly pursued by some paparazzi. There were about 5 to 7 photographers running around the girls taking photos. Wes had no idea who they were but we then remembered the Cannes film fest going on in South France right now and Paris Hilton was reported to be in Paris on her way to Cannes. So perhaps?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEHqVs-pfp29b7_a-KM9Yg4CgoiSZYJ_ZLb4zmfnWOW_dqW3NDiM_DGyoqLYbFO1DEwsXDJUbGNKwKqzTBw2laeSt5M3OPCEwGa_jGCiK7Vbec-zHeATOfD9XD9M4_4MYHA1DdBGjDjs/s400/_MG_1824b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>After we all felt more refreshed we walked through the huge center courtyard of the Louvre.</div><div>The Louvre is a very large art museum in the shape of a ‘U’. The open area in the center has a fairly new, all glass pyramid surrounded by pools which is used as the entrance. Even on the outside it’s a gorgeous building with large statues adorning nearly every façade and corner.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3rJlYx8kO5t5VshJ5UOSYDFHH8ks4iKbGe6ghojQaSyDX_neqYktIBa7FeOXhT0sWh_PipdnCijzSVPnqEQipNIdxnufahTAQJ4hyH5nniryMBNSrhpGSMhD1vRUbWKao0WMrxnwNk4/s400/_MG_1830b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581909447353746530" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGMOlhCzNh8pIQz54uNfewxXawGlXh2wdkauV1FOMvsg2SJtFlya9tfCh9Yhzx_Qz7Jed29UqEiekSiMDFZOV9FM4gQTWBdm6u03o74WlYxuZ6hYoXYQwoKGUdLyaGp99GrN_L4fV4C4/s400/_MG_1829a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581909723034631266" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1ZkMuL4U_i_YIQZ-meNDQxM0t9pE1KSgshfpATpHfO41EA75j_22-IiRztFLSYtrEWXjcGYz8yKMh1ve3SAk4yU9BMPKUtrT2aVq3OwWViFsnlYCKJRZ3AF-Ot8H6y_4Txbvn1Y7k3g/s400/_MG_1843b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581910291683936050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2d4RgstQGxIWcaAh6ncultUVMbnQ16p3S-6r5sSRgrT-jNlCDYZ83xBJbfdZe1DhKUx_jJOIXaBbtq5zLrNcO7sEjmyBhvOzDxPCJYt9epdlGJ0cthAhAeSyU-vtP4iqugHp_F37RgY/s400/_MG_1836b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581910566412646882" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0I7Yk_7QNgHhTz0Ii1Hg_4ZZq97VLYIS08t7UWnqj1Bp_4-vvPuYzin3zA6Wg60HKgqd3H2SdyMAR4_aXhSgV4aBqKh0LhyphenhyphenXhJ9IMQvfzNTn9SmY6rFkLenVM9MYuQ-LmBse0tHFRrg/s400/_MG_1874b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581911145969090018" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeYvM0LlVRrJMs5qcsdhowYlxSCK6MdTxI_21ZwDcLSg_NJsXTow8cQS7YCqi8AWZjjwVFL8bC1SpALjrM8WT2068X4JnoO1NXdcMThB_SDwqiXIsVI4zqoueJztmoltUNsxMHcrTxYA/s400/_MG_1867a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581911686062487762" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>From there it was a quick jaunt to visit the Eiffel Tower. As Paris has almost no buildings over 4 to 5 stories you can see the Eiffel from quite a distance. And to think when it was new the Parisians hated it and it was going to be torn down after the world’s fair.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2t1arHBkkV3eKY_upMkFrRXGUC-LFMmDVuHsMdUbKS5VGR5V_vm9iSMfw3LyAJr6X52FISNF5gmjDfBNxdANbBj_flZ0W22xnn3icQ3qHf6_RVJIvIP5csOCTEpGcMH6SGNwS6ZARws/s400/_MG_1888b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581912207062098402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>As we got closer to the park around the tower there was a small lake with a lot of trees and we saw a blue heron. We was fine with us being so close and it never did fly away. I went back after a couple of hours and it was still there but in a different part of the lake.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1Wx_Lm2BzKkWIF04sm6IQ1Vs6ZoQLzs4tv7av4bz0peoOKBA1m4jvLRefavzjPSLGPJ8gub8ZByL1ldzJ_zMvLX0iB6lzN8KQTgGoRuXEu-We9MhEPVJAfwpJ3fLqRPmDBBLgFCAeyA/s400/_MG_1882b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581912804859110626" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NZJScIAr_Tv6Rlb4FghqYn6Sqo6d3fVvDZ5SKKY_uvykAgFTmu5DmXAlGkaFWqi1yaezvbFCpmoGNPvLEvkmayp6vJDAGMsS4IZbh-gV52Mk7DHrxEIYjGOQ2cCcWlchM5IJY-Tn3wg/s400/_MG_1856b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581913145836440562" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We had heard that there can be a wait to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower of 2 to 4 hours if you‘re lucky. Well, we were very lucky as there was only a ½ hour wait to go up to level 2. Then you change to another elevator to go to the top and that was 45 minutes. The first elevator gives you a strange sensation as it travels along at an angle and then shifts so it goes straight up.</div><div>It was a gorgeous day to be up in the tower with incredible views. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2PEdVV1IogwlpK0e_PDWJnyK7nr4duhs7H0FmFRFoJaH7Mk0cJNsrg7aqOBZGDVeQdUomhqlec23O5QaoILOIeDSBmqjfo7ZhRgR50W5yNzfcmqPx_49_-UZwByw7ix_Rr6eatMA2xg/s400/_MG_1861a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581913408699780466" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>While we were up at the top there were two monks there and some people around them became very excited upon seeing them. They were even asking if they could have their photos taken with him. One man even became really giddy about this and was acting like the monk was a celebrity. They were dressed in gold yoga type gowns with shaved heads. And I just couldn’t bring myself to ask or even try to nonchalantly get him in a photo full face. I did take a couple just to show them but that was it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEMqUswdU2WiPnyVhjbLAVLncnihqtm9xZSqiNmpw03iuAPV09IF2uHJsuxv_5btAN6UsER9cB1WeDiwHLXgD1Knkq1L_ftoDhK2cKGWwn0dbrhCnTiFko6r6YuNzioi1DCNg4lMKHh0/s400/_MG_1853b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581913827887240850" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonJ_11I5b6fgvEymy2OUiBbHLaQOXdJLzHg_3QWn2RrShReMjVhOOhJHAl2hwrFBV6SLnO-BqKxn_Ku5Wwcvx4CGWRv_htcS-cTnDyVzRv8MpIC3TGZzkWrd2t5YYpWigwTrGnQZoqpA/s400/_MG_1902b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581914250824005362" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As the afternoon was getting late we headed to the dock where the boat was for our dinner cruise on the Seine. We had some trouble finding the dock and had to do some back tracking. But thank goodness for Thierry who could read the signs and we found the dock in plenty of time. We had some really great food for dinner as we cruised along the river. It is amazing just how many boats are cruising along the river and sunset is a wildly busy time here as it’s just gorgeous.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9wzaCjm05A3YVkk1p_qt5ibSldmwqV-xPEYYtXE4pXSWw2EKix-iJ0YAxBF6F9IdQ572z92KLVpGQhKiu4czeooM6JFVaISHq3ll3ZAZPOLaDctG1Dck5RS_cSakI7zNWYC97bSB9g/s400/_MG_1906b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581916098709335986" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxiAeCi6XByobYEVyNa8qcBKwNzBCO4jl7RXJkQNhkZbwJ8fVWGykeaIZ54aBQvcXXpxvc455T7fInv7HqtAOUjRi9EiXM91_1Ba_9P2VxrrmOhkwO2DOhCOJLKga1nl59rzoP5JfStE/s400/_MG_1928b+dry+brush+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581915109952625154" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All along the banks are boats of which many are houseboats that people live in. And the banks are also </div><div>full of performers and people just there to watch the sunset. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC4CEqZPOUxvgpS8t939t642BC5mE4II_QOuytWNWGLMU0YafUWAeiHGj90u-EsCuSQGB_X-Lx51a-bibof9-vr3VqPSq5kYoEZ7rhYv96b9BetgMsuO4YWOEhEKfKVYp94n2z7p2_SM/s400/_MG_1967a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581915602547534450" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBO7QttES5ze0vq9tbu_8mWQahlmhVPNqi_zfEAIsNTTpDmKdtW_KuRihp8TyOfFnlKZrWdu-_oHTG14sDQsPo7O3SSc_uNseNOP7R82HvwKaDOR1mdTNEpT8eYjeFeHxToIn5g4Rkw8/s400/_MG_1921c+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581917290256736962" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefi92mhc61Gy1BmMGSNvfMAv6w2j5cWa_DeywjqsMkbeAHljgYTBLs5fq_0x5oUqXwGbkwaDH_o4mIDMu92gOnm9mDwyOtpYq8d1QmA3fQUgTL5T_-juDfuT4n_w0zP3LJwQqQje2RYI/s400/_MG_1922b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581917645079282050" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So as the sun is going down everything turns that beautiful gold and the lights begin to come on and the sunset did not disappoint. It was one beautiful night. I would eat a course then pop up to the upper deck to see and photograph the incredible views.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44JlFi7gSw27fyuYqfPlAOZU0YXu7ziVQEtBM6nSHJrXf2V89WzgUY2EN6D4I0OcJHaa7mlSmQD10dIpnzwc4ccWEDxbs8lc84VAJFVEngQLdQ4WcQL4yjMdWxpzBCDqpl9t_opF9u-o/s400/2598+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581918098774555282" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>Here is Thierry at our table on the dinner cruise.</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUC69JgRPZwmMrqPiv-tzIkrIOx1rTlApoBH0l22Wy6NyI5FMdi45kyMESTHpf_Rpf3kvyQKRrxnIx4jwBOYwg4czVpRAelHn0gZnsaMAhHVl8IuU45IWlWglWWvv-BY3bgaixy7i5wk/s400/_MG_1914.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581918441542530802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And here is Virginie.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>And Mia.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgLDOeoqNhidnkVIVqdAhPqNtUBMnj4SCi1zNt43e8IG2vfcPyhJvxtL-nafD2DEBY7_SrRHMcJGX_uEpdAA8LEj-zw7497wQTReBemu0W_cPiv_fj44JewY56E8xUUMmofN1kdXl4N8/s400/_MG_1915.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581918835305055314" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFiV_3KNaEuuc5Dd1ucNU8z5SGaEthRrAs8jxQBqmcOGxOEb3B_efR1dYkd7v52HWFP6JUHQ1J-vVCJ20FRcWT5-C7C-KhkopAoUBAS-QcX-4em-Bj4MDi-JLI4Da_7095qswXZFGu5E/s400/_MG_1936b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581919523889986674" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqaNC_M52GYH3XpBHFMQUMFlBY9qseltyK526ohMPINIF3v2L0sqbQGsbqYbDxeXs19mx3KTemUC3NzxSxPRGtZCxAIKZ8hO4rDXZtHkiGpoH_7IK9K0Q0EPnac9UMhndYufD-9n8Gzg/s400/_MG_1938b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581920197730767138" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the many, many beautiful sights as we cruised down the Seine.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdnK5u-NzfjMdSVX720t3fNeHw0m9x8tawfemlTwDsA6zzQuuQDYRs1prd723GWD0LYogTbw5mL0ExaFucwPLzT1rwj6zpffWfw-AsJ_r7sFe5ZV7vWKBX8NlvPDfy6md_yojPIGmvnQ/s400/_MG_1950b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581920600216572386" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR06EY2tWXKtLfEerKG_Ww1BOd8VOkTAHUmkAGtF2iR2__T0pwH-wV_lQRe_Uf-wD8q4n5vxRd9Vcq5ZqDDBmQlKlYHg9jLKMkLbCWmhcRglvKcCdQFnK3chBPzKrt_Z1NfFJpLOKnemk/s400/_MG_1931b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581921272368974498" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFveYMnAEvDTgaLOkd1oGnGmWq5BrreMaLzl2CSemzEEGwwuLrr29rQa0G3zZNmrMsJTtHMoOck0DCJmPo75SMxFg7i7ibYk4ogKoXVlDYJUAWe3hOzBA65hddikoC9GKehAyFSZZp_o/s400/_MG_1960b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581921930812940610" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOsaW1G-Swit5ToVNF0yB9e6YZzN3qWwHHoKF6hc85B-XlRqPzzmX8uaiX5TCxzSvySWsHrXpu70jkjnTk8F-Q8L0jYMcDEbDwOMl5iASu2UCdXfxD3ZkhZuaFqwQbcIwYSbHsRID97Y/s400/_MG_1958b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581922232927646370" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsMMzQF4W0hHfNWw_DuUbIRbrwPT_iPcI_jbNClE8ElfdqiLO5BzaML-Rs7vre6g18QLpNIBkWKKroBuVB919s3qDzeRYyfm6004gIupdl6l3MxYZVWgedfE_AWfgkgHQVoMssMVihis/s400/_MG_1988b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581922564123268850" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It had been a day beyond belief but it was also a very hectic day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b1mnXXmc3e8pngFLJBMJmcotTReHop3lYwrXy8UIhP08G-n2msD56A-bzRBFLjjgEw7uaP_mSpSFgq7v9dfh08gH0ilCK6zFP4ENiDSpl3Q5nNIMcVHZDJPegTWJW2ih8zjb4N4RngU/s400/_MG_1999b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581922936192741842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span>As I had noted Wes has been fighting a cold, had been buzzing through Paris nonstop so when we finally got back to our hotel we were beat, especially the sick dude, Wes.</div><div>Mia, Thierry and Virginie continued their day at a bar across the street. I think they said they got in around 1. </div><div><br /></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-54743125496471666842011-03-06T15:15:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.005-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 12, 2008 Paris, Champs Elysees, Arc Detriomphe & Le Sacre Couer <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl-kKTxx505m8xDldF2Dsqwu6tIvhuQ-BYgS0LlzJvWoJ52k0C2JyxVLJzt5mLDXzAv6NXNs4NbQOGEwb7CaTjIVEzHamF94CpS8CMvM7rJclR1E8f_XIiyWHMn97SbRx31jb_EoULaU/s1600/_MG_1700b+copy.