The Vault ~ Reims

Notre-Dame de Paris might be the most famous cathedral in France, but I also am a big fan of the Notre- Dame de Reims cathedral in Reims, North-East of Paris, home of Champagne.

I first visited the cathedral on a cold Christmas Eve and got overwhelmed by the atmosphere. I felt so tiny next to those huge columns and I sat there listening to a children choir singing softly Christmas songs.

The vault is 38m high (125 feet) with no decoration. The austerity and the cold inside creates an intimidating atmosphere.
It is definitely a place I would go visit again and again.

The Bright Light ~ Reims

Is this how the bright light at the end of the tunnel would look like?
This shot was taken in the Basilica of St. Remi in the city of Reims, France. It felt like something special was calling behind those doors..

I chose to post this because of the way I am feeling. With deadlines approaching, responsibilities and moving to a new apartment, pressure and stress are increasing but it feels like I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully all this will be over by the beginning of next week and I can start my own projects and reorganize myself more efficiently!

Tour Eiffel Panorama

Another shot of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris on a beautiful Autumn morning.
This view is from the Champs de Mars where the Peace monument is. The place was still empty with few tourists wandering around.

I don't know about you but I've met many people who dislike the Eiffel Tower, finding it ugly and breaking the charm of Ol' Paris.
I personally find it beautiful and a marvelous piece of architecture. I especially enjoy it when the tower sparkles for a minute every hour at night.

Have you ever been to Paris to visit the Tower? Do you like it or do you find it ugly and intrusive?

Photo Essay: Pere Lachaise Cemetery ~ Paris

Bored of the Eiffel Tower or the Notre-Dame Cathedral when visiting the beautiful city of Paris? Why not spend a quiet afternoon walking along the haunting tombstones of the most famous and most visited cemetery in the world? The Père Lachaise Cemetery!

~~oOo~~

1) Entrance of Père Lachaise, the most visited cemetery in the world. It was established in 1804 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Belvedere de Buffon

Every time I find myself in Paris, I take some time to go visit the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) near the Austerlitz train station.
Founded in 1626, it has first been used as a medicinal herb garden and later was opened to the public in 1640. Today the garden covers 28 hectares and hosts four museums: The Grand Gallery of Evolution, the Mineralogy Museum, the Paleontology Museum and the Entomology Museum.

In the south corner of the garden is a small "maze" (it's actually a spiral to the top) around a 20 meter high hill with a beautiful belvedere crowning the top. The small hill was actually a huge pile of garbage. Instead of removing the pile, it was turned into a tiny hill for the public to enjoy a higher view of the garden.

The elegant belvedere is the work of the architect Edme Verniquet, made for Comte de Buffon. It is a mixture of Chinese and western architecture and is topped by a sundial. The words "Horas non numero nisi serenas" are inscribed around the higher part of the structure. It means in Latin: "I do no count the hours, except the calm ones". The word serenas, meaning calm represents the weather, more precisely the sunny weather.
Every day, a bell used to ring announcing noon only when the weather was clear. The mechanism was invented by Mr. Mille and consisted of a counterweight balancing a hammer striking a bell. A string held the counterweight in place until the sun was up high. At noon, thanks to a magnifying glass cleverly positioned, the string burned and released the weight. Every day, it was replaced with a new one for the next day.

Although the view is not what it used to be (new buildings), the belvedere is still a beautiful place to sit and relax away from the busy streets of Paris, or just hang out with your loved one in a nice romantic setting.

Have you ever visited this part of Paris?

St. Christopher in Reims

This is a shot of the interior of the Basilica of St. Remi in the city of Reims, France.
The Abbey of St. Remi founded in the sixth century contains the relics of the Bishop St. Remi, who converted Clovis, the king of the Franks, to Christianity in 496 AD. The small church later became a basilica thanks to the Pope Leo IX.

The origins of the abbey lie in a 6th century chapel dedicated to Saint Christopher, as seen on the photo carrying baby Jesus on his shoulder. The church later acquired the relics of St Remi which founded its success and was visited by many kings and Popes.
The Basilica was looted during the French Revolution and many valuable objects where destroyed. Later during the first World War, the building was bombed and a huge fire destroyed the roof and vaults. The restoration lasted until 1958 and the stone vaults were replaced with wood and plaster.

