July 13/2011, arrival in Lourdes, a Catholic pilgrimage site in the Pyrenees, south-central France.
The pilgrimage site at the side of the church.
The Grotto.
The Bastille overlooking Lourdes, the Pyrenees in the background. I was there for Bastille Day and there was a great fireworks display that night.
Pension accommodation, very reasonable.
A "little Pilgrim". There were a lot of ethnic Tamil pilgrims at Lourdes, of various faiths.
On the road north outside of Lourdes to Chartres, 800 kms. to the north.
In the countryside just south of Chartres, rolling with hedges. Big wheat growing area.
In Chartres, a pretty medieval town set in rich farmland 80 kms. south of Paris.
River view.
Side street off the Cathedral.
The magnificent 13th century Cathedral of Notre Dame de Chartres dominates the town.
Ornately carved entranceways.
Astonishing blue stain glass windows.
More windows.
A young couple starting out. What a place to get married!!
It was an overcast, rainy day and the colours were still impressive.
A short drive north was Versailles and its palace. I decided to camp here and visit it and later Paris , 20 minutes away by train.
A view from the Palace of the huge gardens of Marie Antoinette.
Ceiling, Palace of Versailles.
The Hall of Mirrors. God these Royals were really full of themselves! No wonder that the people rose up!
Dinner setting for a weekly meeting of the King and Queen with courtiers.
Outside of the Palace of Versailles.
Central Paris on the Seine with the "Ile De La Cite", and to the right "L'Ile St-Louis".
Enjoying lunch, central Paris.
Notre Dame Cathedral.
The attending gargoyles.
The Seine. I did not have great weather while in Paris. I found the people fine and never ran into that rudeness that you sometimes associate with the city.
Did all the regular tourist spots.
Myself.
The Arch of Triumph.
On the Champs Elysees, looking back towards the Arch.
On the other end of the Champs Elysees in the garden of the Louvre.
Central courtyard of the Louvre. The entrance is below the Pyramid.
Crowds in the Louvre.
All around the "Mona Lisa".
"Herself"!! She does draw you!
From Paris-Versailles I made for Mont St. Michel, an iconic symbol of France on the Atlantic coast. Above farming scene near Mont St. Michel.
Mt. St. Michel, an incredible setting on an island that is surrounded completely by water at the higher tides.
Finn and Eagon, two Danish travellers sharing the same campsite at Mt. St. Michel.
A-St.Jean Pied de Port, B-Lourdes, C-Versailles, Paris, and D-Mont St. Michel.
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