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl-kKTxx505m8xDldF2Dsqwu6tIvhuQ-BYgS0LlzJvWoJ52k0C2JyxVLJzt5mLDXzAv6NXNs4NbQOGEwb7CaTjIVEzHamF94CpS8CMvM7rJclR1E8f_XIiyWHMn97SbRx31jb_EoULaU/s400/_MG_1700b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581111074814531490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC4vgPMnBmSJvdpm9nZ-UrczUU_LIe8tA_-FfDjVB3uidohQrg1TGWIu5tBJBFv2-kWbYw5Njx9ODS48d6SliCrK3x8qm-5v5gWf5pUVKOInwWxJ2XLSHWZcNNRujqp2BhX5G5R6MmIc/s1600/2008-2178+A+copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC4vgPMnBmSJvdpm9nZ-UrczUU_LIe8tA_-FfDjVB3uidohQrg1TGWIu5tBJBFv2-kWbYw5Njx9ODS48d6SliCrK3x8qm-5v5gWf5pUVKOInwWxJ2XLSHWZcNNRujqp2BhX5G5R6MmIc/s400/2008-2178+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581110748112716450" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Today we are off to Paris. We took the TGV to Paris which is the high speed train. The station is in La Rochelle so after dropping the boys off with Rose-Marie we drove there to catch the train. Catching the train proved to be quite a challenge in itself as we had to change cars 3 times. And there are a lot of cars so we would no sooner get on one car than an announcement would be made which we couldn’t understand and we would drag our bags to another car. Thierry said this was nothing unusual but was getting pretty irritated. We found a lady that worked there and she apologized but also said there was nothing that could be done. After the third change we found our seats and sure enough another announcement came but Thierry said we were staying put. People were still getting up out of their seats as others came in saying they were their seats. There was a lot of grumbling none of which we could understand. Finally the train started and we were never told we had to move. Crazy stuff. The train took about 3 hours to get us to Paris and at one section where the tracks have no curves and is very flat we would go as fast as 186mph. But it really didn’t feel any different.</div><div>We went through many cities, one was where Thierry’s friend Christophe lived called Poitiers. It’s a city built amongst cliffs and is again beautifully old. Dang, how many times have I said that.</div><div>When we got into Paris we checked into our rooms at Hotel Delambre. Our room has two twin beds, a television, a window with a small balcony, air conditioning and our own bathroom. Most hotels in Europe do not have bathrooms in each room or air conditioning. So Thierry had found a relatively inexpensive place in Montparneese with some amenities that are not usual. It did not have an elevator so we had to walk up to the second floor which wasn’t too bad as we only brought one suitcase.</div><div>We took the Metro (subway) to the Arc detriomphe and found they have musicians and entertainers of all types on their subways. Thierry said they have to audition and obtain permits to work in the Metro. That explains why they are so darned good. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sz-pIb2wv4kiV7p-Yktdu142mF7i3EdwGwiOH-u3u6e1-O5EimH7UK1xeSIm-UEiekWolARmoZO0U_qaa-5Lt4XcsMOqwKyDr0WDNxBEeopE1ikqPCMzRDTl0cgxPQXxAJ1yYMZPvz4/s400/_MG_1680b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>Thierry took us to a spot that gives a great angle to take photos. This is in the middle of the street in the crosswalk. You stop in the middle between the walk signals and you can get the vehicles coming towards you with the Arc behind them. It’s is a bit of a rush as the traffic goes buzzing right by you. There is a traffic light right there that is just at your eye level that helps to keep the vehicles from running you down. They aren’t driving at highway speeds as they are just coming from the roundabout at the Arc and then the one block to the light. But if the light is green they wiz right by you and all the other tourists standing there.</div><div>Thierry and Mia walked down the Champs Elysees to shop and we walked around the Arc. We had heard you can go into tunnel that goes under the street to get to the Arc. And you can go up to the top of the Arc for an awesome view which we did not do. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB4UbgnyRZPQLQYYcRa3jrz6Vt7u-wRyBMtWDEZqo4-54cTHM_aA2GQilVIg20_3aR2qPZjiQzF5SYQ9-4jxucwR-_Ky3aSlAZFQUr_RaGPRw4lMwhk4vDix22QgYVmkLzN7DxKiK_88/s400/_MG_1696b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>We spent our time just wandering around it and marveling at the wild traffic buzzing around the Arc. There are 8 lanes of traffic and no lines on the street. So it’s just a free-for-all. Cars, buses, motorcycles, mopeds and even people on bicycles are in constant movement around the Arc. And all the time there are police watching and pulling vehicles out of the procession. Wes saw them pull out a red Lamborghini so he had to wander closer to ogle at the car. He’s pretty sure that was the same reason they pulled him out, to ogle and harass.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX9LshHCI5mG09hyP6QoKXt5fpPyBUl34L1Ulkkefh24IrQPrO-fCpRqYS8CaA-lSRcfz5wA504v2hNtor1IzDGITSeLTkfaNxRLUHY4OaWkmtfECRwPM1uORoj-B3zRWKyQT-zGxf8E/s400/_MG_1693c+copy_1.jpg" />This is some artwork on the Arch.</div><div><br /></div><div>At one point as I had my camera on a tripod and was shooting towards the Arc three teenagers came up to me and one of them put his eye up to my lens. They were all laughing and talking to me in French. They probably suspected I was American and when I said I didn’t speak French they started speaking English. I kept a very firm grip on my tripod and we also had a metal fence between us but I was still ready for whatever might happen. They never did ask for anything but did continue their laughing loudly and cutting up. But when I said ’You guys have a good day’ and started walking away they went in the opposite direction. It sure is freaky being in a foreign land, you feel a bit vulnerable.</div><div>It was getting about time to meet up with the kids and when I found Wes he was talking to a lady close to our age, maybe a bit older. She was very interested in speaking English to us and telling us about Paris. But then she turned to politics and I could see things starting to go south. She has been following the primaries and really admired Hilary Clinton. And there is Wes, who somehow had become a staunch Republican. And loves to argue (discuss in his mind) what is wrong with the Democrats. So before it became too embroiled I said we’ve got to go because she was as empassioned as Wes but on opposite sides of the aisle.</div><div>Once back to the Champ Elysees I found, at least in my mind a typical Parisian scene. On the sidewalk were two lovers having quite a lover’s spate. She’s yelling at him and he’s yelling right back. She was looking like she was trying really hard to take his hand or hug him and he’s being totally standoffish and shrugging her away from him. It was quite a scene with him finally getting in a little sports car and her trying to get in and he keeps stopping her. But, alas as in a true Parisian romance he relented, she got in and away they drove down the Champ Elysees. Sigh, young love!!</div><div>It had been a bit warm today and we were pretty worn out and hungry. So where else should we have dinner at in Paris but at a McDonalds on the famous Champ Elysees. It was really packed too. But it sure felt good to just sit down and refresh before we were off to our next stop for the day.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3gKskCN60UvpEOEBUclT8rgxIOev3izKffsqvkm9z85pcuVZV50DtVtoV_a9EtytkRP07eUEqzg2dK01WYjDOGDRMpLk9cwCGvaMmeT7epnd4B021gi7-d099LM3wRmDtx7BYW3pKso/s400/_MG_1729b+copy_1.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUESzL523JEB9in9RgwGXGXsDfWVIS6L5WqE-jxhfiKuA45QKPdRf-_8GSJVwWiQaVBgxNCC6gvqUb9Ld-dGSFHJT7YLxbSPfhvuRKeWZnoLsScAEFtotihKFQHFQO9GI7KPLarzb_VM/s400/_MG_1724a+copy_1.jpg" /></div><div>Next stop was Le Sacre Couer in a northern arrondisment of Paris called Montmartre. After we got off the Metro we started up the narrow streets towards our destination. It’s quite a climb up these cobblestones streets and it was very crowded as it was a religious holiday today. All of the crowds were leaving so we had to battle our way through the throngs of people coming down. A lot of the people were still in robes and carrying banners. It was hard going but fascinating to see this event. Once we got to the gates that go up the wide stairway to the front of the Basillica we found they had closed the gates and they wouldn’t let us through. Wes was by now determined to go up but they insisted we go around to the small sidewalk tram that takes people up to the top.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDKcnUVCDio-hUbdj87MNDumWxwSEaPmh115phQsgOWKMIPWz6gNYVPpJjgBIPki4_FyKs8BPAmt5qwizt9ke0MW6irWw02MRibrzuu6zlp4-ZZkN7VdHX7WKCaUTH33HbY4ZphyphenhyphendvAM/s400/_MG_1732a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>The sidewalk at the front of the Basilica was already filling up with people there to watch the sunset. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJG7-3ZeHEtgCsCAOJSenVe3MpDxylPyL0XuG8LNX3FPRF0vx1DMOxKS_2je2fD-VJ3W_rCZmH7ZErnXa0wvGm4bfo46o28mTiFJh1xdA6Jx0N8ZEBmGYfFVtxluC-PXDhZolOF7kGVw/s400/_MG_1733b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>There a great view of all of the city from this spot but not the Eiffel Tower. It can be seen from this hillside but around to the side of the hill. The city doesn’t have many tall buildings so it appears pretty flat. But the city just goes on beyond your eyesight. It’s surprising how big the city actually is.</div><div>Before the sun completely set I went through the Basillica. They don’t allow any photography and there are people throughout making sure nobody takes pictures. The late evening was very pretty but the sun sets on the other side of the hill so there was no spectacular sunset. Only that nice glow of the magic hour.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY7FEeMb319rwGqOos3_u17qL9tOVEb8V1xt0mdNkGFYTkRD-xVWlZKtfNMuMYWknbMmjPfGEizKzIFkdPfMvv_itM0tzvPOzXP3MLQWkTkHB3XMG279KDVuAlXUaaAEwcdDRzKvdJUY/s400/_MG_1740.jpg" /></div><div>We walked to the West side of the hill where it is very touristy. As we came to a large street vendor area we saw two men fighting in the street One of the men was being pushed to the pavement by the other guy who had him firmly by the back of the neck and was holding a large sketching pad. And they are yelling at each other loudly. It was quite a spectacle. Thierry said it appeared one vendor was getting on the other vendor's turf and that just isn’t allowed. He said they were yelling ’Your left hand does not know what the other is doing’ or something along those lines. And then they stopped fighting and the encroaching vendor left. We found a place to sit down in an outside cafe and had some drinks. It is simply a wonderful evening to top off our first day in Paris.</div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjGyzhdP9vY8Hbqh2Y53r8MDyMh2XELZO6oZqIoamuFaICYO1JkQfy3hcZdGoP-SioPYuhjfvySQQCCm5hcwGkNP7_xEpHybn3LlMfB5kYvWdQvOexGseKgUqkX4zJgFhOzrWhavcMUg/s400/2374+AA+copy.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0MyYfKsRuGPb5XKRB-UPA4KGLJmeEsLM2sDd_TiLFY1W037OTflK0F0BAypjNNViJfhSNNW6rsgVNPthoGTbm65Zq9u6lC7TUWpxA8NVvuabnZQMeFOv2OUWNARFfNOJrYXHcvxT8Fk/s400/_MG_1747a+copy_1.jpg" /> </div><div>When we were ready to head out we had our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower at night. It is beautiful. It also has a light similar to a lighthouse that revolves at the top of the tower. I hadn’t known that was there. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHXCp_94TqnBflEH9v8rvzc1zDR2yAzqcjwGlPQY0ay1KwuOYJiuZTGMf6lrFw71AtbHpB_MUROBpKPCyAK0AhKulWMGtLiggW-q__niXcDP8yuVovtM1q8Mc9wT01CTNqlpOxSkEwk8/s400/_MG_1753b+copy_1.jpg" /></div><div>We had our last look at Le Sacre Couer before leaving Montmartre. </div><div>And then we walked down the long stairway. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsrjtuXmjyMqYoepiNb7BmpD5k1DJYgeCCnasT26rZ7JCUAdSWaUYgPHIMw9hj2wRPGKGC9E4NqJuY89egQRTf4SYtPub1vUh6I2w1sMNUSa9tIjjhc0oKO5hgN5aj8rZ3S77hh02YEY/s400/_MG_1755c+copy_1.jpg" /></div><div>I stopped a few times to take a few photos as the street lights give off a nice glow. Wes had taken the street tram down as his feet were really hurting. So as I get to the bottom of the stairs I hear Wes arguing with African street vendor. All I could think of was that crazy scene we had just witnessed and they are really yelling at each other. I figured what’s he going to do to an old woman so I went up to the two of them and yelled at the vendor ’He said no’. This stopped their yelling and now the vendor is making nice. He’s telling us ’Have a nice evening’ and laughing like he just doesn’t understand these crazy Americans.</div><div>On the Metro ride to our hotel we had an accordion player on the Metro to play us French tunes on the way home. It really puts you in the Paris mood. He plays for a period and then before we reach the next stop he stops and then walks through the car for tips. </div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-81072007605465431582011-03-06T13:58:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.011-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 11, 2008 Ethan's Baptism Day<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWV4siK2kISTQK6BnJHvld_Di9F-EwN1n-m9VM6Uh1RMW-x5FlXC0whBG5xA6ZMVSWLCn5XeCoOGx4LF0F9zs3mj7TfF1avXoE0_4uRR0hlAzufEdpYl55F9eghjDh8McUW7Zm7mXrbrw/s1600/_MG_1503.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWV4siK2kISTQK6BnJHvld_Di9F-EwN1n-m9VM6Uh1RMW-x5FlXC0whBG5xA6ZMVSWLCn5XeCoOGx4LF0F9zs3mj7TfF1avXoE0_4uRR0hlAzufEdpYl55F9eghjDh8McUW7Zm7mXrbrw/s400/_MG_1503.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581090385592209650" /></a></div><div>Today we stayed in Marennes as it was Baptism day for Ethan. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoADlPyn7g0IJe1d9hezfWmhcodVYqs3zsr5oC7Xd3Hvj5XZFuXfQa5rHlyaOrLU3Ue7PjhzuJFSf6GaIXjfS_bWp_HR3txLT3-XZfJfGcF9-dIQXHGya31gW7fRpflM67CNb5yLq68LE/s400/1907+A.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581090612721636770" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQBQAWbsFvCWyiEl4R0d_1S2LUfuLXIT96ymd9RkhFuIwmaNokZrXWUHrZ2TyXYNSQWYxaIrY6tLiQ-LtkR02ICkjBaJfeyYE0jaFMv_-P_cB0oTzztDRNjltxGqWeC84wfoJpvXh_oE/s400/1917+A.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581090803357427874" /><div><br /></div><div>Thierry, Mia, Ethan & Benjamin.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Yoyo, Delphine & Kylian</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8-vx9S6obUL34ZWKVEmsbLNKfTozNI-h6rUV4TM2X3MMlntYOwzyJ5mFuMqZxMZN7ZTCOkBNNY3rd25fHT0HR10JRR4W76_fQjlXQrzS9y1K8P8x8dnXV21f9kbrFbv8CxhvX2Vqrjs/s400/1928+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581091306887072978" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLMCB4jaoAAxpru9Xx6kn_zCMXhYgUS3FAizFdWIKfTCuCtXuL8I4DSGJtePob7Ov4_7SI5yo-M6w1gtA_1xt-Ae_UA_HrQQuHrHFdxgpj9n9quwptuHKT8nJda3eNg-9X5FtFeDeJ_s/s400/1921+A.jpg" /></div><div>Evelyne, Rene, Laura & Lulu<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Grandparents & Grandchildren</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcs9AJA4h_kCxejBCRojhsY2Yoka58Rrv-hVH0Lgo7GmRh-1FB1_P21SKZFXOFwm9nrcvbFMktGoeB9q_cyvpSzaPwFjg95Zywv8cFlzEgm9RfK0G5x0H5zU3Fvxa2AOVTWpKiJy34Gc/s400/_MG_1506a+copy_1.jpg" /></div><div>There was a total of four children being baptized today. Ethan, Laura, a baby and a Basque toddler were baptized in a joint ceremony. This is a very important event so there are a lot of the Basque community here today. They are all in the red berets, red scarves, white shirts and pants that is worn for big ceremonies. They are very colorful. And all of Thierry’s family are all decked out in their finest.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnogDTKrHnJEQdiugz62OwEeJkK-yOu5qnAtbfvzy1Ru_8eeB4eDb4f_OjNt0u1pIXrGnh1zCuiC6rYj7vrSwl6TrRmGdbzjReKixSbbtjgKX3Th5F-NLYHtQVe_9fhR_pDx_9KSBVLQ/s400/_MG_1541a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581096589728989394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The baptism itself is quite an event. The priest is close to retiring and has been with the church for some 30 years. Even though I didn’t know what he was saying during the baptism just his mannerisms and tone of his voice was very pleasant. He lead everyone along a procession through several cubicles. In each cubicle he would read from a bible or lead everyone through chants. Then in one of the last cubicles a Basque mother, who had just married yesterday sang. It was all so neat to be a part of this. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKAAyuhRdFQIm3PecntIrrmQXnZdCVzKYU6MBnh32ck3ZUWZwFF4fGVY3HuKKvuT_lDEC0AKRSOljsjIk_5FZZqsfuG2pmO0tdPZKGXIjWe8rjL8k7HFvoEv_9vTllThHga3uSBCmOtE/s400/_MG_1523.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581097106969161058" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKuCN_b3bWD5LpMazHA2iu-GX7zK69fAyuIrDUNJ76mvJ_FMCZ3hyhcvDLuU0VtXDw_GEhvLOoNUgmulE32ZRiZJUFW66AcNWrXrChNYQFryLSrlgTMeO-thf5T3b6ppG9pS8Cdu2Xrw/s400/_MG_1524.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581097383441742034" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All of the kids being baptized except the baby were so apprehensive about what was going to be done to them. But they all behaved very well, considering. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nixs0ChJ3hxudp8BP5mXU1NXBxLpc3FFY2f4dbCfXKQqdo5W2yLUirQggbvYc0Op6uq827WOOrti4M_8qy9DFBSx7ixPEHYZ6Ni5YZ9xgSj0xymaQA8fgpULrsMtxRaP0NpcAht_4JM/s400/_MG_1532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581097876037259362" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And when the actual baptism happened they all cried as their heads were doused with the sacred water.</div><div>Once this was all done the four families went into the priest’s office to sign the baptism papers and Ethan was allowed to push the button to sound the bells. It was hard to accomplish this with both fingers stuck in his ears but he managed, then found he couldn’t hear them inside anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMriX3R1aFGL-jDFFMMrfCSAtXt881m0DqwGRmJJcJUGiawmSsRKfVxlp-I4F7ANf8yihP_0aTBNpTrr2MquEQebMTHo-onQlKNOXzC9WhrBmdSl1CjUO_ygpF18Y_cuSmLrQnricDYI/s400/_MG_1550a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581098846198678914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJEN6M7tffOW6cg8tTW-aS-seJnL02H5q80GMPlAR-sLBfpedh_s2IdwRn1p40XFrsWU6fX7TfauKMccuqMeNVooJzCXuxCeKFStATeDq3BlBi3WcIa_4w2sKU4hz7SOydudZIdZPwY8/s400/_MG_1553a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581099409814367714" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /><div>After the baptism we went outside the church when a small marching band came around the side of the church playing.</div><div>And the party began. The four men whom I think were mainly for the Basque family had a drum, a tuba, a trumpet and I believe a French horn. They were really pretty ragtag but rather entertaining. People had even opened their shutters across the street and leaning on the sill watching the festivities. It was pretty cool, even the littlest kids were dancing to the music.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With the patriarch of Thierry's family watching the festivities.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rSAeWbmN6usaeFlnyMxbwqNYL8aMzBZIMhJAyuB5hmN9xgmDS2BHD0teq3yvfBWT4yVFSlGKqtpmYCWyxwY6Mo-fxds5aMx3FC_rUtG3mAvJaC23Qc9MxB0H7Wy80Nxp4MUiRtOxwcE/s400/1941a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581099855221009026" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcGhVqGP2sHoDtKrGm1iPzR9DZHf8xIhlSgbEd2v4GWhL0vXC8v6cAii87t0_CEDY_fCuaChx5FxRxTtuTWceRyfEfTOR4Y3N46TsyHhEZmsNxATB_NW_76HAUm_5e8EmA0c9xpzqTbU/s400/_MG_1580.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581102128597515394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>After this we all went to have lunch at a restaurant near the beach which is owned by one of Rene’s cousins. We had a large room where about 30 of us had a very long lunch. Wes had a steak and I had cuttlefish. The cuttlefish was good but there was just so much food. The lunch must have lasted a good 3 hours with much talking and continual eating.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MsTVoGlWQUmSoCdJmw-jO5i5sIfFFk2Chorj-020iwXNn9zzhgIRKGsDsjEN509uX_vtzOpacZe75YCZqSWIKe9w1w1ozqAXup5DP2qutKrvs9yTlbWQR6DePccHvh21T-WMH0Y16hM/s400/_MG_1577.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581102746808974690" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Both Ethan and Laura opened their presents and at the end they had a special table brought in with their names printed on a type of a large cookie and a couple of cakes. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SFa5fQ-9evXm4PqpnyyhH3KQC-xFUJ0mSlrEjOU1n3G0KNjgMPxSQWuXGRnhpvzzRkGmrs1vfTbVlZyAV1E6rtNBYqcYnGWx14bQ35CT34IazedKSM-osv7MZTL4SYuIz5dm1_NnbrQ/s400/_MG_1571.jpg" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4WyIVqjaq4lH10x2ew__qWltlxnP13Z5xJXyvKD11kIdogXMUZX_hhj6uUpTVvBNeP5ZmHdtTfkYJieSQZKg4vDr0n_5aa2HgOIOpHP5wWudI4NcErvSdeaLsgtnP_zX6iuM5UowbrM/s400/_MG_1566.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581104645394844402" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">This is Stephane & Rose Marie who sat next to us at the lunch.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Luckily there was a nice grassy area as most of the kids became pretty restless during this long meal so they all went out to play while the grownups stayed inside.</div><div>After we were finally done we all left and headed back home. </div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH9OCqa3CnxHAVrkvNbBdGpFoy0y-xQzH-Rs4K4PuLmJ1VdHO541RvTXDdxvO6B0-HMqR40h7f61S2r5k0hhoXzBStQ4t_WNKsDNyDaAGPfREtJc0iMV5EYTP3lUnHeMI6olFdnZHdP8/s400/_MG_1613b+copy.jpg" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>Later in the day we drove ourselves to </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTm7zTWndvVJL4Gh_VdeffKUafi9n4FpURg8D3H_7dPPZXZx1YwtSIltt1fzTHOwWvDY108ze851uyeLVdO8ttagmX77rylXxNK3s1eqLl1cZAwaRJ6Vm0BjCsBc5kB27IhONa1Sz3Jw/s400/_MG_1593b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581106660858030498" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div>the marina and back down the road that went near the beach.</div><div>There were canals along the road that had boats stranded in the muddy banks until the tide came back in again. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCem_3a5ZjkTrXKnzc65Dvfg-qRnT127dmOhhKLwQHu5dRY1Hp2mNUVaGqThv54_-t5zlPOCfOJi45z0RR-oNU9-FIxlLWG__NpGWUmSeA6kwrbre_UAPxvwfxOmkfK9S9_fiHrt0_h78/s400/_MG_1660b+copy_1.jpg" /></div><div>Along another small road we found a small lake where there were a lot of white egrets. They would fly in and out and several would get upset with each other when they got too close. This would cause the egrets to fluff out their feathers to where they looked almost hairy, then they would jump up and down while flapping their wings at each other. Sometimes they would actually jump completely over each other. It was quite a sight.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-55268132490611402152011-03-06T13:01:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.016-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 10, 2008 Brouage & de la Palmyre Zoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziKgj0b2ttaQsmIPydDCowlzGJW015NJq4JmozSnNVCPycX_2kqoaSkErOFkIVW6-GTwqnr0WatiLNq97ZG4n5JDvWafaKsXr8GdhKdgibXnM_fquYtJpbsw2V94YzhpuTeMroAjrMbE/s1600/_MG_1308b+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziKgj0b2ttaQsmIPydDCowlzGJW015NJq4JmozSnNVCPycX_2kqoaSkErOFkIVW6-GTwqnr0WatiLNq97ZG4n5JDvWafaKsXr8GdhKdgibXnM_fquYtJpbsw2V94YzhpuTeMroAjrMbE/s400/_MG_1308b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581076282351740722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXnyhg2y3CSlOBqYHl7iCA7cXR0roHvK-U_T9FmyyrIzI0ZdL_dV1Z_uRGUSuWWFW49uH7dHWrASVqvN93BOvrz7M0StP0q7HzTLXGQQQWDdr-uqdpXCQ0o5tQ98XQmDOwunBxHgV3Fc/s1600/_MG_1320a+copy_1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXnyhg2y3CSlOBqYHl7iCA7cXR0roHvK-U_T9FmyyrIzI0ZdL_dV1Z_uRGUSuWWFW49uH7dHWrASVqvN93BOvrz7M0StP0q7HzTLXGQQQWDdr-uqdpXCQ0o5tQ98XQmDOwunBxHgV3Fc/s400/_MG_1320a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581075487273960274" /></a><br /><div>Today we visited Brouage in the morning which is the little village a few kilometers from Thierry’s town. This was the home of Champlain. This stained glass window is inside the local church.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4ikUMw8-V6bwwQWA1MzfedB30hnGcLH1o4_X299VuoG_jsryykUqsdrsmqr7GZrAPKMoks93yXVjbnOnI4u9PFl5APb3782qbE8RHaF5WT71nGpyfjivAPkWzyZknhK9etEpEYPqdl0/s400/_MG_1333b+copy_1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581076778971099554" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5h7S4Kc5DMV9faktPGE4hLJG1KHTNmT5TdG5bmj-WqbLrolXPwa7LMWeR9Pw5PbYTWwa5Pwr1BXdJF3orOv_92lheVeIN0ea_rJ5drY7PPnL0FWQ_EMcdcJnv9KCNquiCey1o1lqsg0/s400/_MG_1330b+copy.