France

Birdsong and Snow

This week, winter snow has met spring birdsong.

A year ago we made the same long journey but then burdened with large suitcases and significant trepidation. The last year has been difficult and the culture shock of French society has been more challenging than I expected.

Graffiti in Lyon

Graffiti in Lyon tends to be a form of tagging. Marks executed with no artistic intent; an expression of defiance and to desire to mark a location. One tagger went a step further than marking a wall, they had tagged a hedge.

Fête des lumières

Fête des lumières (festival of lights) is Lyon’s largest annual festival. During the four days of festivities the centre of the city swells with visitors enjoying the light shows and art installations.

Fête des feuilles

We came back from sunny Australia just in time to see the fête des feuilles, festival of leaves, in Lyon’s Parc de la Tête d’Or. It was by chance that we stumbled upon the open air exhibit of autumnal works.

Clouds

Being above the clouds is awe inspiring. Vast distances of soft cloud stretch out in every direction.

Lake Annecy

The surrounding landscape is awe inspiring with mountains rising up from the shore to the north and woodland covers most of the rugged views.

Religious Annecy – The New

Standing over the town of Annecy is the Basilique de la Visitation. This imposing modern church is far removed in location and style from the churches of the old town.

Watery Annecy - Bridges and Canals

Annecy is perched on the edge of a lake. Tributaries of the lake flow through the old town. The flow of water is managed and channeled between, under, and around buildings.

Religious Annecy - The Old

Annecy has quite a history with regard to religion and its role as a seat of religious power. Geneva is close by and Annecy claimed a reactionary anti-reformation stance.