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G'day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . week ending 9 May |
 The fountain of the galloping horses.You cannot really go anywhere in Lyon without ending up here. It is something from a distance, but it is a whole lot more close up.... |
 The power that Bartholdi has put into this
work is amazing. The horses are formed with such realism, and while I know that that is an old fashioned sentiment, it is a
sight that moves you to wonder. |
 Fourviere Basilica dominates the Lyon skyline and one is always
catching glimpses of it rounding corners, or moving along a street or one of the rivers. |
 I think a little bit of
stylism adds to its effect. What say you? |
 With two rivers, Lyon has a fantastic number of bridges, most of
which had to be rebuilt after the retreating Nazis destroyed them in 1944. |
 Sometimes the houses are
improved with a little digital editing. |
 How do they do that, make flinty stone into a dance of leaves? |
Another canvas of a building that has not been let go to waste.And how well filled. Again, very difficult to photograph as one is up against the opposite building and this one, too, is done in three parts. You may be able to see that the eaves on the top of the building are at an odd angle in that you can see under them more than you should be able to. |
In those apartment buildings with the big (locked) door, how do you let in your visitors without having to trapse down
four flights of steps?An intercom system, with a catch release. Buzz the apartment you want, identify yourself and, hopefully, they will release the catch to let you in. |
Old farmers and old farm buildings. Small and quaint would be one way to describe them. |
One of the benefits of overcast weather, regular rain, despite the cold, is a thriving greenery that is just bursting out of the
ground at this time of year. |
Fields and fields of yellow, and tall with it. |
Wandering rustic paths through verdant fields and coppiced woods.Isn't that what it is all about? |
The red poppies spring up occasionally along the roadsides. The redness is brilliant, almost painfull to look at, and cannot
be captured by a camera, which always washes it out. |
Another ordinary doorway in Croix Rousse (Russet Cross), also part of the world heritage area of olde Lyon. |
These cute cars seem to pop up everywhere. |
At the roman theatre of the three Gauls, there appears to be a shrine to a more modern, and thorough, dictator - Coca-Cola. |
The sidestreets of olde Lyon just bust with buildings that speak of another era.Go to top of page |
The ubiquitous street market. Fruit and vegetables are not sold in bulk in this part of the world. As to whether the vendors
are the people who produce them, that is another matter.... |
G'day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . week ending 16 May |
Just another square in Lyon, dominated by a fountain, the centrepiece of a huge roundabout, and surrounded by buildings of an
elegance and structure that is inspiring. |
The Canuts Mural. This building is very deceptive. Firstly, it looks like several buildings, and a stairway, and people climbing
the stairs carrying things. But it is a trick. It is the (big, admittedly) blank wall of a building embellished with paint (paints
of different colours, admittedly). |
The Frecko clan overlooking the Saone River and the olde part of Lyon. As you can see, we are looking well, except maybe for the
church steeple growing out of MF's head. This steeple is identical to that on Saint Paul's church in olde Lyon. |
Another perfectly old street with stone paving and a central stone drain, and curving ever so slightly as these streets
are wont to do. |
This hotel has balconies with lots of people out taking the air. Well, it would be if it was not another blank wall
covered with coloured pigments. |
So, you think you have a steep street near where you live? Consider this zag-zag required to descend in the Croix Rousse area.
Be like us and catch the subway to the top and descend the street rather than attempt the opposite! |
I often wondered where black polystyrene sheets came from. Now I know. From a field in France. They look like they are
about ready to harvest. |
Number 25. |
It seems like people buy this small cars so they can park them sideways at all times.Go to top of page |
By accident or design, many of the strets in Lyon point to the Basilica Fourviere. Thus you will walk along a street, check out
the sidestreet and find two rows of renaissance architecture converging on this stately piece of Christian marble. |
The small French village of Perouges was mostly built during the 15th century. Situated on a hill, the outer walls afforded a sort
of fortress type protection. All of the village remains in its original condition or has been restored to same. Get there early in the
morning (anytime before 10 am) before the crowds arrive. |
Perouges house. It is a credit to the town that nothing of the 20th century is at all visible. No wire. No antenna. |
Perouges house, with somewhat of a mystical character. |
Perouges house. While of considerable character from the outside, it makes one wonder what it would be like on the inside. How
dark, how damp, how cool? |
Perouges window with robin.Go to top of page |
The Frecko clan at the site of the 'Old Chateau.' What remains is the surrounding wall made of local stones, now with several holes
in it, falling down in places and nearly totally covered in ivy. I wonder if removing the ivy would retard its degradation? |
This picture was taken near Genas in France. It is here for the people of the Southern Slopes of NSW in Australia, especially
the farmers, who are currently suffering a very severe drought.This colour will come back one day. |
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