Colmar & Countryside

June 6, 2014July 13, 2017 / Monique / Leave a comment

Today we went to Colmar. The initial plan was to go to the Eco Musee, but unfortunately it was closed. The famous Alsacienne storks were everywhere to be seen on its rooftops.

Eco-Musee Alsace

From there were went to Colmar, mainly to see the statue of liberty replica

From there, we took a slow drive back through past Masevaux and on to Bourbache-le-Haut

The baby pine trees

We stopped at the top of the road down to Bourbach-le-Haut, and took a short walk to view one of the war monuments.

“To Our Dead”

The view over the valley was breath-taking, even though we only appreciated it for a couple of minutes, due to the icy wind.

Below us us lies the sleepy Bourbach-le-Haut, a town of some 300 people.

This is the road we took a good 6 times while staying here. The Tour de France travels along this route.

Bourbach-le-Haut nestled below

Pictographic – Masevaux

May 22, 2014July 13, 2017 / Monique / 1 Comment

From Paris we journeyed aboard a train to Mulhouse, and from there hired a car and traveled to our home for 10 days, Bourbach-le-Haut

One of the nearby towns, the perfectly picturesque Masevaux

The entire town is like a movie set, small quaint houses, shops and cobbled streets

In the town centre, is the Hostellerie Alsacienne.

Everything about the place is fabulous; from the Star of David chairs, to silver cutlery, and mouth-watering meals; fantastic enough to warrant a second visit before leaving the region

The above is the Trout Amande

And the Duo de Poisson

The whole town is like a movie set

The silence of the midday break shattered by our touristic presence

The town hosts a variety of activities, from flower contests and organ festivals, to The Passion Play

The flowers are not yet in full bloom, but still breathtaking.

The midday day break is from 12:00 – 14:00 daily.

You will find all shops closed, with only restaurants welcoming customers.

We found this affected particularly the smaller towns.

The spring flowers creep from behind the wood pile

Almost everything one sees it photo-worthy

Citizens are rewarded for beautiful gardens – Concours maisons fleuries

A couple of weeks later and we would have seen even more glorious colours

But all in all, Masevaux is easily one of the prettiest towns

Adding to its appeal, is the surprising small number of tourists about town

Exhilaration – The Eiffel Tower

May 21, 2014July 13, 2017 / Monique / Leave a comment

After enjoying Opulence in the morning with mother, sister and I decided on a journey of exhilaration for the afternoon.

The industriously set of on foot for the Eiffel Tower, 6.3 kms away.

This was just as we got the Seine, and yes, that is Starbucks in my hand

We crossed over the Seine

And found a small house boat of my namesake

We just had to take a picture in from of the Bridge of Love Locks

When leaving the bridge, a most well positioned (what we call) rickshaw happened upon us

We were more than happy to pay the €30, considering we had another 4.7 kms to walk (never mind the stairs up the Eiffel Tower) Our rickshaw driver even gave us a tour, he was from Ukraine or Romania, most pleasant chap.

And we made it. We queued for about 40 minutes in the line for the stairs to the first level. The queues for the elevator was astonishingly long.

A few quick shots from the first level

Then onward and upward to second level (click to take a 360 tour) via the stairs again

We queued for about 50 minutes, the icy wind blowing fiercely.

More second level

Looking up to where the queue would take us. All those triangle things are lights that light up every evening at 10:00 pm when the Eiffel Tower closes.

There is quite a story behind these lights, find out here

The Seine River stretching far in the distance

The queue is rather tiresome, so they have these neat telescopes to amuse weary travelers

Almost at the front of the queue…

And finally, the top floor

It is entirely faced in, so many a tourist stuck their lenses through, snapping away at the Notre Dame Cathedral (above)

And at the above Arc de Triomphe (undergoing maintenance)

And above is the very very top of the exhilarating Eiffel Tower, which only staff can access

Les Invalides, Musée de l’Armée

When we alighted the Eiffel Tower, we were rather spent. Thank you Lord there was a rickshaw literally right in front of us that look us as far as the Louvre Museum, leaving us about another 3 kms to walk back

Sunrise over Sea – Another Fantastic Durban Sunrise

April 2, 2014July 13, 2017 / Monique / 1 Comment

Yes, another fabulous Durban Sunrise session this yesterday morning.

Let me clarify about the title of my last post Durban Autumn Sunrise. I know it is not yet autumn in the southern hemisphere, but the crisp chill in the mornings gives the impression of an early autumn.

THIS SUNRISE SESSION:

In the hazy confusion of the predawn light, my focus falters, my lens afraid of the dark

All is eerily quiet, the rays seem to be taking an eternity to break the horizon and flood the world with glory.

Finally, the beginning of the end of the hazy, uncertain pre-dawn

The break of a new day, all creation in its glory on display

Silver lining, stalks, its the birth of a new day filled with promise

The Woolly Neck Stalks and the cat are used are also out and about to watch His majesty grace this earth again, simply for us to enjoy

No matter what circumstances occur, there will always be a sunrise.

Something amazing and beautiful always emerges from even the darkest hour

Something first dark, then serene and beautiful, turns into a powerful force

The light of that power now touches everything it encounters

All fear and confusion are conquered, all things working together for good, for beauty and for a new day

Durban Beachfront Autumn Sunrise

February 28, 2014July 13, 2017 / Monique / 1 Comment

I am fortunate enough to be blessed almost every morning by witnessing the amazing sunrise created for you and I.

Blessed

The Surf next to the pier at Umgeni River Mouth

Durban’s beautifully engineered, and fairly new, promenade sets the stage for this amazing grace.

From Blue Lagoon (umgenie River Mouth) looking South towards Durban Harbour

Lonely Ship lurks out at sea

The two companies (of which I am aware) involved with phase 1 and phase 2 of the beachfront rehabilitation, namely Fountain Civil Engineering (phase 1) and Vumani Civils (phase 2) have done a fantastic job.