The view from Chateau Gaillard, Richard Lion Heart built a huge castle here in Normandy overlooking the Seine to thwart his arch enemy Philippe Auguste of France. It took just two years to build it and the only thing left now is the view and a jumble of broken towers.
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A recent trip to France for three weeks gave me the opportunity to experience another culture in joyous and lavish detail. I came home with over 1000 photos which I promise I will not unleash on the world all at once. These first are from the last week in Paris, the city of light. To see these photographs larger, just click on them.
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The interior of the St Chappelle, stunning windows about 20 feet tall in exquisite stained glass.
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Saint Chappelle from outside
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The bottom of the tower.
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The floor at St Chapelle
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My favorite sign, keep your dog on a leash.
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The classic view. All those little black ants underneath are a million tourists. This was close enough for me!
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X marks the spot in Paris
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Saint Chappelle gargoyles. I took a lot of stone creature's portraits during the trip. They live all over France in old places.
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The exterior of Saint Chappelle.
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A cat taking it's ease at Chateau Malmaison. I saw a lot of 'ghost' cats in Frances. Fat and shy, living in historic places from Giverny to Malmaison.
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Chateau Malmaison, where Napoleon's lucky star Josephine lived after her divorce from Napoleon. Taken from her rose garden which is currently being restored.
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The exquisite stone stair case at the rear of the Musee de Moyen Age, the Cluny, which was a Roman ruin and then an abbey.
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Detail of an angel at Saint Chappelle on the wall.
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The Rose Window at Saint Chappelle, a tiny exquisite jewel of a royal chapel.
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The facade of 29 avenue Rapp
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And we slipped around the back and found an entire building and an art nouveau gate looking out on the Eiffel tower
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The world famous doors at 29 Avenue Rapp, found in the Invalides quartier. An amazing art nouveau building.
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The Rue Vivienne, a sort of early mall, which allowed 19th century customers to shop in covered comfort. Lots of hot designers are holed up in these passages. (prounounced Pass-ajhes.)
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Tourists sitting on the steps of the wedding cake Opera House which now home to the Paris ballet.
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The Metro, Paris' subway system has a lot of beautiful art nouveau signage scattered around town. Although the system is smooth and fast it can tend to be a little scruff below ground...
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The Egyptian Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde
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the Seine at Sunset
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A view of the bridge and the glass topped Grand Palais in the background.
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Glass cattails--one more over the top detail of the 19th century Alexandrine bridge, named for the Tsar.
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A Goddess on the Alexandrine bridge blesses the evening.
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The Seine at Sunset was like some sort of romantic fairy tale with the Eiffel tower on one side and the boats plying the river. Warm weather and amazing light.
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View from the Pont Alexandre bridge to the Dome church where Napoleon is buried.
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Paris at night from the terrace at Chaillot. To the right Gigi was being shown on a wall of the palace. French actors speaking English with French subtitles.
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The gorgeous Pont Alexandre III bridge
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The city on the Seine protected by charming fat cherubs and woeful stone lions.
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Walking in Paris at Sunset near the Place de la Concorde, the Palais Royale and the Louvre, right on the banks of the Seine. Magic! Heroic Statues and over the top architecture everywhere.
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