Jura Gems

Until not so long ago, I wouldn't have had the foggiest if you asked me where the Jura was. Well, apart from that Island that makes whisky. Now I get to spend quite a bit of time there, it's really quite beautiful, unspoilt in many ways, good to get away from the city occasionally. Here are some highlights from the last trip to the Jura mountains.

Apparently a protected flower of the region.

















The rolling meadows of the region.

































Quite a bit of plantation activity.

Jurassian wildlife, about as close one will get to Jurasic Park lookalikes here. Also to be spotted are wild boar, little bambi wannabes. Oh yes, and the things you use to dry your car, the chamois, they also stroll the hills.

Ahhh the forests
















Some more wildlife, this time of the indoor variety, and the predators of said wildlife:

Hunting is quite big in the Jura, even moth hunting, and it takes serious concentration...
















and apparently teamwork.














































Poppies can often be found sprouting on the sides of the roads.
















So if you are ever in France and want to spend a few days in tranquillity, away from it all, then take in the hills, lakes and forests of the Jura region. Head towards Switzerland, if you hit Geneve you have gone too far.

Seine scenes

A stroll down the Seine the other day presented a few man-made marvels.

Recently the fastest train in the world, SNCF's trainset 4402, was floated down the Seine for all to see. It is of the TGV family, which now holds the world speed record for conventional rail travel of a tad less than 575 km/h. Looks like a normal TGV from the outside with a cool paint job, good news for street car tuners, maybe those blue lights and garish colours do make it go faster. Wow! 575.... hmm more than half a plane without the 'please arrive an hour before' inconvenience...

Further down I popped in to Manhattan, well sort of, a quieter, less assuming, smaller version of the one the French shipped off to the States in 1886. Much of the structural work done by some guy called Eiffel...

I'm afraid while I am in Paris, you will have to put up with many a picture of The tower. It dominates the concept of Paris, and to think it was to be a temporary exhibit. Of course it's an essential part of the Seine scenes.

Speed, liberty and endurance... sounds like the perfect combination.

SA: Flavour of the month

You can't imagine how surprised I was yesterday to spot a sunset behind Lion's Head in Cape Town. "What you on about???", I hear you Capetownians say, the sun normally sets around there. Yes, indeed, but this was inside the Paris Metro, an ad for Desperados... city look familiar?

excuse the phone photie

In fact, it is quite difficult to feel like one is too far away from SA here in Paris. The department of tourism is going bos on BBC World with a cool campaign of ad's that makes one quite proud to be South African. A trip through the metro normally boasts posters of some or other concert by SA artists, or an African festival.

I know the experience can more than surpass the propaganda, but I hope the SA government is owning up to problems that need to be tackled, so the tourists do keep going back. You better make it worth the increased airfares that I have to pay to visit!

Maybe I should be less surprised about seeing lots of 'home' here, after all the French football team is African.

Wishing you a Cape Town sunset, if you haven't seen one yet, you best get your butt down to the most beautiful city in the world. Please, just not when I'm trying to get a ticket!

Storm Brewing

This last weekend has seen some fair storm action in the west of France. Here it is brewing up a storm in the Jura, on the east.
















Rainbows for you this week!

Weekend strolls

I at least have two less people who write my political blah off to cynicism; the two guys serving unprecedented jail sentences for being caught in the post election riots. I agree, those that burn cars for fun in the name of protest are peasant scum, but amazing how justice can change in a few days since Sunday's elections... hmmmm

Not too much else to report, so just quick Parisian weekend in photos...

Rue Mouffetard, apparently a road from the Roman days, with its market that dates back to the 12th century. A feast for the senses with a jazz quartet on the corner, coffee wafting out the brasserie and meat, bread , fruit and flowers all along the road.

Sorry there are quite a few flower photos that you have had to put up with of late, but it is spring, and it has certainly sprung in France. Such beautiful roses and rhododendrons to be found all over.

