France, here we come

Hello dear friends,

Even though I should be packing my suitcase, just wanted to pop in and say hello and sorry I have not been around much.
Have had the flu and can't seem to shake off a chesty cough which lingers and has been doing the rounds here.
We fly out for France for a couple of weeks, so getting excited to be going back again .... Paris for a week and Bordeaux for two.

Hope all is well with you all and will come and visit you soon.

Will leave you with some pretty pink roses and wishing you all a happy week
hugs
Carolyn

Picturesque Nice

I can't think of a way to start this post until I have acknowledged the heartache and sadness about what is happening around the world. 
Having been to Nice twice, the last time back in September and looking back over my photos was reminded of how beautiful this place is.
Having walked along the Promenade des Anglais, dined out at a street-side restaurant, swam in the sparkling blue French Riviera  and shopped at the brocante. Will share a few of my snapshots

We are reminded of how precious life is and wouldn't it be great if we could live together in this beautiful world peacefully. 

Vive la France

Sending love and hugs

Carolyn

Celebrating Bastille day

Bon jour!

Yesterday was Bastille Day and I had hoped to do a post yesterday but other things took up my time..
So here goes a few snapshots taken around France, no need for too many words and will let the pictures do the work for me

To start with the iconic 2CV ... this one was fun, painted in blue, white and red

One of the highlights for me was staying and living like a Parisian for a week. We chose this  apartment to stay,  A la Carte apartments in the Marais Arrondissiment.
Situated on  Rue de Ravioli, the street was busy with cars and people everywhere and this was the view looking out the window, beautiful beige buildings and leafy green trees in the park.  We found this to be an ideal place to stay, with it been so handy to everywhere and pounded lots of cobblestone streets

 Many very cute dogs - hopefully she can see where she is going

Rows of pretty pastel coloured apartments

To finish off, roses for the weekend ~
 Memories for a lifetime

Thank you as always for joining me here and wishing you a very happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

A visit to Giverny

Having always loved the paintings of Monet,  a visit to Giverny was on my list of things I would love to go and see.
Located 50 miles outside the hustle and bustle of Paris,  we left the apartment to catch the bus early in the morning which would take us to Giverny.

The white garden

 What a lovely way to spend the day,  strolling around Claude Monets beautiful garden.

Here are a few of my photographs I will share with you

 There was so much beauty from the Japanese bridge painted green, the tranquility of the waterlily gardens, the weeping willows to the wonderful flowers blooming.

A few gardeners were working at keeping the place looking wonderful and I imagine this would be a full time job.

 

 I loved looking through the house in which the Artist and his family lived. You were able to go through and see the walls adorned with a wonderful collection of his Artwork,  the bedroom he slept in and the kitchen where meals would have been prepared

This is a photographers dream place, to capture the beautiful flowers and nature

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.
It is Queens birthday weekend here and Monday is a holiday. Also my dear husband celebrates his birthday on the 6th, so happy birthday Martin and the Queen
hugs
Carolyn

A little bit of France

Bon jour dear friends,

Every year on the 14 Juillet, Bastille Day, it has me thinking of the wonderful vacation spent there  and the happy memories come flooding back when I look at my photographs.
So here are just a few to share and why I love this place.

Relaxing at the seaside

Pretty facades and Architecture

Exquisite delights

I hope you have all been well.
Having injured my back on Wednesday ( being silly and carrying something heavy) I am now taking things gingerly.
It hurts sitting, lying down in bed at night and rolling over wakes me up. I find standing doing the ironing, gentle walks help, and after a hot bath this morning, I am feeling a little better.
Look forward to coming over to see you soon.

A beautiful weekend to you all
hugs
Carolyn

French Doors

La grande porte was at the Versaille Palace

Today I would like to share some grand doors that caught my eye 

When we were in France there was something fun about walking around the streets, on the look out for beautiful doors.

There is never a shortage of fabulous door photo opportunities.

Made me wonder what was behind the doors we passed by... I guess beautiful interiors, furniture and inspiration.

Last but not least was Number 22 with the sweet heart carved on the door, had a welcoming look

I do hope that you are enjoying your weekend and wish you a happy week ahead
hugs
Carolyn

Europe Simply Irresistible Link Party

The lovely Anita at Castles Crowns and Cottages is hosting a European holiday, blog party. I am tres heureuse to be part of this. Merci, Anita for organizing this for us all.

I will take you away  to  France  and share some of my photos with you.
Each time we have visited I enjoy it a little more.

 My bags are packed and I am excited for this little escape and to go to far away places.
{ need to get away from the winter here}

 We will start with some of the wonderful markets,  cheeses that have a smell all of their own, the vegetables were so fresh and looked like they had just been picked from the garden

 A gentleman skillfully weaving the French style market basket

 the pretty fleurs in abundance,

to the beautiful fragrances of the soaps and lavender sachets

 





We left Paris on the TGV (fast train ) and this is such a great way to travel - fast and efficient.
Then hired a car to travel to Gordes, this is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Just when you thought you've seen everything along came the wonderful old village built into the cliffside. 

Amazing old maisons and buildings, built from a lovely white stone and with its labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets.

Menerbes is another village that I would like to share with you, Peter Mayle made this place famous when chronicling his first year living here, as a British expatriate.
It had wonderful maisons and the feeling of ... I could live here in this village.

 this was the view overlooking the Luberon valley from a restaurant we dined at. You could almost imagine that was somewhere like where Mr Mayle lived, in his 200 year old stone farmhouse

Had a long leisurely lunch at a vineyard restaurant - La Bastide de Marie, with wonderful authentic local cuisine

Lastly one of my favourite things to do and unwind while on holiday is to spend time relaxing beside the water. 

The French Riviera at Nice was just the place to do that ~ with its clear sparkling blue water

Now I look forward to coming to enjoy all the other wonderful holiday destinations ~ lovely to dream and a great way to spend the weekend
Happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn