The Charm of Aix-en-Provence
Posted on: November 19, 2015
- In: Travel
- 3 Comments
The first stop on our cruise was Marseilles, France. This was my very first visit to France! Another dream come true. We took a bus to Aix-en Provence as we had heard so many wonderful things about this charming place, the home of Cezanne. We were not disappointed. The only problem was that we wanted more time to explore. What we did see we loved, and promised to return.
Mont Sainte-Victoire, Cezanne´s favourite subject to paint, overlooks the city.
The bakeries and pastry shops are mouth watering.
A pleasant walk took us through the historic town centre with interesting architecture and stately houses
At the town hall we witnessed a wedding about to take place.
Carvings grace the outside of the impressive twelfth century St. Saviour´s Cathedral built on the site of a former Roman forum
Inside the dome of the cathedral
Original frescos from the 12th century discovered in the cathedral
Not surprising that we stumbled upon an artists´market
Aix-en-Provence is famous for its many gorgeous fountains
Aix has a long and interesting history and has been an artistic centre and seat of learning since the twelfth century. We enjoyed a café au lait at one of the many outdoor cafés that Paul Cezanne, Emile Zola or Ernest Hemingway may well have frequented. My first visit to France was a favourable one and I can´t help but wonder why it took me so long to get there.
In light of recent events, I dedicate this post to the good citizens of France who are in my heart and in my prayers.
Everything Gaudi
Posted on: November 12, 2015
- In: Spain | Travel
- 32 Comments
We started our wonderful Mediterranean cruise in Barcelona. Lucky for us, good friends from Canada were there at the same time, so we arrived a day early to spend time with them. We met our friends at a Starbucks right across the street from Casa Mila, one of Gaudi´s masterpieces. There I was treated to a pumpkin spice latte which made me very happy as I had been lamenting being left out this year. (there are no Starbucks coffee shops where I live.)
Who would have thought in 2015, I would be sitting across the street from an iconic building in Barcelona, sipping a pumpkin spice latte? Should this be a dream, please don´t wake me up!
Casa Mila designed by Antoni Gaudi
A short taxi ride took us to Park Güell. We had been to Barcelona once before and loved it. But we had not visited Park Güell, so we took the opportunity to explore this fascinating park created in 1900 by Antoni Gaudi. In order to preserve this heritage site, a limited amount of people are allowed into Monument Precinct, the main park area. Our ticket was for 1:30 so we had plenty of time to wander the lush gardens around the park and take in panoramic views from the top of the hill.
Entrance to the gardens
Gaudi´s Sagrada Família from Park Gruell
Art and nature
Once inside the Monument Precinct, we were instantly mesmerized. There was so much to take in. The colours and fantastical designs were mind boggling. A combination of greenery and art amazed us at every turn. We sat on the famous ceramic bench, which was surprisingly comfortable. I read later that Gaudi had one of the workers take down his pants and sit on it to make sure it fit the human derrière perfectly.
Brightly coloured mosaic salamanders, whimsical houses fit for elves and fairies, gargoyles, and a mosaic clad ceramic undulating bench held up by 86 columns are just a few of the delights of Park Gruell. Everyone who visits can´t help but turn into an excited child in a fantasy land! (or maybe that was just me)
The ceramic bench
This mosaic salamander is the most photographed item in Barcelona!
Hypostyle Room with 86 columns
Inside the Hypostyle Room
Small pieces of broken tiles and ceramics, often taken from demolition sites, were used to create the colourful mosaics.
The Monumental Flight of Stairs, the ceramic bench is on top of the Hypostyle building.
Trying out the ceramic bench (with our pants on)
The last stop of the day before boarding the ship was Gaudi´s Casa Batllo. Another fabulous house designed by the master architect for the Batllo family. The roof top with its fascinating chimneys is something else.
Casa Batllo
Roof top of Casa Batllo
A bonus to see all this with good friends who brought us a year´s supply of Maple syrup. What a great start to our trip.
More to come…..
All photographs by Darlene and Paul Foster
Friday FANTASTIC Flash with Darlene Foster, Elissaveta Marinova, and Me.
Posted on: November 6, 2015
- In: guest posts | Writing
- 10 Comments
My story, Terror in the Tower, is in this Friday FANTASTIC Flash. Thanks aliisaacstoryteller for including me.
Friday FANTASTIC Flash Writing Challenge.
http://www.aliisaacstoryteller.com
Last week I challenged you to write about a building. Here is the prompt…
Tell me about a building which is important to you; are its walls ancient and crumbling, or modern shining glass and cold steel? Does it mean home to you, or prison? What happened here? Why do you care?
First off, I’d like to welcome a newcomer to Friday FANTASTIC Flash, Darlene Foster, who submitted this stunning story…
Terror in the Tower
Angela glances at the tower ruins that overlook the city from high on a grassy mound and pulls her sweater tighter around her. She experiences the same chill every time she walks past the site.