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb2dDgDg6c9yCw6_zrCInfl89CUfbPFlcYrnUPKXCQzhy7ZdY5k_AO2mYqHKZBCiR5Z-fuWimnyNbX1ANVqQOGWKmx_otxgCAq3blsiTZESSwhupmdi-f5_CzCZRAaM8ilPl6gKqVJ7A/s400/_MG_1310a+poster+edges+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581078235382675314" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The weather was much nicer today without the constant drizzle we had the first day we drove through this town. Wes and I went opposite directions but both went up on the top of the wall that surrounds the town. A lot of the stones are missing or crumbling from the walls and stairs with vines growing everywhere. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx82jEc5dON2YSVY545KJI-w29HpCldW0UU5AovD_JjJerKwD2eMudvC4Rbl-X0CHgdEuGOrxnGgl8Heoj2y2UpZwC5kKa_ayJDjqgZzJfVFNzPFcCn83lKSyxeKgR_RNpsASgOtuEuc/s400/_MG_1324a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581079511988174818" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrG7cfIeO14kGjuBkllBllo5jActCgTpzPeLU0VK0eKBNbLMWeYbM1WvReHlvdvwHTC9ZTze5GK5MZxm2ehwjUt-ZNHh0-pMvGrsDGEb6rc5CVj8HulVsco6QIsTAvw54GUigUDGOk9g/s400/_MG_1319a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>From the top of the wall you can see all of the flat countryside and there are turrets all along the walls and at every corner. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Tpr4SY7LYnDivXNR53u7bA57AWoROCSIADvbYn29-sM5zkZhoShyphenhyphenZADU9JnJ2HtI-_uuql-T1gRQBLhJxvITxEAJq1gAgC5p5ITQwoTjW-VHoj7Zu1MMhUyrEvIxk6HH8ABvBJ6saY/s400/_MG_1343.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581080544949254770" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>We hung out here for a while and then went back to the Thierry's house.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8ZgD3RvZT9stuR_wSR6FXPVTFie3G4v99p91mNEjYUI-X33Oq-Rc205lLbd-UixaFlUNYz9F62lEb3qQuX8wW4VSoa40XPPROo52b6B6SKzA5hBiElO6FXPkqF_fN9kNkgWPDbirEnM/s400/_MG_1359b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581081329563961986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 131px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>We all went to the zoo in the afternoon. Everyone had heard of the tiger story but today nothing like that event took place, thank goodness. The zoo was packed as it’s Saturday and a holiday weekend. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN5t_DW0-q7FLD_6TlO9-8V3wwAs14Jb1oE7cygV-Cuu6N3-DMOwUaXWksRzNIn8fQWnGwO-9B2gUl-SdA6UNjP7N6XHjhkDJRX-71_sQuYvba7FgZWYkd-3ckrpq-1GeOzt8FlGide8/s400/_MG_1426c+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581083414011741234" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>A couple of neat things did occur though as we saw a peacock with his feathers up and the black and spotted leopard were sparring. Another funny incident was at the tortoise exhibit. This is springtime and all the kids were very excited to see one giving another a piggyback ride. And this was happening right at the fence so the kids all got a great view. Ah, springtime and love is in the air.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmYzyhv3ddtdtR0FdJAa7hW-j79jfK0P6zabpCqCCihvlWtJLfo8bvqHtEEOGe3Gk94JcFfyVgRynHYkmmLD465_f-tm7QEclF0ww-lPKxf5MWHf15daWKruEgszdldbKm2lc45J-rhk/s400/_MG_1390a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581082958736860018" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywWpXo5ZSGjJX1U8-rlbdk59TWBMtwBJ1qvv9GigJYFfv7ym_WvCWaz6nkhDLTT-MESzA_bCoNL_9wIVViHUqB4dPVeFrtCrf1CbDdalgs9BHDPcMc4HpeknkHdv2yIpL3-SWWsTvThI/s400/1660+C+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581086150266157426" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFpvHpEeCfcMwk07noPAyWMW1B7LTGEnBCZ6qCp5Tb4MkdnGGG_u-xDZkTAL-s6_xELMAfjLOT_R7fj26fW2recULfi66aquzNuRy7pbHL0UzwccsJrKlM6LfAAa05ZsH3Jmp66Ua6rk/s400/Picture+036.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581086588533370418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This is Kylian at the zoo.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhYFSCIXr5qyGpNJ7hyB3cWS9rBdatwxoKnvPmd1bDxFHkOoDfS0m3tCdaZWvp7yf9-JeBfrWpsQeskCybK63sYSMnPur-4CvDtd51Rt1EGJ3sUjJT0z9e9swkPvVaRbvWKY-BxlmolI/s400/Picture+050.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581087666999847938" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Kylian, Lulu, Ethan, Laura & Benjamin.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5nC61CPNIFmUXq9Smch3_aRRHdWv30xBZ4jcP5yBRLYdCG8LJuQZi-98Yhf5qWnvQ8Yw_GOnuofztyeCjvFRrhHzGLeNqlRQVnd9qYJ2xYS-JANnzyLQaviuVhchzo9AyiF_HRyMnYQ/s400/Picture+067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581088433179012402" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And Dotty & Wes, two happy tourists in France.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mia, Delphine and I went back to Brouage before dinner as Delphine wanted to get some more small glass spice bottles. Mia had seen these earlier today and thought Delphine would like them. She liked them so much she wanted all they had to use in her kitchen. I found a pottery store where I bought a hand painted spoon holder so I now have something from France I can use daily in my kitchen.</div><div>For dinner Yoyo barbecued duck breast which is quite a delicacy here. Yep, it was delicious. And while the barbecue was still hot he cooked brie for dessert.</div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-50930940291851533922011-03-06T11:08:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.021-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 9, 2008 Rochefort <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOPcwJTXloDTPfKlAQ0HEdZcPwCyOsNzI2ZsuDiWk5wiys9N7GorLb9gx6tArdnAxADQSKppf2obAUDEy0lyx-Ok-CYI1NEFk3Vujrv5wE0xjQmGldzFJKMSluXf8_MFCH29AiDyvXZg/s1600/_MG_1260a+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOPcwJTXloDTPfKlAQ0HEdZcPwCyOsNzI2ZsuDiWk5wiys9N7GorLb9gx6tArdnAxADQSKppf2obAUDEy0lyx-Ok-CYI1NEFk3Vujrv5wE0xjQmGldzFJKMSluXf8_MFCH29AiDyvXZg/s400/_MG_1260a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581046272754555298" /></a></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4scqUODO_7PbSVeiQaqtkkiMO9Vi9ffcX54U9B4Nkt575VoiBr1JrQm9MKTX7ppaTx_8hAwWONeExb4wN3SHZKruEeI2cxWB5rtjWYwltnRPSyXJALwVDZGWZyvlWcuByzcDAw1ROmBU/s400/_MG_1262a+copy_1.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581046564288481666" /><div>The boys stayed home today and we went to Rochefort to see a ship that is being hand built. The Hermione, picture of completed ship is to the right and information about the project are above, is an exact replica of the ship used by Champlain to help the US win the Revolutionary War. They are using the same techniques used from that era and are giving tours through the ship. It is in a covered dry dock and it is huge. It should be ready to sail in 2010 and it’s maiden voy</div><div>age will go into the Boston harbor the same as Champlain. Outside of the dry dock they have more craftsmen working forges and making wood devices for the ship. This way you can see what went into making ships.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw7ktE6aT8fZklY3YFCtxbC9piEvBiEOEdof130pN4lB7PxrZ3ZRw8rcU8ct5-dxwj5ko9SWafeHhmW-6s7ipyB1luBkeBPPzy_jHZ1yK0teJ6O2CV73aOalXuLpRQ3zba8lrpkc7AFw/s400/_MG_1234b+copy_1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581047177172355394" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the progress being made on the ship from the outside and inside.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLK2j9Jjkx5LjXI7yNpuNvJHxh7w8wwI_rB5nGyyi-FQsqba497zcwh-Bi2Sj-K-7NBYP28k5iuVnB45eZpe-T5-Hn4ZUllx4qp96xomh2Px2ha6okk-pPSTF76UEaiu1mm69ZbVox-Y/s400/_MG_1242a+copy.jpg" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWaBIgby-yaZrX4Wbo0LndNv3gmgKa3ecmJa03RdC1-6ppxlXeugrpa8lFRxefLM0togzKCwld0YuVv9PL50_khe9Ux__m1Zy-R-59nQyjI05ce3gCnJ6KOHBwZDWNPU3VjjZDoDDbbM/s400/_MG_1278a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581048945307910834" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>This is one of the workers at a forge working on some of the metal pieces going into building the ship.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In this park they also have a rope museum. Sounds kind of dull but what’s fascinating is how long this building is. It’s several blocks long as the ropes being made were that long. They would be used for mooring the ships and other uses in the ships.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way back to Thierry's Wes saw these fishermen working on the docks.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt5zUp9IsclypfUGe0ikQEcPxYqqldA3pvvDfANW9x-evbKjWk0p2IgGTt5H_wJ_YpbV7JZOw3ancW8GQX4SpJ-UqEBWvspihf2g-Lg1oAZLuRlRcI3N_BDG1IfaFvaA9dVhOzoS0x7M/s400/1356+B+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581049555884245666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdCmIlNtSl0wHJl7t0wa-_XDVzwuQ4DBuyh-kBXiU0cUW4aumkTBjB4Tyi3oeSdduUkP48ebtp1TsNmuB-UbQTeVHry8W7JD_ymRlFq7-Ci3_tGe1B2dAEqvIuJoynejx4VvUSCA0qZw/s400/1473+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581084887597309794" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We had lunch at Thierry’s parents house along with Yoyo, Delphine and Kylian. Thierry’s father built there house with the help of family and neighbors. They didn’t have contractors help them, they did it all on their own. It’s a very nice house but did notice one strange thing. Their bathroom was very long and narrow with a toilet. The rest of the bathroom was in a different room, another typical French thing. The lunch was wonderful as usual with many courses. After lunch Mia showed me the rest of their house and the garden in the back. Thierry’s dad really takes pride in his homes and the yards.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPx39cKc3it95rK5GwxGJhF_78t3wRsYJmx4Ag6B3XJovxI_2R_vQLxnUNXHz-WYWE1K7tTGTcHNxnWKK5g2MTHU3IVWIqwLxkB4B8VuqAZ7y5n6BiF7U0fAAOwMtmfKdLh8stxpYzfg/s400/1471+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581085270578282594" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">And this is Thierry, his father, Kylian & Yoyo.</span></div><div>Later in the day we went to a rather unique bridge. It was built in 1890 and was used to transport people and wagons across the river. It has two large towers with a crossbeam across the top. From this beam a large platform is suspended by cables and this is what people ride in. Quite something to see in motion.</div><div>Evelyne made dinner tonight and I actually knew what it was. We had veal which I haven’t had since the 70s. I think the US stopped selling veal as it was deemed cruel. The calves were kept confined in such small pens to keep their meat tender before they were slaughtered. But that doesn’t seem to be an issue here. It was pretty tasty.</div><div>We have all shifted our sleeping arrangements as Yoyo is here. They are taking the room we had which was his when he lived here. And Mia and Thierry are taking the room next to them and we’ve moved into their room. Thierry thought it would be more comfortable for everyone if Yoyo, Delphine and Kylian were next to family members in the next room.</div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-22419496057203039692011-03-06T10:42:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.027-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 8, 2008 Ile d’Oleron & #Lighthouse Phare de Chassiron<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMiQQBbSRBwKJowAKWAQEekUt-OJrvxsl68HpeeDRWGYDPOkXTSo6bMt7MlyQVyUNZbEs2ffB8Wi-78MgbSs-CKr_Lw1X2VtuX-q5fC735ghEObyf4DeCIANp2qmaz7qvdvcfopxOLJc/s1600/_MG_1228a+copy_1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMiQQBbSRBwKJowAKWAQEekUt-OJrvxsl68HpeeDRWGYDPOkXTSo6bMt7MlyQVyUNZbEs2ffB8Wi-78MgbSs-CKr_Lw1X2VtuX-q5fC735ghEObyf4DeCIANp2qmaz7qvdvcfopxOLJc/s400/_MG_1228a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581039683626198850" /></a><div>Today is the beginning of another holiday so the boys are home. </div><div>We left after breakfast for an island called Ile d’Oleron. There is a lighthouse here that I climbed the 200 steps up spiral stairs to the top. I knew it would be quite a climb up the stairs and was determined to do it. Might take several stops but I began the climb. I was doing pretty good then at the last 30 or so steps I had an unpleasant surprise, the stairs became very steep & narrow. I wasn’t about to give up after getting so close to the top so I figured as long as I had the rail to hang onto what could happen. When I got to the top I was glad I didn't chicken out, the view was great. Thierry and the boys had gone to the beach and I could see them from the top. The beach is unusual with deep grooves in a rocky ground with a lot of tide pools. I had gone up to the top alone as I said I would have to stop a lot and didn’t want to slow the kids down. As I suspected not long after I saw them all on the sidewalk below they were inside and on the top in hardly anytime at all. We had a nice lunch on the island and headed back later in the afternoon.