Friday, September 30, 2016

off on another adventure


A shot from right outside our front door as these hot air balloons start their adventure shortly before sunset.

I know it seems like I just came back from a break from ADP, but here I am taking another one.  This time we're off on our own adventure to Japan.  However, I have queued up tomorrow's photo (CDP Theme day) to be automatically posted while we're in flight. So for now, au revoir.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

the garden gate


This elaborate stone entrance is to the garden at Château de la Bourdaisière.  The stone bridge in front crosses the moat around the château.  It's good to own a château.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

blazing in the wind


These grasses, backlit by a bright autumn sun, seem to be glowing.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

picnic at Château Gaillard


The big finale for the weekend food festival was a Sunday evening picnic on the grounds of Château Gaillard.  There were strolling musicians to entertain us while we dined and afterwards there was a lively dance band.  The weather was perfect and the brightly lit château set the festive mood.

Monday, September 26, 2016

la promenade royale


This last weekend there was first festival gastronomic in Amboise.  Included in the festivities was a parade down "main street" (rue Nationale) by the local volunteers of the Renaissance spectacle.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

bathed in the glow


The new lights on the château have been turned on after nine years of darkness.  These new ones (166 LED projectors) are so efficient that together they use about as much energy as a clothes iron.  I think it makes for a magical look.

Saturday, September 24, 2016

complicated sunset


Saturday sunset time.  This August one was an intricate mix of high and low clouds.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Autumnal equinox 2016


I actually got up a bit early to dash down to the bridge to grab this snap of the sunrise behind the château.  On this day of the equinox, that was pretty easy as the sun came up here a 7:41 am.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

the windmill like you've never seen


I don't know the purpose of this windmill at Château Bourdaisière, although I could speculate that it drives a water pump for the nearby gardens.  But even if it has no other purpose, it definitely entertains and amazes.  To me it looks like a design out of a Jules Verne novel.

Monday, September 19, 2016

talk about your glass ceilings


Alas, this old office entry belonged to a manufacturer that is no longer in business, but to many this may symbolize the job market these days.

Sunday, September 18, 2016

wading in


Here's another shot illustrating how low the Loire has been lately (this shot was taken ten days ago).  Typically, these three little "islands" are underwater, and typically it would be very difficult if not impossible to wade into the river here to do a little fishing.  We've had one rain since then and this area is again all submerged.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

sky high


This shot creates the illusion of an elaborate stone fence atop the levee in Amboise.  In fact, I took it at the base of the levee, so you're seeing just the top of a building on the street behind.  Fortunately, the clouds added a certain dynamic to the scene.  On another day, I'll show you the entire building which has an interesting Amboisian history.

Friday, September 16, 2016

the last stop


After an apparent long life, this big tree ended it with a cruise downstream on the Loire.  It somehow made it past the bridge Leclerc and is now likely permanently beached on a little island.  It's bark has been worn smooth by the high waters of the Loire.  I was only able to get to it because of the low water level now.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

oh come down from your ivy tower


...and get to work in the garden.  This wonderful ivy-covered tower is next to the gardens at Château de la Bourdaisière (remember it from a few days ago?).  The gardens are just stunning and meticulously manicured.  I'm wondering how I can get up that thing and get some shots.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

how dry is it?


If only Johnny were here to answer that question.  But these two shots taken from the same location (the bottom one in June and the top one a few days ago) give you an idea of the two weather extremes we've experienced in the same year.  Spring was exceptionally wet while this summer has been exceptionally dry.  Everyone has their fingers crossed for the upcoming grape harvest.  Some other crops have not fared well.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Château de la Bourdaisière


This is the location of the annual Festival de la tomate that I described yesterday.  The château has an interesting history that includes stories of a several French kings and their mistresses; it even has some American ties (read about the chäteau's history here).  The château and its enormous grounds and gardens are a popular destination for tourists to the area.  One can book rooms in the château itself which is fabulously decorated in a classic regional style.  Oh, one day...

Monday, September 12, 2016

2016 Festival de la tomate


This is the first year we've attended the annual tomato festival at nearby Château de la Bourdaisière.  This incredible château is worth the trip itself, but this past weekend it is further embellished by the festival that includes locally produced foodstuffs, crafts, wine, and of course fabulous tomatoes. To boot, the day was a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies and white clouds.  Just for me.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

an unusual view of the church of Notre-Dame


The view is unusual because the water level of the Loire is low enough that I could take if from a pier of the bridge Leclerc... without getting my feet wet.  Usually, the river flows between this pier and the river bank so that you'd have to wade or swim to get to this spot (unless it's underwater as it was in the spring). The green growth and the little yellow flowers belie the fact that it has been extremely dry here this summer.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Loire art


After months of exceptional dryness, the Loire is as low as I have seen it (in 5 years).  I took a walk on the new "beach" created by the low water level and found these remnants.  Washed over by probably many years by the river, they have gotten this white patina.  I'm guessing that is due to the large amount of limestone (tuffeau) in the Loire valley.

Friday, September 9, 2016

Oh, Eddie


Water flowing under the bridge Leclerc made these interesting eddies yesterday in the Loire.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

step up to the light


Stairs on the levee on the right bank.  You do remember why it's called the "right" bank, of course.  You can see how dry it's been here lately.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

tour Féalain and friends


These trees are in planters along a pedestrian plaza in front of tour Féalain.  It looks to me that they are the cousins of the trees I know in the southeast US as crepe myrtles. According to Wiki, the crepe myrtle was introduced to Charleston SC by a French botanist in 1790.  That would make for a nice symmetry.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

"T" is for Tuesday


OK folks, it's Rorchach time again. In this totally un-retouched photo, do you see a mosquito, a hummingbird, a cordless drill, or what?  By the way, I have no idea how this cloud was formed, but it wasn't me.

Monday, September 5, 2016

in a galaxy far, far away


Or just down the street under a bright streetlight.  So bright that not only the prey but even the silk filaments seem to glow in the dark.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

a tree with a view


I'm not sure how I've managed not to see this magnificent tree before.  My excuse is that it is a bit tucked away behind a fence and mostly hidden between two houses.  But there it is.  And I think it and its owners must really enjoy the view of the château that you can just see in the background.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

awash in sunsets


I think a good sunset is like a good medicine.  And this late summer has been very good for them here.  So here's this Saturday's dose for you.

Friday, September 2, 2016

the chorus line


Caught in the footlights of the setting sun, these plane trees are ready for their show.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

CDP Theme Day - library


The first of every month is Theme Day for the bloggers of City Daily Photo, and today the theme is "library".  My subject library was recently installed on the street leading up to Clos Lucé (Leonardo da Vinci's final home).  While it's not the Amboise public library, it is still a genuine lending library nonetheless.  The hand-written description says "My little library. I share my books.  Thanks"  To see how the other worldwide bloggers interpreted today's theme click here.

(By the way, the French word librairie is a bookstore, while bibliothèque is what Anglophones call a library.)