Snow

Most of winter has managed to slip by with nary a shiver--the grass still green with small daisies peeking through-- more like a prolonged version of early spring that left me longing for the clear progression of the seasons and a landscape swathed in peaceful white. Then a few days ago the temperature dipped and finally last night the beautiful snow fell, transforming the world.These are scenes from my chilly but exhilarating neighbourhood walk this early afternoon.

 

Chateau of the Dukes of Bretagne (Brittany) under leaden skies

 

And with a simple turn my view changed to the cathedral rising misty and unfocused up from the snow filled oak park.

 

 Detail of a side entrance to Nantes Cathedral with its myriad of small narrative scenes

Some of the intricate lacework of carving that covers the cathedral facade

Cathedral gargoyle sporting a natural hairdo of fern against a clearing sky

Along one side of the cathedral an ancient gate to the medieval city

Detail of the gatehouse

Doorway to a medieval era courtyard

Beautifully patinated ancient hardware

Sculptures gazing out over the chateau

. Full view of the gatehouse--part of the ancient city wall

An anthropomorphic gargoyle hovers in the now sunny sky alongside the cathedral.

Nearby an angel unfurls a banner...

and an ancient annex reveals the many changes the centuries have made in its windows and doors.

A Short Walk to the Jardin des Plantes

When I am not traveling I live in the old medieval center of Nantes, part of a busy city very near the west coast of France. I will save a more careful profile of Nantes and its history for another day. For tonight I would just like to share with you a few of the sights along the way when I walk to the nearby Nantes botanical garden (jardin des plantes) and arboretum--a lovely park that has been in existence since the early nineteenth century, with many varieties of plants and mature trees from around the world ranged along its winding paths and rock bordered water courses. On our way you can spot glimpses of the neighbourhood's ancient architecture including Nantes' Gothic cathedral and the medieval era chateau of the Dukes of Bretagne (Brittany).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April Travels

As promised, I have begun to sort through all the recent photos and have some to share, beginning with the town of Die (French pronunciation takes away the bad associations we have for this spelling in English, creating a sound more like "dee"), nestled among mountains in the south eastern quadrant of France.

In the old city the buildings block the intense, pure light and seen to lean out to each other, like neighbors chatting across a fence. There are frequent stone supports that look like narrow arched bridges at second story level, presumably to prevent this leaning from becoming more disastrous. (They don't seem to be placed in a manner that could be easily used as an actual bridge between houses since they seldom have window or balcony access reasonably close at hand).

A window full of vintage lace and one with a Picasso poster. If you look closely you can see me reflected in the upper left behind Pablo, with my obligatory morning baguette in hand.

The cathedral with its Romanesque bell tower...

Architectural details...

More views..