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oYJYtcbFU37_W1p-V-E33rdUe9fFjnTYE8wCmND5wiknIH6ru6yNvY398hZxnXAdhrtSt8QbytMCrvddH9jtPW4iaxKzbFrflsxZddY3tygN60SPuTp45eUKBv5N-El-hkKAhjWLu50/s400/_MG_1232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581039979507028802" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Here is Mia, the superwoman blowing over a tree.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b7J4N7INnXZXT4vnLorAMM0QgOa2EWLvn_TrwX5YiizzpYncoNKhN0WWPofiym_Dl2PtkNf2-unPM3HO5V10LHBiZIekvt2lgsL7MLOKi3n-evqRPYI1B6OXdA41DhRRKd7H9Ojua7M/s400/_MG_1211a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581040816620791330" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div>Yoyo & Delphine arrived during the afternoon for Ethan’s baptism on Sunday. Mia had said that baptism are as big an event as a wedding so all the family is invited. We all had dinner together that night. Evelyne and Rene had gone out and bought several types of cheeses so we could sample since we were enjoying all the different new flavors.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div>Here is some more of Thierry's father's gardening skills.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-16559744371839227592011-03-05T15:59:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.030-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 7, 2008 A Day at La Rochelle & Marennes<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ48RvVfc3tTlsrcmA0SEmOn-9zaeqThH3xsfgHqHaHajSaq3IkNPuusaefaOI6IU4g-E_2p3Bh_OfvxN0pnfkTDJ-8oRYZthOOrZoAnOe_TZxLgKzpA-fvFlhnk_2eXMtn5FUMW07O8/s1600/_MG_1126b+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ48RvVfc3tTlsrcmA0SEmOn-9zaeqThH3xsfgHqHaHajSaq3IkNPuusaefaOI6IU4g-E_2p3Bh_OfvxN0pnfkTDJ-8oRYZthOOrZoAnOe_TZxLgKzpA-fvFlhnk_2eXMtn5FUMW07O8/s400/_MG_1126b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580750210646500898" /></a><div>Another beautiful day which was spent in La Rochelle. On the way there Thierry drove off the highway onto a side road so we could see the storks nesting on the power lines. We also so some swans but the storks are much more impressive.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpTJ1-dOo802u89kHiaT_SX6nddtwwBze2YvYJA5KRE0v1CVrpMasyTgFrGUW0PT_nl5zb1Tt0TK3Ni1AQxWy5RykSJFgMUbsI4WBhIJhDvU4t-ERfT0yYK93A9lXTo85TH8W8rZs_k4/s400/_MG_1113a+copy_1.jpg" /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFbMgj5fmou9X3I0IHBO0Px9cWw9h_ytV3bFyGUpcfRn1JRyV0N2AMqIEyMHlL_zB94KZKPC_kzCG_wrEk3qZ8pp_X_KVR3I4EEHLQEPK9K2LvFzMR1mK7RVuMQGuqLvJPbjU0wkM0KM/s400/_MG_1118a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580753104352521218" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div>There was some kind of a festival going on at the marina in La Rochelle as there were a lot of tall ships at dock and a band playing some jazz.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYfZ7iiNw7D_32yRVPhDgHtIVD2oyylDstBeSQ-NL1JxEDGzFhApZwGeFmZ7eirq6Uuq9BkMnZozFrEgs8wyIOiWHzvRW3sAirIucattzPD29OLN691zD5UBomz5usQ5V2xSbBhT6oE4/s400/_MG_1133b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580754765354013154" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We walked along the harbor and saw the twin towers that guarded the inlet. Seems to be the theme throughout France and I’m sure all of Europe. When you go back centuries in time with all the invaders this was a way of life. It’s great that so much of it has been preserved. The tide was out as we went deeper into the city so the boats in the harbor were all stranded for now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMY6yzVlRflICysw-ifhTKL-eRxftQ6-4i5R2GX-CsLVxTJl2aWDo8mT7KE7MB7ooEjXkTL80UpjuJZwzRxNbTAMPEh2jdtfmJsZH8qey25_Og6fuimLsX7yd8GU01tolevyFQU2Fcj4/s400/1138+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580755108499035074" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>Then we noticed a couple of French sailors. They wear black pants, a white blouse (no buttons in the front), a square neckline and a white, flat hat with a red ball on top. And as most men here they both had a cigarette.</div><div>We had lunch in a middle eastern restaurant close to where Mia goes to her French classes. Mia really was excited about have cous cous which is a rice like grain but the kernels are smaller. Wes & I had a kebob sandwich as we just weren’t quite sure if we would like cous cous. We tasted it when the meal came and it was okay. What was cool was the waiter pouring hot tea. How would that be cool? He did that neat thing where he holds the pot of tea way above his head and pours the hot tea at waist level. And didn’t spill any.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gI-eM9m3obnZbtrN4GErAYRogE3nzJpG0yTVlyS_sPYcSl68ISp9AVDoi8VMoA-mJUc3awyWn6AFtQTd-S6xCPSkb_fw-DRsNrtww2ID70eG6eOVM6-u69TwwccbXSb8p3qJMyGHDns/s400/_MG_1137b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580755576068556514" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch we went through the gateway along with a horde of other people into the center of town. The crowd thinned out some as we made our way to city hall.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SEbN2dK8JbP92LFAVKQynSa_XNZqgG3CPeKVQ5tURHQXUZyflAx7jSoivb2LdQf_PpfV4UK5DbGBZtOnNQnypLssETVYhA0qH-FjfFbwHNgottciXRvpNaAcf3_aJpojIVa2YpuV62U/s400/_MG_1147b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580756528414302530" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Pillars and arches are everywhere but at the city hall they are elaborate along with the watch towers at each corner.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijINGQWQw2JahtN_hKx5ARypINxzuDkw7ybnfsdBgFgN4YCGAHTKbl_dpzoQDusEv16y3iwssiOTr_4c31dX63pGbVg9JAaCawwS-XU6fye11LHkwM-GJ17oxWmIRqQW7PLIZUvx9nSzo/s400/_MG_1162b+watercolor+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580757500524078274" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After we left the center of town we walked back along the harbor. After city hall, we split for a bit as Mia wanted to shop a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TvWy8d_GG1lpn_qe37eFqsuPnfn3BnDgppMnolFZ0QVfN5vDo4laQnBSneCyWM5FrG2pneaHisKZAZSdkAzoiga45bn2-6BkD9gzLJBM4Oa96eobvSm8IqZeAEWGBKeDK_vbOsiVEbM/s400/_MG_1172b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580758810130033554" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 217px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The tide had come in so the inlet is now full of water. In the harbor there were now swans which seem to be looking for handouts as they stay near the walls watching the people. If the people didn’t toss them food they moved on to others.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div>Once we got back to the outside food vendors we stopped for something to drink and I also got some chi-chi which is kind of like churros only better.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SnKvhyphenhyphen10Dzx5fLz87wfAZHknTrxhelTPwzjexIxIEI_FOC7TQY05KjIpn9vPYxuuMBQzDvrAiaKTYbnbXYUTy5DEMIGHXU40ZqhTHjfh6QuIyxCdtifYotrkX7XdOdez8WlyUh05WU8/s400/_MG_1173a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580759083963786418" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " />We thought we were going to be able to spot Mia & Thierry as we were going to meet here. After we finished we walked down a bit further and found Mia & Thierry were already there having some food and drink.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We made it back home in time to pickup the boys after school. And from there we had snacks and drinks with Thierry’s Aunt Monique & Uncle Gilles.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiScpyGtgXnzCLIQPuKdU_tSAacqsyt3wxP10PHe2mzZxgdW3gqI_gElVSvv3zfnzKWelU1m8X0HwYroDMjbnVrrkArwzrnt1EJcMMAxr5AWk8moPPannmnFDEzsGyM1dBfS9NToZ0qE/s400/1213+A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580762086928185826" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div>They have a lot of items from her grandparents who lived in Northern Africa. All of Thierry’s aunts & uncles beside his parents have many items from Africa in their homes. They have masks, figurines and a lot of other memorabilia displayed. Also Gilles makes model homes & buildings from matchsticks. He has made models for almost all of the family of their homes. He soaks the matchsticks in water to bend them so they can be shaped correctly. He said it’s very time consuming but he enjoys it. As with everyone but Stephane and Rose-Marie, Thierry has to translate. We had our snacks and drink in their backyard. The first night we were here they had told us about some old photos they had from their grandparents while they were in Africa. They brought out a very old photo viewer. You turn a knob on the side and it flips through the old photos that are 3D. The photos showed them in native villages and in a very primitive lifestyle. They have a very nice home and the backyard is beautiful with all the flowers and a big covered patio. They have just gotten a bluebird to move back into a birdhouse they had on a fence covered with vines. And while we ate and talked the bluebird came and went in it’s house. They are quite a tiny little bird but very blue.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh7hcfhPxXurO9pv4NohYanhvqeZjUAXlbykMaHEbMO8ns8zoTEzXfE5AvSi4HqIcAfUWvFrbEmiJ_JOu3WltdOP-mx3AdmrEEwG8jof6cXIpYS4B78_O8-qvdh_9hiQ2imWzeA9_YSo/s400/1203b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580762339204852178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-79282218668284383102011-03-05T14:04:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:33:04.631-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 6, 2008 St Emilion & Chateau Franc Mayne <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WPGi9Bj53S-yNYsDf80Tdgj0wxAIccISHZAtSmr983sWTY0mRItA2_Wk4IaiihmRTvVw0Uvqo5StiVe99s6A4PUvegGLYsXs15peYUZGYG_1-AktxctDz4Kk0_wXb1D5Uz7xyakLvcs/s1600/_MG_0693.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WPGi9Bj53S-yNYsDf80Tdgj0wxAIccISHZAtSmr983sWTY0mRItA2_Wk4IaiihmRTvVw0Uvqo5StiVe99s6A4PUvegGLYsXs15peYUZGYG_1-AktxctDz4Kk0_wXb1D5Uz7xyakLvcs/s400/_MG_0693.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580720551758535970" /></a></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT3-e5p7-5GOzkyK8aBBXO5DP9VOXRQ-wf2iorUrMd0RgKh6SuVI0MsIcd5W870Us-qlPZp9_vTf5DXgKTf3TPXtvio45MWxTLPXWyFYjq_WbNkYIOG1f6EOACHvKI24yfKAsRiRZyes/s400/_MG_0667a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580720887728366114" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div>We were in St Emilion by mid-morning. This is in the heart of the Bordeaux district. This is again a walled city but is inland from the ocean and on a hillside. It’s again very old, all cobblestones and terra cotta roofs.</div><div><div>We did our usual wander around a bit together then split up. Wes and I also split up and wandered down the narrows streets. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv0GQ5HeY9B8pJeVZx5Qqup4Njbk-Lp4h5PJDfgEgEeKKSlfFo0biK7jDUgfuDOazgp8TBhxRxgJRc0WrBmRMRzL5p5rGPETUWT0ss0z5jkBtqaB9GP1EuybmgHFDBCh13sqPA1Kevao/s400/_MG_0670a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580721326823405970" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a large city but all we have to do is locate the very tall steeple of the church and head towards that, so there was no worries about becoming lost. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the streets are very steep and the cobblestones are quite large so it was sometimes hard to walk. A few walkways are so steep they’ve put in hand rails to hang onto as the cobblestones can be slippery in the rain or even when it’s dry.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSgvAhyU3NUxZypOGTImt8zQvbf5Q3Zh-hnnopZ9GEIWnBmZW7klLYuL7NvaWBUDFiDF_h_A3A40oJkpmrBiMQuUcayweHCZUjIaIOA2ra4_5Ixl7_Xk0zLX6oOkUkLNbj3BWTuZx8jE/s400/0949+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580722914869229746" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HKzJJrTc4cTk5d87vEXVFen4UgvntM0q-thitGNGKgXGTTKTN5P6FxbeGOwJ0LSypLY6jTcE0hGwpY93JzZ-8UJ_InTpHiMS0jr05DMbWzpDTBbT2zFqTax_uY6VDdC1kzzXlLnIjF8/s400/_MG_0690b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580722457370597826" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We met up and lunched in Saint-Emilion at the main entrance to the city.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Xkklis1xvwthDEZfIAy-VaD6hXSk7cLLmKTpDL_FeP2qrDrsAPrKQr1Ns36v9M7NzUd-4Fhnru-qnKIu5Gp7LINbnWQV5NVB0E3NK-9s78RtRP795k3nMQG1w6cj-2GsnkNcw9oWc4/s400/_MG_0686b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580725354189006834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div>Then we went the visitor center as Thierry wanted to show us this beautiful courtyard with a covered walkway that has archways all around it that he thought we would really like. It was a definite 'must see'.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygRluaOIdzwWTfHOXOj6v6YsUFCO6S2zyxx_E3AgpSI0t6YFHf9FRvtS-x0uFyGO2wuI1gNsFJPKX4wOJocyvhWPTzGsudoV0Z4IFqHGfQOO8F5E61PmaDTY-g7p2NrW8DTrKdxPqBts/s400/_MG_0702a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580726721651652994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">And this is another doorway leading away from the courtyard.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyxTgRwQZdHoHfQnnxDsdfmctZ5NjTbRjM_6vYNVDKyhZSRX-nDk-vQ66wf-pXg2yW56yrKrDnAA-AUBtvFRmVQkqstfUKQj4rxT5vA6CtH7F6uRF5ywYiLkP73AsAHM2WXFlIXGXgws/s400/_MG_0737b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580730677828556450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>These are very old and common throughout France. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWmNfr8e1TJXIg6r9OAP6NoZuLMLGEtkXB0B72lXkn5u1RhzxyQTtS7Wdg6BPlrrKq_k0ul9rUZTjZ9JGYvyQR_Zmn0Xf7wWrATKSi3XL8CNgbSb-VfBmcx0uAYoGEEmptLtrbm5w2Kc/s400/_MG_0695b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580727285312996370" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Next to the courtyard is another church with an unusual greenish tint inside. This is the doorway leading into the church from the side. Never did find out what was causing such a distinct color cast. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OETjpuJfE6FSrcyFibrxtECjgbfsHqmiaDbsMzqEqaBDq1mVO2fLMBKfYHB3gmOr9w2v3J8xFafYbAo-VvQDGza4VT05E2y6zhDrI5UaGmKIRB3p49qs81wBvz4vDnRUrZDjlmxSBkQ/s400/_MG_0696b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580728040598586882" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And inside the church there were cats as the doors are always open. Seems to be cats everywhere but they are not wild. They all are pretty laid back and pay the people no mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJibUSGo6dDeM4Z76EVHHVYQTOMysfTyQrpdiiTvOMJWcrbrRUHiZb-czq0edCjIrFRWWC01QYYlBC7ksnjkmvP5FdwHoNMVWYo6lqWRrxE2BI5rPR-NSyoDFae9CVFZIQ8TKbHiSzNK0/s400/_MG_0718a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580729778187497698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 218px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfUEnBFLi1H5T1mKhpWYkd02Te_eLEvSQjaVrkeExzCcn3ozaBIx3p7GNzJhGZkHxHHbA-3JW_P3vIrjjYbPCViWqJsOIPZBr-n5Wiib0ACOXY1SrjLdF088vMldDbm61SwxtaAoarlk/s400/_MG_0705b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580730224725640866" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We then headed to Chateau Franc Mayne for an underground wine tour wine tasting that Thierry had made reservations for. He sure did a lot of work putting this trip together, have I said what a great guy he is? The Chateau is naturally surrounded by the grape fields which are not yet fully grown as it’s still early spring but it’s still pretty.</div><div>We went through the winery where all the huge vats are kept. The guide told us all about the process of making the different wines. Then we saw all the kegs of different wines. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm_3iTkBOGlrevMR6ajCz5ngh7Pdbmt_kGRhQc6f2ZWG7DrRdKHPBRhdgAoHPkiF3kCMFnq5v7s2CbnZkPNaZHvyB9MO-gwYg0vAyunvBppkjGderwfwB0nafGlbcJ4CJ5mSx6VtMq_g/s400/_MG_0719a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580732392078402434" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Wqk-P7YB3O36xAwzYkjjQ3JP-F47xQI3UDbp7vudj41Hu62girG6SUBGZNTiVMpkNRHOS2v3gtSDGXrHPa1mqyFU1CKS8B-Is2tFQsazhwRYeI2DtuqT4_z33TeY5DquHt66NZ1WWSc/s400/_MG_0723a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580731838641131266" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /><br /></div><div>After this we went to the underground areas where they had to hide their wines many years ago.</div><div>After the tour there was the traditional wine tasting. I have never in my life had so much wine in such a short period of time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaNGLxhElxv8X00YFFweobTaGPsaG87Mrx4rZ5eBsJ-e1KaQTzNmR6IF8ApyQenfuZbYKGgb8lngWt-laS3luLvW0psRWvuaHHmg_JDP2zeDwgbCHm_u4iF8KZhJvqbf3uhjj23nZ59M/s400/_MG_0752b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580735648866396930" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We went back to Saint-Emilion and toured the main church. During the tour there were no photos allowed. The guide told us this church was built from sold rock.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU9Do_OODTOVOTitR5aPBnZfJhH-F8g4dAE62NCTmeB1mgGDgH7sZeg7skzCLc2lGSsZb5J8axMtiB7YmQT1FDqyqLqerbiHjuIhMwFE9fAvHoaL2-_z8W-EQ4z7BZyDk0BkoABtg4Yg/s400/_MG_0751b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580736795412938818" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZh8WJvlp7olXNj0ERU0ZdfV0O7cITZZHyPWsfPPBjj7uy1emjDo0EBKvxUmJSeqCNP0ydCO7gUsQ-ob5FWK28fKvrAKPTq7KLxOwsaNwq-1Um7ZASOjOvA07M4NPKuKgrz4L6uGKXy18/s400/_MG_0772a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580737375299958226" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3p199H4g-6GI4UFEt_5B4gt9eHRBRFb4k3p_1PvRulPdIff_MPPg5y0V6qvuGBuxKXfcvdUMcOocUEMDkz26IMXlaKRRXcD_OtyrSOB3yD-vRqM_TtW2jhSXyKW2kdoPLrMTVhyphenhyphenoo0o/s400/_MG_0779b+b-w+watercolor+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580737913627332482" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzMksBLnJzMWp2wM1ECfEeZkBQ8tZMjbfk145LYRvOO6-mkgIZedgcQpwaPdc6jkBfbn4L5jKHmnuHQDCj2KUb60Ss35uoPxIp18BKeZP5VXBe-pL9WRYwdtIYszX8HCud9V68An6WrI/s1600/_MG_0759c+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzMksBLnJzMWp2wM1ECfEeZkBQ8tZMjbfk145LYRvOO6-mkgIZedgcQpwaPdc6jkBfbn4L5jKHmnuHQDCj2KUb60Ss35uoPxIp18BKeZP5VXBe-pL9WRYwdtIYszX8HCud9V68An6WrI/s400/_MG_0759c+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580738554767927730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div>As the sun was setting we had dinner in this nice little restaurant. We ate outside in a small courtyard that was surrounded by the stone walls of the other buildings. It was one great day.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAZSb1liulloRJy32_1Qj8TpJeM0Oez6MEzoCnb23O7oqjpz0qxsfPMO7xzOZL-l6BMb_iQvmsH2WjseCUaQCEYn9J2o_lkWa6ZPUvjsEp1BKWtaafBPgxGorLSXpi85zX8YjfCbVhFM/s1600/Untitled_Panorama3+copy_1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAZSb1liulloRJy32_1Qj8TpJeM0Oez6MEzoCnb23O7oqjpz0qxsfPMO7xzOZL-l6BMb_iQvmsH2WjseCUaQCEYn9J2o_lkWa6ZPUvjsEp1BKWtaafBPgxGorLSXpi85zX8YjfCbVhFM/s400/Untitled_Panorama3+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580738848726017010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px; " /></a><br /></div></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-962954239812850232011-03-05T09:11:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.035-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 5, 2008 Talmont & Matata Grotto<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpzJGozkbioCUVtXPeWGUcoT5AnIDV6meSb61Z_hnUd0tresavh750CHZvNcz6iyE9052DVpGFh_SFAxPK5gxmj-53_bhKZoCc-O9t3CDHFP0gJa8TEkS4uFIfBpkL3_NnYk045QaXjw/s1600/_MG_0597.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpzJGozkbioCUVtXPeWGUcoT5AnIDV6meSb61Z_hnUd0tresavh750CHZvNcz6iyE9052DVpGFh_SFAxPK5gxmj-53_bhKZoCc-O9t3CDHFP0gJa8TEkS4uFIfBpkL3_NnYk045QaXjw/s400/_MG_0597.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580645233077797410" /></a></div><div>Today we visited this wonderful little village by the name of Talmont. Once in the village Thierry and Mia found a little place to have coffee and turned us loose to do our photo thing. It has been called the most beautiful village in France and a bit later in the year there are hollyhocks everywhere. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKKArV6am8KAtKLIvfnbwRUkQVfE6FP4RI1fuxQpmOHCrVMH8cc1KVNSVhTqQSiRuhdqeUzK-z2SZWVp9Er5BVRpj5Mfol4ltSnNqRV5IZAayVaClPiX8uMxF6QNBahyQgjIKMmaRs68/s400/_MG_0607a+copy_1.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580645636402592082" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3nUrmzQE-3ikjH_ouNqudRT8gyGmAjstJM7lSXB15gkhHwSKsP2S1K_b8uhoSuoGCdS5bM_lQ36ZiLmtzhvs-DKzgAjHIMtVBYW0dX93rCFI0CglQWct8CGfL9wEEDW71yD3oY7LhgA/s400/_MG_0603a+copy_1.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580646989880156066" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We did see a lot of flowers but the hollyhocks would be great as they are so tall. This is a very small village right on the ocean edge.</div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0718YAj7VlNGXVolXEYCTpL-kxuLZdMuO1rb2Br0ujCX3E7QmpSl9Ex3E2Bb6zupGW1KpsQpUE9LiZScypglsyzjUETeSi-bN9vgsDyrna1cawvuotGL4Gb8G7Nwz5GThbTGrDBSMQo/s400/_MG_0605a+copy.jpg" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5XiHNSRs7-EoXjX5QP4JBSRmqn1Ur4CjBuKABNU2FNgHiKAcw9mvLtdjXg2IXKC6wTmydLjBc0V18aUcKpoNEcpwzxgdTltB14rAjxMweNyM4NnoCRuCAjtNcgsxuKqABLxJOXx9i2A/s400/_MG_0610b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580649035532025746" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div> All the homes are stone as all homes seem to be in France, no more t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">han 2 stories and with either very bright shutters and doors or very old shutters & doors. I can’t say which I like better, the old or the bright. All the roads and walkways are cobblestone which again is everywhere in France. Appears that only the people living here can drive in as we had to park in a parking lot, but I’ve seen some people drive in. And a lot of vines growing on the walls and homes.</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidglqR0tdkZPuPNfnu4Fs7vGMIqDdwqoquOt9wHsAa1fhz3AqBqGdNOpsWUOtU8n83FdSVfEtzgjlnYv7BUUBuqutA7vxYusrdkzjZFV5a_nxh8l28jDc7a7OJ88o4hiMR1IYsbiIoA_E/s400/_MG_0625a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580649382794010338" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6RPE0Evl4DxwHORz5gIUCcAWPyy9wHD0TDsfxLN0NMtamroJi6PfSC1wQw0d09xxLF_HjSIKNRYBHFzMwA5oXLJlraJFyiqdzboh_hMPD7D3r_Wwyq-Lm3yoTsYSNmqr6adQeni9kOs/s400/_MG_0635b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580653545573828402" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPUupzmefq44epBfBHxRQNkVFNjO8oUsXAdFh6oxbg9KjyPuBtGsgkUKO_ownk5LXfEo9dIEjHYw8y3GT2VngweheMLeAZhT6Ftg3lCLLmNHHKHQiTnOks9HbTTn1gwxIO3nem0AVDCg/s400/2008-0822+B+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580650162905024210" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div>At the opposite side of the village is the church and cemetery. The cemetery is so old but yet they keep the flowers fresh and some are potted. It’s very pretty. After we met back up with Mia & Thierry I mentioned the wonderful choir that was singing in the church. I assumed they must be in a loft or something practicing. Not the case though, it was apparently a recording. Sure sounded nice.</div><div>After we left Talmont we drove to Matata Grotto. This was a hideaway</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleUaDuKrtJsirac7kiunuvYHCr2cfNDeSorRsmjtRMyIfHo_qFLwsbzzcoGEeIknBN90dJ6Vjv1QSvhDNEqge0mWKiqytrN4-_Z5pBgP9EBz3z3lKDxB_EzUc_Kotw1Ae4avlu8t5wKI/s400/_MG_0645a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580650732548784306" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /> for the people that were persecuted for their religious practices. They found caves that are in the sides of the cliffs facing the ocean and this is where they lived and worshiped for many years. There is a whole network and one large section has been opened to the public. They have photos of the people who had lived there and recreated their households. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqpGVrB5ojqvbxwNNMJGWxaKloSC3m-RBZVVZOy_RzY4U4zgsE4qh-0yoCg2Bfz26Y2JUnAS3vrDfYwaE49F3Sbm6vQhsssnarSNMZ4oLSMn9Gc0NvOW5cck7vFX10OQ0rB_LMURRueQ/s400/_MG_0641a+copy.jpg" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DmO7W8Xvo0bG3-LWhvNE8wtrZNh-za3Ie1j8PjjISg5mrgQhTSp0rp6K1ERO7W1b-9nRpHqHjBTVDmxP0X3lBGWrU3ate1AMurERYROzKM6dCrsFXQhgblPURPeUQTXJ3qTwmhSopb8/s400/_MG_0648a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580657459028037282" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>They are up high enough that the waves wouldn't be a danger but it must have been cold and wet most of the time.</div><div><div>All around this public area are other homes that people are still living in that are built into the cliffs. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTRYgJ8yhDnEx0XKDUvnYOwuD8QzYkOY91VYNmswo9hg8UJqgytO6NAE3S-mR1UxjOduF-pZbbglg7PhFuQYhsMkXlGK6rRZDpo4ecXCKQZ1tnhdVZfVwNXrAOnd3-46h1xQwPUGE7-4/s400/_MG_0650b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>There are many fishing platforms with the dip nets that the people use daily. I’m sure most of these have a more protected living space than what their ancestors had originally.