June 20/2011, across the border from Heidelberg near Beaune, south-west of Strasbourg, in Burgundy. Wine country.
Stopped at a small village to buy some tobacco after deciding to take up pipe smoking for the summer. There is something very delightful about the French countryside and its small towns that I have seldom encountered anywhere else, excepting Tuscany in Italy. It is a sense of enjoying life, "joie de vivre". Hard to explain unless experienced
Entering the French Alps, bordering Italy.
View from a valley near Mont Blanc.
Mont Blanc and glacier from my campsite at the base of the mountain in Chamoix early in the morning.
Fairyland type building on one of the neighbouring peaks.
Highway vista in the southern Alps on my way to Provence.
Campsite in Aix-en-Provence.
In most of Western Europe I stayed in campgrounds. They were great as a rule, especially in France, and quite reasonable, between 10 and 20 Euros per night. They often had a pool and restaurant on site, with morning baguettes available in the French ones.
"Sur le Pont d'Avignon". The bridge from the famous children's song in Avignon, Provence, on the banks of the Rhone River.
"Palais des Papes", situated on a rock outcrop in the centre of Avignon, built in the 14th century and meant to serve as a fortified palace for the papal court. The Pope resided here from 1305 to 1377, when the papacy moved back to Rome.
In the papal gardens.
This couple was having quite an animated discussion.
Side street and cafe, Avignon.
Rural road, south of France, west of Avignon. The countryside is full of these beautiful tree lined paved delights, winding through wine country. Great, especially on a motorcycle!
Crossing into Spain through the Pyrenees near the Mediterranean north of Barcelona.
On the Mediterranean, with the Sea in the distance. The coast is very developed.
On the road, east central Mediterranean coast.
Murcia, south eastern Spain, the Med. in the distance. I had planned to go along the southern coast to Gibraltar, but the heat was getting uncomfortable and decided to turn west into Andalusia.
Granada, home of the Alhambra, for eight centuries the capital of Moorish Spain. The photo above is of the altar of the Cathedral, beside which are buried Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic monarchs responsible for the Reconquista and final expulsion of the Moors in 1492.
On the walls of the Alhambra, one of the most graceful architectural achievements in the Muslim world.
Looking out over Granada from the Alhambra.
Fountains, plazas and Moorish architecture.
Nasrid Palace and fountain.
"Sala de las dos Hermanas", room of the two sisters.
View over the city from a courtyard.
Tens of beautiful courtyards and plazas.
"Patio de los Leones", patio of the lions.
Around every corner another pool and fountain.
Even some goldfish.
Water flowing everywhere.
Muslim tourists.
Muslim tourists.
Thanks for sharing all these Frank.Some beautiful places you have been to in your travels.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
ReplyDelete