Castles in the Loire Valley

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Mama Cormier

…..as of today we managed to take in two castles, the Amboise Châteaux Royal and the Château Royal de Blois

Visiting both castles required taking trains from Tours. The actual trips took about 30 to 40 minutes unless the train was delayed because there were too many bicycles on board. Yes that’s a thing apparently. The conductor refused to let the train continue until some of the bikes were removed or properly stored. Our last trip back to Tours took an hour. I’ve never seen so many people run as they left the train trying to catch their connecting train.

We have been very lucky with the weather since arriving in Tours. Our first castle trip was to Amboise and it felt like summer. We started out in an outdoor café got a bite to eat and then made our way through the old town to the entrance of the Château Royal.

The caste’s foundation was started in the 4th century by the Celts and over the medieval period the rights to the fortress was disputed between the counts of Anjou and Blois. In the 1400s the château was confiscated by the crown and became a place for all the Valois and Bourbon Kings to live, play and raise their families.

The style of the castle was greatly inspired by the artistic vitality of the Italian artists of the period. They were invited to Amboise and together with French tastes the Early French Renaissance was created.

View of the Loire from the top of the castle

One of my favourite parts of the Château Royal in Amboise was the garden.

Looking down from the top of the château

The Gardens of Amboise…..to be continue

Doors of Paris

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to be Dan for hosting Thursday Doors https://nofacilities.com/2022/04/14/entering-silk-city/

Paris is a city rich in history and interesting architecture. Not only are the doors on some of the iconic churches and museums interesting but everyday homes and businesses have beautiful and sometimes unusual entry ways.

Tuesday Textures – Vermiculation in Paris

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Mama Cormier

…. a dense pattern of irregular lines, so called from the Latin vermiculés meaning “little worm” because the shapes resemble worm holes

Occurring Naturally

Monday Windows in Paris

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Mama Cormier

…..from the library at the University of Paris

An art nouveau design by Eugène Bigot constructed in 1927. Ian Nairn describes it like this: “It is like a brick balloon inflated to its limit with an unquenchable puff…”

Thanks to Ludwig Keck for hosting Monday Windows. https://mondaywindow.wordpress.com/2022/04/04/monday-window-april-4-2022/

Priority Admission at the Louvre

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Mama Cormier

…..walking with a cane has it’s advantages

When we travelled throughout Italy in 2016 with our 9 month old granddaughter we found that museums, galleries and restaurants bent over backwards to accommodate us. Six years later in France we’re finding the same thing except now it’s walking with a cane take gets us priority admission.

Back in April Kevin needed an emergency hip replacement and even though his recovery was remarkably fast he occasionally has balance issues. As a result and playing it safe he brought his cane with him on this trip to France.

On the day we went to the Louvre Kevin brought the cane, knowing that there would be a lot of walking. We preordered the tickets, thinking that would get us into museum without having to line up. We booked for the last time slot of the day and ended up in a line with hundreds of people in front of us. Our son was visibly upset. I asked him him if there was priority admission for people with mobility issues. He asked us to stay in line while he investigated.

Upon his return he told us to follow him and we walked directly to the entrance where security waved us through. This is something that all travellers with babies and mobility issues should know. Once inside I can’t say that the Louvre was easy to navigate, as there are lots of stairs but fortunately my husband was able to go up and down without too much difficulty. Had we investigated a bit more we would probably have found more elevators.

Silent Sunday in Paris

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….April 10, 2022

Thursday Trios from Home and Paris

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Mama Cormier

…April 7, 2022

One Word Sunday – Diagonal

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Debbie from Travel With Intent for hosting One Word Sunday https://travelwithintent.com/2022/03/27/diagonal/

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Cee’s Mid-Week Madness – The Colour Teal or Turquoise

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Cee for hosting CMMC https://ceenphotography.com/2022/02/09/cmmc-february-color-teal-or-turquoise/

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7-BB031-C4-8675-4-E6-B-90-AF-FD596-DBC4-A30 — Painted houses in the Village of Grimsby

6-D7-FB465-8976-401-E-BE75-62-FD6-C7-F6-D84 — One of Kevin’s Monsters

CDA082-A0-0-D14-4-E0-F-BACB-C012-D749-AF9-B — One of Kevin’s Wacky Birds

5990-A58-C-4-E89-4-E77-8784-4-D13-DA249648 — Close-up of my art on display at WAAC

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E60-DC54-B-9076-476-F-8831-2-E055-AE53-F6-E — Beautiful porcelain dish created by Catharina Goldnau

Welcome to Prince Arthur Street in Toronto

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Dan from No Facilities for hosting Thursday Doorshttps://nofacilities.com/2022/01/20/old-wethersfield-business/

Prince Arthur Street is a mix of old and new. Not only is it where the Women’s Art Gallery, that I belong, is located but there are numerous businesses and restaurants in some of the older buildings dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. In amongst that there are also some mid-century apartment buildings/condos and much newer business towers closer to Avenue Road.