When she was seven, her mother took her up to the old stone keep. From a small window, she saw a girl looking out at her through iron bars. Fire blazed behind…
View original 1,312 more words
- In: guest posts | Inspiration | Writing
- 15 Comments
I am featured today on the wonderful blogsite Mother Daughter Book Reviews where I discuss how my photographs inspire my writing.
How Photographs Can Inspire Ideas
by Darlene Foster
As a writer of children’s books, I am often asked where I get ideas for my stories. I’m inspired by my travels for the most part and eager to share what I have seen and learned with my young readers. I start with a place, somewhere interesting, and include an adventure or a mystery for my main character, Amanda, to solve. Although I have the main idea, I often get stuck while putting the story together.
Read more of the article here
A Vacation From Retirement
Posted on: November 3, 2015
- In: Travel
- 43 Comments
I´ve been away! Yes, I took a vacation from retirement. Hubby and I went on a Mediterranean cruise and saw some amazing sights. We started with a day in Barcelona seeing the sites with good friends from Canada who happened to be there on a holiday. From there we boarded the fabulous ship, Fantasia. Our ports of call were, Marseilles in France (with a side trip to Aix-en-Provence), Genoa, Naples (with a side trip to Pompei) and Messina in Italy, and Valletta in Malta. A quick night time stop in Palma de Mallorca and back to Barcelona. Except for Barcelona, I had never been to any of these places before. It was incredible! I will write more about the individual stops, but for now here is a taste of what we saw.
Park Guell, Barcelona
Park Guell, Barcelona
Aix-en-provence, France
Aix-en-provence, France
Genoa, Italy
Genoa, Italy
Pompei, Italy
Pompei, Italy
Messina, Italy
Messina, Italy
Malta
Malta
Palma de Mallorca
Dinner on Fantasia
We moved to Spain to be able to see more of Europe and so we did. It was another dream come true!!
Santa Barbara Castle
Posted on: October 12, 2015
- In: Books | History | Spain | Travel
- 52 Comments
Our day trip to Villajoyosa ended with a stop at Santa Barbara Castle, overlooking the city of Alicante and the Mediterranean Sea. The very capable bus driver took us to the top of Mount Benecantil, 166 meters above the city, on a narrow, windy road. This was a large bus and we all held our breath as he barely made it through the castle entrance, built for horse and buggies.
The narrow entrance to the castle
Once there we had an hour to wander the castle and discover the history of Alicante on display in the museums throughout the castle. Archaeological remains from the Bronze Age, Iberian Age and Roman Times have been found on this site.
I enjoyed climbing around the many levels, checking out the dungeons, chapel, guardroom, bastions and turrets. I loved the wrought iron warriors and archers strategically placed around the castle.
The dungeons
The chapel ruins
Watch out for the archers!
Fascinating views of Alicante and the Mediterranean Sea
This was fun for me as I visited this site a number of years ago and set a scene in Amanda in Spain in this very castle
Kids posing with a warrior while dad takes a picture
Another person posing for the camera.
I can´t get enough of the rich history and fascinating castles around here.
Villajoyosa – Joy and Chocolate
Posted on: October 10, 2015
- In: Spain | Travel
- 31 Comments
I love chocolate! Studies have proven that chocolate, in moderation, makes you happy and is actually good for you. So, when we took a bus trip to the colourful town of Villejoyosa, famous for its chocolate industry, I wasn´t surprised to learn that Villejoyosa means “joyful town”.
The day began with a stop at Finestrat, a small community where we enjoyed a stroll through the market and a cafe con leche (descafeinado for me) on the lovely beach.
Relaxing at Finestrat beach
Next stop, the Chocolate Museum!
Villejoyosa was the first city in Spain to export chocolate. In the nineteenth century, chocolate manufacturing was the main industry in town, boasting 39 factories. Of the three factories left, Valor is the largest. It was established in 1881 by Don Valeriano López Lloret who imported the cocoa beans from Ecuador and began producing chocolate. The factory is still operated by the fifth generation of the same family. Many of the old pieces of equipment are housed in the museum.
original chocolate moulds
After watching a video explaining the process of making chocolate, we were led through a glassed in walkway overlooking the modern, clean and efficient factory. Valor chocolate is extremely popular in Spain and shipped all over the world. No photography is allowed in the factory.
There was no escaping the tempting aroma of chocolate as it was being mixed, placed in moulds and wrapped for shipping. Like an alcoholic visiting a brewery, I raced to the chocolate shop where we were treated to generous mouth watering samples. Before you ask, of course I purchased some to take home!
yummy samples
Two bags full!
We returned to the main part of of this happy town for a nice lunch overlooking the beach. After all that chocolate and food, we took a walk past the brightly painted houses along the beach and overlooking the river. The story is that many years ago the houses were painted different colours in order for each fisherman to be able to identify their house as they approached by sea.
Lively coloured houses hanging over the river
Mother and child sculpture by the old city walls
Street to the beach front
Colourful houses facing the sea
Whether the town is called “joyful village” because of the brightly painted houses or the connection to chocolate, I´m not sure. I did, however, leave very happy I visited this cheerful place.
We journeyed on to a castle in Alicante which I will tell you about in the next post.
What is your favourite type of chocolate?
