A sunny day in February, looking from the palace of Versailles over frozen fountains to the far end of the property. Forty minutes of walking to the Estate of Marie Antoinette.
At the far end of the property of Versailles you reach the Estate of Marie Antoinette with the summer house, delightful gardens and a little hamlet of thatched cottages built in 1783 for the Queen, with a working farm, dairy and water mill.
A stunning Gothic chapel on Ile de la Cite built to house the precious relics (including the crown of thorns) bought by Louis IX. The price of the relics was actually far more than the cost to build this impressive chapel.
Walking under the tower is quite something....as are the crowds lined up for the elevators. (I did take the elevator up as it was after dark, but took the stairs down from the second stage.)
Displayed in a darkened room of the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages, are six wall-size tapestries woven of wool and silk in the 15th century. The size, colour and detail of these tapestries is very impressive.
Paintings displayed in the Orangerie and Orsay Museums. Light and colour create a dream-like world on a peaceful pond reflecting clouds, willows and the passage of time.
The city of lights....and so many sights to see! Bridges, churches, works of art and works of steel; a city full of tourists even on cold rainy days in February. Yet a few hours of sunshine and the city shines with gold, and after night falls the light show is brilliant.
Passing in front of Chartres Cathedral, the mosaic in the pavement points the way on the famous medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain where the remains of St. James were said to be found.
January 2010 found me back in Italy with the L'Arche community of Il Chicco. I often went to Rome on my day off to explore favourite places and make new discoveries.
The dome of the Vatican is a sight that never ceases to inspire me.