Picasso's Bicycle Bull

Photo by Madison Boehringer

This is a photo of Picasso's Bull made out of a bike seat and handlebars. It is displayed in the newly renovated Picasso Museum in Paris.

St. Joan d' Arc

Photo by Mike McLellan 

Joan of Arc stands guard outside of the chapel at

Mont. Saint Michele, Normandy, France



The on the wall opposite "The Mona Lisa" - something no one sees

 

I think I understand the French description of the Italian painting, but I think the most important thing is that it is wonderful and no one sees it. They are pushing a shoving to get a photo of the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is under bullet-proof glass and the light reflects off of it so that it is difficult to see. I am not saying that it is not a masterpiece, but there are many more all round it in the Louvre.



Locks are still there - sort of...

The locks of the love are still on the access points to the bridges and on some of the bridges themselves in Paris. I find them a silly blight while others see them as romantic.  My granddaughter and I were most amused by the combination locks here and there. We figure that they were put there by people who were not exactly certain about "forever". In the background of the top photo you can see the painted panels that have been put up to replace the railings that were being destroyed by the locks and making the bridges unsafe. Not pretty either, these panels are now getting graffiti. This is not the French doing this - it is foreigners for the most part leaving their marks.

French drivers

Photo by Mike McLellan  (The only time there was no traffic.)

This is a street in France. Drivers in that nation are very good, but they assume that right and wrong are not negotiable. When the sign shows a green man you can walk. When the sign shows a red man you are not supposed to walk. I confess that, as a Californian, if it looks clear you just do what you want. A bus driver  was stopped for passengers and as soon as he had accomplished his task he drove away. Fortunately I am both quick and lucky. Close call. I had assumed that he would see me walking against the light and stop for me. He had the green and was taking it. He was right and I was wrong. One blessing is that I was not dead wrong.

The Louvre - What art?

One thing I immediately noticed was that people were studying where to go

 and not looking at the art!

Photo by Mike McLellan

Île de Tatihou, Normandy

Photos by Mike McLellan

                                                      Île de Tatihou                                                      

 A world heritage site, this is a island off the coast of Normandy. You get there by amphibious boat depending on the tides. You can even walk at low tide. The island was a fort beginning in the 7th Century and in the 1600's was used as a sanitarium for children with TB. Today it is a marine laboratory. There are lovely gardens. It is not easy to get to, but worth the trip. 

          Photo by Madison Boehringer

Honfleur, Normandy, France

The apple capital of France (Normandy is a big apple producer) -- maybe the world.

What do you think of d'em apples?

Three Faces of France

Photos by Mike McLellan

     The top photo is of the Paris icon. The second photo is of a small cluster of homes along the Seine. Finally, the bottom photo is the outside of a workshop in a small chateau in Normandy near Caen. I like all three, but in terms of personal experience I enjoyed meeting the owners of the chateau who grow apples to make cinder and brandy. They have a wonderfully friendly old dog. They have two children and a huge job ahead of them as they rebuild and restore their home.

     The top two photos are of marvelously pretty things. The bottom photo - pretty in its own right - draws back memories of ordinary people. 

Ferris wheel, Honfleur, Normandy, Bastille Day

 

Sitting on the sundeck of a riverboat waiting for the Bastille Day fireworks to begin in Honfleur the night is lighted by a giant Ferris wheel on the dockside. This picture was taken with a telephoto setting on my old point-and-shoot Canon.  We had missed the Fourth of July back home in California and were across the globe on French independence day. The fireworks over the river were wonderful and it is like celebrating freedom for everyone who has it.

Picasso's Goat: Picasso Museum, Paris France

Photo by Mike

This is a photo of my favorite work by Pablo Picasso. It is his goat (made from junk). It is on display in the newly remodeled  Picasso Museum in Paris. A great visit. While a little hard to get to, it is well worth it.

Back from France: Lovers at the Louvre

Sure, I am a voyeur. You cannot help but be in Paris.

Lots of France in our future here on Postcards.

Out to get more material for you.

Not my photo

Regular visitors to this blog: I shall do what I can to post regularly, but we will be in northern France the next month. Paris, the Seine, Normandy will be on the itinerary, but with spotty WiFi and good wine and taking plenty of notes and photos for this site. Watch for it and updates beginning  the first of August. 

Not my photo either - but you wait!