</div><div>We had dinner that night at home. When we got there we found the staircase up to the 2nd story on the stone shed is being transformed daily by Thierry’s dad along with the rest of the back yard. He is really into gardening so there are flowers everywhere that he is planting, besides the perennials that are already here. There are many calla lilies and roses besides many other flowers. Those are the only ones I know the names of the others I don’t. I only know that it’s gorgeous. Even the back of the shed is cool with vines covering it completely that will green up soon.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WPtxn-r_R7x8uxs15dvLPV8WZo_PAnf6-RT-1yZsKnYjD10BWp-xVnIV4FcmssPM-yfP89TGXmGY3zZ8LN1vrFTbH4nujo77xO42HwM2SlETeuOfvY_dmXRGAWsmR-dDe8_Vjsm06no/s400/2008-0692+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580659562549805122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-21652903523301126102011-03-04T18:54:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.041-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 3, 2008 Le Pays Des Abers Area<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE0KV_8zU8qi2liLGcmhjKEDdt2qcTbP1A9YHG6NVcMb_AdWU6y2TDm_UFfW7ChrY2xSBkmwClWUyULhqsRDsek9SiW2aAufE_DCSQ12ckqkJvkOB8l2C6gLivUkKuxBYxh9ek9vSdBs/s1600/_MG_0449a+copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE0KV_8zU8qi2liLGcmhjKEDdt2qcTbP1A9YHG6NVcMb_AdWU6y2TDm_UFfW7ChrY2xSBkmwClWUyULhqsRDsek9SiW2aAufE_DCSQ12ckqkJvkOB8l2C6gLivUkKuxBYxh9ek9vSdBs/s400/_MG_0449a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580425303587698306" /></a>We went to a farmer’s market in Locronan for lunch stuff as it is market day. These are pretty fascinating. There are many villagers selling homemade sausages which was set up on a table with about 15 different types and they give you samples of any you might be<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtpcyEG1e1J6kG8tu5xFrYoyRagRWzxFxi6JMXz0roTUKcbUHoW02diphJciFFfPz3ncbTUzwRa2vWHttQm3MWC7l6nJOv4RlXRudCjcoMyDwYAc_Aam1tVdiDUSCJ9JI00WMhgVKaQI/s400/_MG_0450a+copy_1.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580424543137323746" /> interested in. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There was also craftsmen, one of which was making chairs. He had the frame already made and then he was weaving the seat from reeds. And there is a lot of fresh seafood as we are right on the ocean. Yoyo along with everyone else here have large baskets that they put their purchases in. There is also many foods that are cooked there besides all the other fresh foods. We got a couple of roasted chickens and with some of the other fresh foods we had lunch back at their house. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div>Oh yes, and on the cobblestone we found a large snail. Escargot on the go. Thierry told us they are everywhere.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcIJ35Y9Y7eA3Mnzo2sSxnKwfYtmJpnZJllz_7GmcprBAKaSIv2nvo0BYWtOhDmwf372X3QoL61Grbj0aevqXkNVUz1-UtuSb0ElLX5gjFKeOqICNyzYSiKdc4h0myPydIT0AMh1eWSg/s400/_MG_0468a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>After lunch we drove down the coast to a harbor town called Le Pays Des Abers. This town is famous for it’s pink cliffs. </div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQTjqMqD80yab4rE7JgGyVDDv-gvoA0YM29RVzsB2ijc-IazDsJFesiUx648zlkVM33YsD4_4Xg904N3WWfIt2uc6S6mk_8YrQxJzS5kHlnZ-9ODyq9VXcihhywkXX4cez-rxn9XSHvo/s400/_MG_0491b+copy.jpg" /></div><div>It is very rugged and beautiful. On the road headed to the trail head we passed a small stone home that is built right into a stone hillside. Seems that this was a very common practice as we see many homes like this.</div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFBX6y9ZORNBu4Md0a-JlG36wm7tT9j_dFThJvbua7DtMN0NCX5xBC_cKQkHTQK9B1uUDKep4pNZfLGSsd0Thnm97IvvQCpsNZcuCD9CH_sSMWNQo-HT0RxyPTP8clrT793VMCqHE5Ew/s400/_MG_0490a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>We took a trail that follows along the coastline which is very rocky and goes over the top of a hill. On the other side was a long deep cave that looked to have been a home at one time. The entrance had a doorway made of stone. It now seems to be used mostly for exploring. </div><div>Off in the distance on the other side of the hill we could see some old church ruins with a maze of hedges. </div><div> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNcwn1dudm87ylVqZNTQYm0HV5hfBmfDJTs9TlANbprqBm1ITIiFa9TOLKRs-4PzRPkiM6GhKGgdubEuWP4wmOGZtbJkdfl8S9Ny12TOyj8gdfsWXMgq8YZ-O03kcZ187KFNLn796k6M/s400/_MG_0514a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>Further along the trail it became very steep with another old stone house at the peak. Delphine and I remained about midway up as it was getting a bit too hard going. We stayed down below and watched the others climb to the top. All along the trails are tons of wild flowers with a lot of predominantly yellow blooms.</div><div>After we left here we drove to our next destination. Yoyo had made dinner reservations in Saint-Pol-de-Leon near Brest which is famous for crepes. The drive there as it seems to be everywhere we go was great. We drove by marinas and some beautiful homes before we got to the downtown area. Along the way we stopped at one of the local churches. The doorways are so spectacular!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrHuBFU7tXdg9QQjEgyISL3XGGndGdhqJmjPYsaaq6YZeq6It5CTRutPl280S12PzM-08i-t4au3blRqaRfugwrZsSdrWUqEqMsvXiSFSV_W2kK4U3GyM8ber8XQcyKxaEsbr__1-SzQ/s400/_MG_0544a+copy.jpg" /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIiVVtNcaLgQePP4bdWfQqTJJamVlLJnmU5KC9ExivCjTK2E5GlNDKU_kkwlDoEHsr0RVQSU0ZuA0hQ7VrYVLGLIB9V7Um8ebfKQJ9PlONcQyFEiUokDOmJQPfMJC4mlCjoOGoDOrnF0/s400/_MG_0547a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580432694761560578" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp585dqQyAWcaeB3-vU6aW0g5sFpPdgIqdwuintKV-9DOIjwJrrXo0u5JzYUJEBAX5vOkiAnuiLayG2e3yUwPpa9wU27X0g8dIfZnjVGTw-KUjbGnW7Rlj716N2OhkoKsoe19D5aQdZ-M/s400/_MG_0539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580433208996283266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We parked the cars and made our way down the cobblestone streets and sidewalks. Mia asked Thierry about some of the small doorways that again are very common in France. On the old buildings these doorways are very small. Mia is very short at not much over 5 feet and she stood in one doorway with Benjamin for a photo. The top of the arch isn’t much more than a few inches above her head. Thierry couldn’t really say if the people were just much shorter or if it was a way to conserve the heat in the building. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6lPo-vOMFczVrjUlax5Vfvmo79e5PysuPC9bjvbMCdfHWzvI-PlnTvoZJNPkYNaZ1rWq_bZ2uRp_cWZa4tyCxnsUw3Vheuc8nHZrbi6ZOOa7PlTgGuzWzXJEqJPEK45Co56bhh7tPGU/s400/_MG_0548a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580433811304484482" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The crepes we had were great. They are made from a black wheat and come with all kinds of fillings. And then we had crepes for dessert. They are also famous for their apple beer which I had but it wasn’t as good as the hard apple cider I’d had earlier.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>As we were leaving Brest we passed some friendly, revelers enjoying the pleasant evening. And were more than happy to 'pose' for the camera. Great way to end a great day.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcvZh4Rz9Jef6yLvbejqd0ZnEzaXuLdqojukCRXVkFDnw1CEhCR2tO8TW3ahhXt1Ihq01UqNOmb8luThc1BnfYpPesBvrQjQC8CVB3DmOmMEBIIBviFBx-8QEsQkpo38fKD7Q8Z_Vurw/s400/0670+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580434991744096450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-29837161766168633892011-02-27T16:54:00.001-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.045-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 2, 2008 San-Malo & Mont St Michel<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The area around Yoyo’s home is mostly farmland. When we got up and everyone was getting ready Wes & I walked around outside. The field behind their house was being planted. There was a tractor puling a small flatbed that had 3 to 4 people on it. As it drove slowly down the rows these people were leaning over and putting young plants into the rows that had been plowed. This is probably how most of the smaller farms do it here.</div><div>Thierry said his brother wants to be a farmer and loves this area of France. Yoyo is younger than Thierry, a bit taller but you can tell they are brothers. Both Yoyo & Delphine are in the Navy. Delphine is pregnant with a baby girl that is due in early fall. They are going to name her Lylou which is the name of a famous French person. Yoyo has a son from prior marriage, 4 years old Kylian. He wasn’t with his dad this weekend.</div><div>For breakfast we had homemade bread and jam and then headed out for the day</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5aLUHQmE6azLOPnLlv_7c1GS7bMfReHvbzGIcbcg8bYNj4yhgllUwjqQGlhMWHY-gTw8KSva9SL7O5VQ9wfEPufF8ITxON3GxMBnpfHKsF-VIljpEzwVvJXfQJldAoO5dOuEyK6OS-Rw/s400/Untitled_Panorama2+copy_1.jpg" /> The City of San-Malo</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbrXq2-7UVcPphkC0kywAYkm66Gzm6FwFBdqOSKFFUfilgnd1t2fdBxz5rXTNe8MdMjJQ69zXzpXfN4U4G3yeBzIoe5fhoezMci5ZWt5tbR5rxAuBsU0vNAROVAnMeHZj-HDHwO1wFfs/s400/_MG_0273a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578590354358295922" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Our first stop around lunchtime was at a fortified city, San-Malo. This is a rather large city that is on the ocean and is completely walled. We walked out through a gateway onto the beach to walk out to a fort. It sits up on an island that during high tide is not reachable except by boat. We didn’t go inside the fort as there was a fee.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCbVwfQkeZnxaQ2i5xVF0V3AMwZC9q21WWHDS-27xLoxFgeX39InJhAwMd2GyTaSDZvyk0_a_zLXwrtO1rgwDd3iyP4ZpWPMrwvlNNfZg0caDCeCUU74UfYVPWGl9PQeORM-3mlYgwKo/s400/_MG_0251b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578590865715687298" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 131px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We had a picnic lunch on the beach before heading to Mont St Michel.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE_5UuL8cpk-lms7cNfDXlVPdGSr_3eZwgOSPj96xXaM4O4L_UMShd-_4yBO3f1DoX91aKhcROkNjZgsDfX8G785OeB_4MheoD3E5Sts4dHi9_YH4dvU_0GnFX7RB4AMtUeFpCwCn0K0/s1600/_MG_0303.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE_5UuL8cpk-lms7cNfDXlVPdGSr_3eZwgOSPj96xXaM4O4L_UMShd-_4yBO3f1DoX91aKhcROkNjZgsDfX8G785OeB_4MheoD3E5Sts4dHi9_YH4dvU_0GnFX7RB4AMtUeFpCwCn0K0/s400/_MG_0303.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578593429156494242" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><div>Mia and Ethan at San-Malo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvrzQqVNhC4VT741UkPg1HC9PJ1-RGqqevgw3ntaSTjeo17Mesro5PXaHTbb1XBLEnA0cTjcIF2ovusysRAyKBUPOs1uTgYmEGfXSsFs7PInxL4esoiPiQRiIsjONaUgHSv_rtwmYieg/s1600/_MG_0308.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvrzQqVNhC4VT741UkPg1HC9PJ1-RGqqevgw3ntaSTjeo17Mesro5PXaHTbb1XBLEnA0cTjcIF2ovusysRAyKBUPOs1uTgYmEGfXSsFs7PInxL4esoiPiQRiIsjONaUgHSv_rtwmYieg/s400/_MG_0308.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578591922277539282" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yoyo and Delphine at San-Malo</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After we had our lunch of sandwiches we made from the cheeses, sausages and pates from the market we stopped at yesterday we looked for a restroom before heading out. Restrooms throughout the cities are pay toilets. They cost 30 cents to unlock. When you are finished you hit a button to unlock the door to leave. And before the next person can enter the door locks because the whole inside sprays to disinfect everything so the next person has a clean restroom. I expected to not have a toilet paper as it would be wet. But it’s under a cover and it was dry.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mont Saint Michel is so tall that after we came out of a hilly forest you can see it from quite a distance.