We're a month before the winter solstice, yet the shadow cast by this little gargoyle on the château at Amboise is already quite extraordinary (at 11:30am). I think most folks would be surprised to learn that the latitude of Amboise is above that of the state of Maine in the US.
Exceptional details in this pic Stuart!
ReplyDeleteThanks !
DeleteThe extraordinary difference in daylight hours between summer and winter and looking south for the sun is something I've never entirely got used to. I'm always completely back to front in terms of direction in Europe, something I never had a problem with in Australia. My theory is you absorb information about placing yourself in relation to the sun as a child and it becomes ingrained. In over 15 years of living in Europe I've never managed to retrain myself. I also never got used to leaving for work in the dark and it being dark by 3 o'clock in the afternoon (in London). Here in central France it is much better, with 5pm nightfall.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. I remember waiting for the fireworks on 14 juillet in front of the Eiffel tower... it wasn't dark enough until after 11pm ! So the extremes are on both ends. Anyway, you are so right about never being able to adjust to a schedule different from what one is brought up on. It just seems weird.
DeleteLove this shot. Absolutely love it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a dark, dark day today. November really is miz du as we say in Brittany. Miz, du, le mois noir...
Yes. You folks in Brittany should know dark days !
DeleteHis shadow is quite a stretch of the imagination!
ReplyDeleteIndeed. It is definitely a stretch.
DeleteI think I might be able to cope with the cold weather Stuart, but those short days would be so alien to me! I like your interpretation of impending winter darkness!
ReplyDeleteYes the short days are difficult. But in another month they'll start getting longer.
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