The original organ was destroyed during the 1918 bombings. In the year 2000, the French organ-builder Bertrand Cattiaux offered this magnificent instrument to the basilica. It looked like it was almost glowing in the dark.
The chandelier seen in the background contains 96 candles representing the Bishop's age when he died in the year 533 AD.

In 1991, the Basilica of Saint Remi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I recommend visiting the place!

Pere Lachaise - City of the Dead

Pere Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris and probably the most famous and visited cemetery in the world. Originally established by Napoleon I in 1804, it is "home" to some of the most famous French and foreign personalities.
I visited the cemetery in winter walking along the cold alleys swept by a chilling wind. The light was really beautiful, and the place was deserted.
It felt like wandering in a huge city of the dead with all those famous names staring up at me from the crumbling and forgotten stones.

Pyrénées at dawn.

Most people will tell you that the first day of the Camino de Santiago is the hardest day of the walk (starting from St. Jean Pied-de-Port) and I agree.

Waking up at dawn in this old Basque village, at the foot of the Pyrénées mountains, I start my month long journey with much anticipation.
The temperature outside is freezing on this September morning, and yet my pilgrim companions and I manage to remain brave and start the climb towards the Spanish border instead of waiting in a café for sunrise.
St Jean is located at about 200m (660 ft) above sea level. On the first day, most pilgrims climb towards the Spanish border, at the top of the Pyrénées at 1400m high (4600ft) and back down to Roncesvalles at 400m (1300ft). The climb is pretty steep in some parts on the French side but the scenery is spectacular.
Halfway up to the top on the French side, I turn around to have a look at the hilly landscape still blanketed in mist as the sun slowly rises, radiating its warmth on the breathless pilgrims.
I stop and listen to Nature's awakening, savoring the moment, eyes shining with the excitement and expectation of days to come.

I know at this moment it was worth walking a second time.

Le Bistrot Parisien

When you hear Paris, what do you think? What image comes to mind?

Of course, most people visualize the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame. But Paris is also much much more than that!

What I love most is the small narrow streets with the old bistrots and the cliché frenchman with his baguette (for the record, a baguette never reaches a house untouched.. half of it is ALWAYS eaten on the road..yumm!) going home under a cold rain while a couple is kissing soaking wet.

That's Paris for me, the old Deuch ("Deux-Chevaux" The old Citroën car on the photo), the cafés and bistrots, the smell of croissant, the sound of accordion..

Listen to this music, close your eyes, and wander in the streets of the city of Love!

~Paris je t'aime!~

Pont d'Austerlitz

The Pont d'Austerlitz is a bridge crossing the Seine in Paris. The construction began in 1801 till 1805 but it was rebuilt later due to cracks appearing all the time making it a dangerous bridge to cross. The actual bridge was finished in 1885.

It is pleasant to walk along the Seine river and watch the Peniches and Bateaux-mouches on the calm waters. Every traveler should at least visit the "berges de la Seine" once while having a good jambon-beurre (Ham and Butter in a baguette sandwich). So cliché but so good!

Enjoy!

La Blue Eiffel

An unusual shot of the Tour Eiffel in Paris. I have not touched the colors, so yes.. It was blue :)

In 2008, the Eiffel Tower was lit in blue every evening because France was presiding the E.U. at that time. It was an overcast evening so the sky appeared pinkish.

You can see a different view from the tower here. It also had the yellow stars that represent the European Union flag.

Enjoy!

Notre Dame de Paris

This past year, I have visited many cathedrals during my travels. I always find these worship places quite impressive.

Notre Dame (Our Lady in french) is one of the icons of Paris of course, located not far from the Musee du Louvre. It is one of the most visited places in the city.

Its construction began in 1163 and was effectively completed by 1345 (a 182 years of construction). It is one of the first Gothic cathedrals.

Enjoy!

Golden Bliss

I grew up in a Gulf country and till today, Autumn still amazes me with its colors because it has been a season I barely knew.

I had my share of beautiful colors when I traveled through Spain and France (photo above).

This photo was taken in Paris, in the "Jardin des Plantes" (Botanical garden?). A lovely place with also so much to learn about plants and climates.