The sun and storm clouds jousted for dominance on Sunday afternoon, above and below are not only the same day, but probably 10 minutes apart, beautiful day for a stroll. Both photos of the beautiful Pont Alexandre III.

"Ball games strictly forbidden", hmm seemed to work ;)
















Believe it or not, the military school, expect it to be some botany institute huh?

Hope the flowers are smiling at you this week.

Victory day 'weekend'

The weekend past offered up a bridge day to turn it into a long one. It also hosted the French presidential elections on Sunday, and Victory Day commemorations on the Tuesday. Sunday proved to be Nicolas Sarkozy's very own Victory Day, a megalomaniac dream come true. Perhaps I should review my comments in the previous posting, as one of the areas of reform will no doubt be the immigration legislation. I should take my cue from the leer jet, luxury yacht owning 'friends' and start kissing butt. When will the electorate realise that politicians just lie? With the people... ja right!

Ah well enough of that, there are many a photie to get through since we took advantage of the long weekend to explore the wild coast of Normandy and Brittany, the land of crêpes and cider. What a beautiful spot! Well worth the visit if you find yourself in France.

First stop Mont Saint Michel, which lies in the bay that plays host to the greatest tide fluctuation in the world. So for half the time the Mont is essentially an island (before man got involver and built a dyke with a road on top of it, which will be undone in 2012), and the other half it is part of the mainland with only a squishy walk separating it from the dry. A spectacular abbey sits atop the granite bolder, a must see.

A dish of the area is salted field lamb, obviously one of these guys that dines on the grass in the 'flood' plain.

A view of the sands at low tide with the island, Rocher de Tomberlaine, about 3km in distance.

A nifty winch system, back in the old days when it was used as a prison, the supplies could be dragged up the rock using a prisoner powered winch. Yip, a giant hamster wheel, add a few prisoners and voilà.

And St Michel himself, obviously a sculpture by a sculptor and not a swordsman what with the sword and scabbard on the same side...

A little circuit inland took in Fougères amongst others. What a charming town, spectacularly clean and well looked after with an great mix of old and new and beautiful gardens. Amazing to see a city like this where it feels like everyone is proud to be a part of it and does their bit to make it a stunning place to visit. Did I mention a cool little crêperie?

Looking across at the old château in Fougères.

A cool thing that all cities should have, a signposted hour long walk of the historical, cultural and beautiful spots that one can easily do when popping in for a crêpe. As seen above, a part of this walk with the signpost showing you what is coming up next.

A visit to the French countryside will undoubtedly mean a few châteaux, and this trip was no exception. Château de Bonnefontaine provided a pleasant stretch the legs stroll around their park.

Château Combourg is a far more interesting stop. In the days gone by, the home of writer Chateaubriand.

And a great garden for a game of cricket...

St Malo can be found where the Rance river says 'howzit' to the Channel, the old walled city is great to stroll around, and lunch at Crêperie Margaux, the best we visited. A strong nautical history, a place corsairs and explorers called home.

Across the Rance from St Malo lies Dinard, half vacant town awaiting the swallows from England to arrive to dust off their stately homes.

View of St Malo from Dinard.

Pointe du Grouin is where the mainland meets the Channel just up the road from Cancale. Ahhhh the oysters, so tasty!!!
















St Suliac, number 2 of the most beautiful villages in France ticked off the list. Cute!

Inland along the Rance, where it looks more river-like than estuary, lies Dinan with an ancient city that lies within the old rampart walls. More cityish feeling than the others, but steeped in history with ancient spots that makes exploring intriguing.

The rue de la soif in Dinan, full of bars that should be tackled in a single night apparently.

So that's Brittany and a little of Normandy. Summed up by spectacular scenery, kind, 'go out of their way' people (yes, I know, it's just not French), oodles of history and of course crêpes and cider...

Back to Paris and duelling for one's spot in the pedestrian crossing, let alone the food chain. I think they could learn a thing or two from those out west.

Lots to explore, I am sure you will see more of Brittany in the future. Happy crêping!