Saturday Photo: Up, Up and Away... Flying Buttresses

 This is l'église St-Pierre in Chartres, but down the hill from the cathedral.  The church was built in the 12th century, even before the cathedral.  I find it amazing that such a massive structure depends on the buttresses for equilibrium.  Truly a combination of the static and the dynamic. 

Saturday Photo: More Roses...

 Enjoying the flowers while we can.  I understand that picking roses and trashing the ones that have blasted on the bush will encourage more blooms.

 

We shall see... 

Saturday Photo: A Rose by Any Other Name...

 Was delighted the other morning to see that we have roses!  Hadn't even noticed the buds, but after a long stretch of cool, rainy weather, a warm day seemed to be the trigger for blossoms.  Suddenly there were lots of buds and several flowers ready to burst out.

 Spring is always full of surprises, many of which smell wonderfully sweet, as these roses do.  

Saturday Photo: Finding Room in Paris...

Space is at a premium in the Haussmannian buildings which give the city such charm.  The owners of this one got around the absence of space for an elevator by putting it in the middle of the spiral staircase.  Room enough for two persons or one person and a suitcase, but it gets you up to the fifth floor which we found most useful during our recent stay. 

 

 

Saturday Photo: Flowers on the Bridge over the Eure at Chartres

The pacquettes were in bloom when we were in France a couple of weeks ago, even on the bridges.  This one is in the lower town in Chartres. where the famous cathedral is.  Certainly there is a lot to see there in addition to that church.

Saturday Photo: Le Jardin des plantes etc.

We were in Paris for nearly two weeks.  Lovely weather for the most part and many enjoyable experiences.  Glad to visit le Jardin des plantes again, which was the reason I first went to Paris 25 years ago.
 

Saturday Photo: First Daffodil...

 Well, spring had better come soon.  A few snowflakes this morning.  But I saw bees yesterday afternoon.  We'll get there yet!