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWHRv0sg2mgoHtcRxA6jVwkolSV4wwXV4GbNyiqvAhrHtmHUDHaY5EWRoSmLZi7J3Yi5eXGbFkCzLxwEFQjx4U7Gpd_bi3W5PQszgTYb_nLw6YdR5cjnbebgB668-6yKS-UIIsoggWN0/s1600/_MG_0321c+copy_1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWHRv0sg2mgoHtcRxA6jVwkolSV4wwXV4GbNyiqvAhrHtmHUDHaY5EWRoSmLZi7J3Yi5eXGbFkCzLxwEFQjx4U7Gpd_bi3W5PQszgTYb_nLw6YdR5cjnbebgB668-6yKS-UIIsoggWN0/s400/_MG_0321c+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578594331313083682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div>This is the 2nd most visited place in all of France, the 1st is the Eiffel tower. They began building it in 700 and it has changed many times to what it is now. It used to be impassible during high tide but they have built up a road to the island. You still leave your vehicles in a parking lot and walk to the island. I left the road and walked alongside the water edge to take photos. It was hard walking as the ground very slick and also sticky too. Reading about Mont St Michel they talk about people being stuck in quicksand outside the city walls and drowning as the tide comes in. Yikes.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3tF1pFHCHq4WVjYNSSUTTatWUQ9eua46PjMqZzJYr6w5KB2tjeAXk73yLcHx_eJBDL5OkKA7iuyue85nciZJRHXQIK2CiKY9QnDjnJ1fPw9XhlBAvY_88wwYQRuhURa5Ynk6dM0e8EA/s1600/_MG_0328a+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3tF1pFHCHq4WVjYNSSUTTatWUQ9eua46PjMqZzJYr6w5KB2tjeAXk73yLcHx_eJBDL5OkKA7iuyue85nciZJRHXQIK2CiKY9QnDjnJ1fPw9XhlBAvY_88wwYQRuhURa5Ynk6dM0e8EA/s400/_MG_0328a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578596535915634210" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is an incredible place but very crowded. There were many tour buses so not only were there all the people from the parking lot but all these tour groups. When I went into the main gateway I had planned on hopefully making it all the way up to the cathedral. It’s quite a climb up there but I figured I had time. We were going to be here about 4 to 5 hours but once I got through the gateway I gave it up.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPj0_Txs_f897wDiaXvWY2PJXd_1gARtua2-uwK6U2bDeMPcqNBtJL_NiWvweAE7rWeZG7lZzjfxWD7bFmXpmZ0rf5Jcr-b2vbHX0eWtVp1dlA0wTx-Tj0dANaRPqKcAme3yLGQPriDtU/s400/0415+A+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578597141090738210" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " />There were so many people and the street was so narrow I could only shuffle along with the crush of people going in. It was worse than Disneyland on a crowded holiday weekend. There was also another crush of people going out on the opposite side of the street. It looked just awesome and I found out later from Mia & Thierry that it did thin out if I had just kept going. They made it all the way to the top and said the cathedral was incredible.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh0z_GHU3fFaTNV8iu39S8OHuGnDu5HuuEI7oI_qeajOhTSV51RP1yQlIBt36Uk6aScR53qFCgPYd6xCQP49oO0YHJx33GtE5SNe3HM41oU2iJ-AcBtfZIXdp-pjkAU8MmTPD41wmwss/s400/_MG_0351b+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578598244387598418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div>I went to the other side of the city and went in through a different gateway that was much less crowded. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY5Xo_sPAUhUQL1H5gdj0vMyg0I3s6cDlZji3VvDRbtqPG5gYodgUyY6PVZm_CTOriERUWqbNT4_ocqu_c7DUrt7DUOTPvcSgIXXHYkF400CVo7phYdHpgzE21jWsd0oD-NmEKOy3U0Q/s400/_MG_0403a+copy_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578599496901679826" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>I walked up a ways to see the views but hadn’t ran into Wes or the kids. We’ve been breaking away so we can take photos and the kids do their thing and then we meet up later.</div><div>I later found the kids and not too much longer we connected up with Wes. The little ones were getting really tired as we had been on the go all day.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtT6OctMqjWJXMTGyQ6k4qFmSj6Q6st3f4w74Ob1sRNVJPh6aEhP03siR4msEfzeg-fweNERf1eamRSTxtB0wnix7NL1q2OH0CwclqFy5LcEVkVevWd6ykuSggrWF5caOCvufxJGIhQLg/s400/_MG_0387b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578599941963568546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 197px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1416041701390625885.post-9980054043406402412011-02-27T16:23:00.000-08:002011-03-13T17:39:16.050-07:00THREE WEEKS IN FRANCE May 1, 2008 From Marennes to Brittany<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDDZE6q160h3fQBfOVT8V7a17Vd06ao8UjLaJc46fm-47JKxoPbgSytIOjU3W4qtGw5rJD40gKar9mYUB2GipjDoi9KMfwRBf9aesz2GEMO6vamix_GytN8onPhwWyJA_vg1qesaJ7g/s1600/_MG_0155a+copy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlDDZE6q160h3fQBfOVT8V7a17Vd06ao8UjLaJc46fm-47JKxoPbgSytIOjU3W4qtGw5rJD40gKar9mYUB2GipjDoi9KMfwRBf9aesz2GEMO6vamix_GytN8onPhwWyJA_vg1qesaJ7g/s400/_MG_0155a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578530764004595346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKppJy4crc0oYC95MFU69m-qMhBmKK-5vrCgH39HQGlKaZBRDB3TSmXIGachUaFNAaQP5NmDS25VBqu-4fs6xMJsxA04YhA8bS2wpXrfoAK-FFPuyikE9URW6efrKoXd4TTKLLCNIIRwY/s1600/_MG_0153a+copy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKppJy4crc0oYC95MFU69m-qMhBmKK-5vrCgH39HQGlKaZBRDB3TSmXIGachUaFNAaQP5NmDS25VBqu-4fs6xMJsxA04YhA8bS2wpXrfoAK-FFPuyikE9URW6efrKoXd4TTKLLCNIIRwY/s400/_MG_0153a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578530432621505282" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Today started the beginning of a long holiday weekend and we drove to Keronquedoc, Cleder in Brittany where Thierry’s brother Lionel (everyone calls him Yoyo) and his girlfriend Delphine’s home. </div><div>When we woke up we could hear the usual church bells and the turtledoves. It’s such a peaceful sound compared to our sounds at home that consist of train horns and the planes flying overhead. We loaded up a rental minivan which is a challenge as the narrow roads keep you closing the van doors constantly as car comes by or they will be ripped off. Here it seems that the pedestrian need to watch for vehicles.</div><div>We had lunch in a city about halfway to Yoyo’s named Auray. It had the usual tall old church that you see in all towns, but the one thing we saw that was different were the roofs. All the houses in this area have black roofs made of slate where the houses further south are terra cotta which is an earthen color.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaidf_hzENM21RqNFPZrOLvj9UO223Ww58amUYoEUVjFT-LiVyq9LbHdHee0D0gA3eeZqEJQs8AKeXlOB7QeTDaOm8ScThsiiIMd8HO8CoqF00YTYFkJr91SHhEr-q3cbNG7LI_0eSEo/s400/_MG_0149a+copy.jpg" /></div><div>It was 600km to Yoyo's home in Keronquedoc, Brittany and we got there around dinner time. Their home is another built of stone which we now realize is the usual home here. It is small with a bedroom and bathroom on the 2nd story and in the attic they have made a bedroom for Yoyo’s son, Kylian. Yoyo & Delphine are going to sleep on the futon in the living area, Wes & I have their bedroom and Thierry’s family get the upstairs. The boys then get to play with all Kylian’s toys. Here is Thierry and Mia outside of Yoyo & Delphine's home.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4Bb0lo6u9S9E5ZtpgVX-Ik_NXyclJZDeeCdY_vdSfwpt5ZXdurj_v7RHDg4T3jQR7-XhJIdQ2CR0bYHMhyphenhyphenQ1OtX3pk9qDTAQNYIHZX8HEAnbHWcQJAqqE3MzMJfmDYWlowegdC_4qXI/s400/_MG_0170.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578531250755647538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>After we had dinner we drove to the ocean which is a short 2-3 km away. There are a lot of boulders on the beach and many large rocks out in the surf. The clouds are huge and look like a storm is on it's way but it didn’t rain so it made for some dramatic photos.</div><div>There is an old abandoned stone house on an outcropping of rocks which was used for customs during the days when there was a lot of merchant shipping being done along the coast. Thierry said these abandoned customs houses are all along the coastline. Brittany is a very rugged area and the weather is very chilly, wet and wild. It is considered to be different from the rest of France as it’s been founded by the British. So they have evolved into a culture different from France & England but mix of both.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7bB8ETIMt_b8tC1MkrrB0-e__MpEkJ-6w6h3hbKpIFpsftp5Wak1gPqBLBQ2ryMxk7FkbD3PvI38Ih50xR1tGxRLWhEexPErW-JFdS8ej87VqNIQBQ5mq_3YKpSDbHe28eqKF31UcCQ/s400/_MG_0213a+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578531983232935506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQw7kOopPbhKfMd4CSlXwQ70Md6Mxsny4iirQ1gsDdQHheZloL5vubfqekAxB_wmisJey0hPlWzbpuDNNtQLkmQ6-n6HPcnyEnM7zqSMtRRXj9nfvDvTw7FwmacMyFrYzK-tneJQfqDg/s1600/_MG_0202a+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQw7kOopPbhKfMd4CSlXwQ70Md6Mxsny4iirQ1gsDdQHheZloL5vubfqekAxB_wmisJey0hPlWzbpuDNNtQLkmQ6-n6HPcnyEnM7zqSMtRRXj9nfvDvTw7FwmacMyFrYzK-tneJQfqDg/s400/_MG_0202a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578532435814905890" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The Common House on a cliff overlooking the sea.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></span></span></div><div>We were not sure what this home was or even if it is still occupied. Notice the Common House in the background.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmxVNaPP-H0ofDR-U_fcFq4LmQOyhDb1706nUrL3YcRXlCRUrXeXUvKzQwCYtGMkn-gIMtG8uTmZAf0A2UgLEkryQt8fz4QSX8_P0LpH4M3h_H2CQcbpcdXcEOjhLlJx9zCSl3QPh2Lo/s1600/_MG_0203b+copy_1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmxVNaPP-H0ofDR-U_fcFq4LmQOyhDb1706nUrL3YcRXlCRUrXeXUvKzQwCYtGMkn-gIMtG8uTmZAf0A2UgLEkryQt8fz4QSX8_P0LpH4M3h_H2CQcbpcdXcEOjhLlJx9zCSl3QPh2Lo/s400/_MG_0203b+copy_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578533058713974146" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px; " /></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JlyDqNIYuK2_vc3XhuPMyEtEg1FfAIL6TjRld-j4asN4LpSoPQX7gu9-XH9gEC0YikSDZsax2MRoVHEyWkKaeaudq8ZTSwouVpa9UP5LPX6nEBv0uYI_DGZbkaE58CvgJ51AbmCg_s/s1600/_MG_0199_7_8a+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JlyDqNIYuK2_vc3XhuPMyEtEg1FfAIL6TjRld-j4asN4LpSoPQX7gu9-XH9gEC0YikSDZsax2MRoVHEyWkKaeaudq8ZTSwouVpa9UP5LPX6nEBv0uYI_DGZbkaE58CvgJ51AbmCg_s/s400/_MG_0199_7_8a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578533339497804738" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a village inland in Brittany as we were driving to a marketplace.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJdmq0FehBnpFCv9x4e4d3e6vG3uBC67X9qjYqactSd_BC3Mp4fi0gdpden2RvAkA7QVF-7hOhp7S8A-IOWSsD04p441Nk7DZeFenX5upEvtzrtQjCR4xI82jiu2r8Jzm2-4COMCmh6U/s400/_MG_0166b+copy_1.jpg" /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzduuPTu8LaCkdJDh7xVrATzUFcLauvi64AeahTdQN1H3dAGObD_hc7TEDE6rnZkJN8QNzlmCCBkmSISj6NSxIWtRCBY3Me11YV6gRPffFbESt-n7LeSC4Um_iuosfGeqToC1taieAQc/s1600/_MG_0164a+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzduuPTu8LaCkdJDh7xVrATzUFcLauvi64AeahTdQN1H3dAGObD_hc7TEDE6rnZkJN8QNzlmCCBkmSISj6NSxIWtRCBY3Me11YV6gRPffFbESt-n7LeSC4Um_iuosfGeqToC1taieAQc/s400/_MG_0164a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578535722854913794" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is an archway in a church which led to the cemetery.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-Wg5HJzOb3T8ZLzxXFcwrRHiaoqniAFHSEhZHjdXSCxegf8CPRpL_-24I8DTPty63oTO0btr5wshtbxS_IWfMilV1ddseDd8I7UlxxkJr7dHYkicQabnfegdDtwVQFn_1xiKYfHj5Uo/s1600/_MG_0232a+copy.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-Wg5HJzOb3T8ZLzxXFcwrRHiaoqniAFHSEhZHjdXSCxegf8CPRpL_-24I8DTPty63oTO0btr5wshtbxS_IWfMilV1ddseDd8I7UlxxkJr7dHYkicQabnfegdDtwVQFn_1xiKYfHj5Uo/s400/_MG_0232a+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578536310965135266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><div>We stopped in a small village, called Locronan close to their home to get cheese and some other items for snacks. The village we stopped in has one of the last covered markets in Brittany. It is very old and is in the town square. All villages have this so on their market days the area is closed to vehicles. The vendors are local people who bring their produce, meats & sausages, flowers, any items they’ve made and set up their booths on certain days of the week. They no longer use the covered market though but are set up all around it. And in all these villages all the streets are cobblestone.</div><div><br /></div><div>After we got what we needed we went back home and had some cheese and drinks. I've had a lot of wine here since I've been in France. Here in Brittany they are famous for apples. So there is an apple cider and apple beer. I had some hard apple cider and it wasn’t too bad. What I’ve discovered what realy like is what Thierry’s mother usually has. This is a blackberry liquor mixed with Perrier. This is very good.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>WesDotPhotographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03586315047061743083noreply@blogger.com0