Enjoy!

"Every Leaf speaks Bliss to me, fluttering from the Autumn tree"

~ Emily Bronte ~

Peace

While visiting the Eiffel tower again with a friend, I came across this monument at the end of the "Champs de Mars" (a big garden next to the tower), right in front of the military school that you see behind the monument on the photo.

It is a monument dedicated to Peace. It consists of 32 pillars with the word "peace" written in 32 different languages all over them.

I find it kind of ironic to have a peace monument right in front of a military school actually.

And just a little trivia for those interested: Do you know why that big garden is called "Champs de Mars" (field of mars)? No it has nothing to do with the planet.. It's because this area was used as a field to plant potatoes imported from the American continent. These potatoes were planted in the month Mars, hence the name. Yep... Before being a french icon, this area was a potato field :)

Bon appetit!

Carousel

There are 3 things in Life that make me automatically smile, return back to childhood and awesomely make my day:

1-Snowglobes (Beautiful ones and not stupid souvenirs).

2-Old Music boxes (With a beautiful tune, original, and not happy birthdays or Christmas songs).

3-Carousels

I find something magical in these old wooden carousels. As if they had a spirit of their own. I almost sense it as an element right out of a fairy tale.

I could just stand there and watch it turn and turn with children laughing their hearts out, while the hypnotizing tune captures your soul to take you back to childhood... Weird isn't it!

So if you want to make me happy... You know what to offer for christmas!

Happy Merry-go-round!

Autumn Leaves

I want an end like autumn leaves

That gracefully depart the tree

A Life beyond the edge of branch

My season reached, a freedom's chance.

To drift upon a breeze refined

Descending toward my Life's design.

To welcome all these changes sown

From light received to splendor shown.

And when I've reached my place of rest

I hope my life, by then shines best.

As I depart this withered shell

With peaceful colors chosen well.

Photo taken in Paris, Jardin de Luxembourg .. Poem author unknown.

La Flute

"To him no vain regrets belong

Whose soul, that finer instrument,

Gave to the world no poor lament,

But wood-notes ever sweet and strong.

O lonely friend! he still will be

A potent presence, though unseen,

Steadfast, sagacious, and serene;

Seek not for him -- he is with thee."

~ Louisa May Alcott ~

(Photo taken in the Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris - France).

French Icon

When we hear "Paris", one of the first images in our head is: The "Tour Eiffel".

This 324m (1063 feet) high tower is the tallest standing structure in Paris and is the most visited single paid monument in the world. It was built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle and was supposed to be destroyed in 1909. As it has been used by the army and by a radio station (an antenna is on the top), the city of Paris gave permission for the tower to stand longer and it later became one of the icons of the city of Love.

It is also a great idea to visit the tower at night as it is all lit up (different colors depending on the occasion). Every hour, it starts sparkling for a few minutes. Don't miss it!

French Camino

This picture was taken on the first day of my Camino. It's located on the french side, before the spanish border, near St Jean Pied-de-Port.

It's quite a big change for me to travel from the UAE's chaotic skyscrapers and desert landscapes to the green mountains of the Pyrenees. I just feel connected to the mountains: I am a mountain person I guess.

We started walking late on the first day, not knowing that most pilgrims stop walking around 4~5pm. I guess that's why we were most of the time walking alone.
Reaching the top of the mountain (from 200m to 1400m high in 5hours), we had to stop and camp in the freezing cold, misty and windy weather. The first night was rough but we had such a splendid view from the top in the morning, with an ocean of clouds at our feet. It was worth it!

For those interested, here's a wallpaper version of the same photo uncropped for you to enjoy: 1024x664 , 1280x830 resolutions (click on the "Download button on the top).

A Bridge to Summer

I like to take long walks along a river on a calm Sunday morning, while everyone else is asleep.
This shot was taken in Perigueux - France, while having a walk with my brother.
Oddly enough, it does look like it was taken in autumn but it actually is winter (it was in January).
The foreground leaves were a bit more orange but I changed the hue to red to make them pop out.
It's a Bridge to Summer, the foreground looks like autumn but in the background, you can see it's sunny and the grass is green. It's a magic bridge I tell ya!