Happy New Year 2015 - le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre - au revoir Paris Daily Photo

I had to borrow these fireworks from the July 14 celebration in Amboise!   Je ai dû emprunter ces feux d'artifice de la fête nationale du 14 Juillet à Amboise !

And for all you followers of City Daily Photo, as well as all of you who should be, I have to acknowledge the end of an era.  Today, my fellow blogger and friend Eric Tenin is retiring the granddaddy of all of the CDP blogs, Paris Daily Photo.  He started his blog almost ten years ago and as a result hundreds of other bloggers from around the world have created their own local city blogs.  When we moved to Amboise, it was his inspiration that got me to start ADP.  Our blogging community will not be the same without him.  So if you follow PDP or any of the other worldwide blogs, I hope you will take time to add your thanks to Eric on the last day of Paris Daily photo here.  Eric, these fireworks are for you !  Just add bubbly.

winter grass

This little puddle provided just the right reflection for this patch of tall grasses.  That's the château in Amboise in the background.

la borne d'angle Michelin

As we approach another milestone of a new year, I thought it appropriate to post this road marker near one of my favorite bike paths.  Starting in 1910 and continuing until 1971, the tire manufacturer Michelin installed a variety of road signs throughout France.  Corner markers (see the title for the French translation) like this one started in 1918.  These markers made of concrete reinforced with steel will be around for a long time I suspect.

I confess to a bit of tinkering with this shot to make it a bit more interesting.  I used an infrared filter (on the computer) to change much of the rather dull green foliage in the photo to white.

une promenade d'hiver

Here's the bike path in Amboise in winter.  Still a great place to take a ride or walk on a sunny winter's day.

flat bottom boat sunset

I don't know what I'll do if the owner of this wonderful flat bottom boat ever moves his business elsewhere.  This boat had provided just the perfect embellishment to so many of my photos of the Loire near our home.  Bon weekend à tous.

the workhorse

After the prolonged holiday season, I'm guessing everyone is feeling a bit like a tired workhorse.

Dreaming of a white Christmas

But it's only in my dreams as it didn't snow in Amboise this year.  Merry Christmas to all et joyeux Noël à tous !

Christmas eve 2014

The Christmas tree in front of the church of St Denis.

projections at église St Florentin

Cosmic.  More holiday projections.

projections in Place Debré

Every year, it seems there are more and more projections being used to celebrated the holidays.  This one slowly changes through a range of colors.

Eglise St Denis from the levee

Here is the old church as seen from the levee.  Those are plane trees providing the framing.

icing on the cake

This famous chocolate store on Place Debré always looks inviting but these decorations (from last year) really draw you in.  Now I'm longing to have a big cup of their wonderful hot chocolate.

Place Debré ready for Christmas

Every year the main square in Amboise, Place Debré, is decked out in Christmas trees, lights, and projections.  Stand by for more.

the countdown continues

If you can remember all the way back to Tuesday, this is how that same street looked a year later (last year).  Alas, no snow but I think the town did a nice job with the lights.  Only one week to go.  Are you ready?

it's a tangled web

Late one afternoon at the train station.

let the countdown begin

No it didn't snow in Amboise last night, but it did two years ago when I took this picture of the main pedestrian shopping street at the bell tower.  I thought this might be a good way to kick off the holiday season.

bullish on Monday ?

I suppose most will find that to be a challenge after last week's market results.  At least this guy doesn't look too worried.

likin' this fence

I love the many fences here that are made out of concrete.  They last a very long time of course and they often are hosts to many colorful lichens.  Have a safe and relaxing Sunday everyone.  Bon dimanche !

Saturday sunset silhouette

In this sunset view, even the tourist sign has a bun.

up on the rooftops

OK it's a little early to see Santa, but this just demonstrates what a challenge he is going to face in Amboise.  It makes me wonder if he will even try to go down the chimney on the right with those Darth Vader impersonators.  I'm guessing he will find a way.

stripped

The ivy on the side of this building has been stripped of all its leaves by the almost winter weather.  The bare white stems make for a somewhat abstract look but the light fixture is still recognizable.

this is no rant

In spite of what appears to be a subtitle in this shot, this was supposed to be a peaceful view of the château reflected in this window on Place Debré (over a restauRANT, of course).

fog on the levee

Early morning fog settles on the levee in November.

A long good bye

Even though I bade farewell to autumn in Saturday's post, I decided I couldn't pass up this scene from early November.  It includes so many of my favorites.... the château, the bridge, the Loire, the levee, the bike path, and the trees.

église Notre Dame and the Loire

Here is the little church as seen from the Ile d'Or, the island in the Loire at Amboise.

farewell to fall

Here's one last look at the fall colors.  This time behind my neighbor's gates.

the island path

This wonderful winding path follows the perimeter of the Ile d'Or (island of Gold).  This is the island in the Loire across from Amboise.  It is part of my regular running path and it makes running so much more enjoyable as it is a nice gentle surface and completely flat.

la dernière rose de l'année

The last rose of the year in our terrace garden made it to December.  And it looked pretty happy leaning up against this iron railing.

This rose makes me remember my dad who was an avid flower gardener in retirement and was  born 100 years ago today.

double spirals

This building is part of the complex where I took an exam last Friday.  It was a test of my knowledge of the "rules of the road" of driving in France.  Passing this test allows one to continue on to the next step which is the actual driving phase of  the application for a French driver's licence.  For me, the significant challenge is doing all of this in French.  Plus I've heard the success rate of passing the first test on the first try is around 40%.   But in any case, yesterday I learned that I passed the knowledge test !  On to phase two.  Stay tuned.

le marché - la dernière journée de novembre

It was a foggy and dark Sunday morning for the marché the last weekend.  That didn't dampen the spirits of the venders or the shoppers.  Still a far cry from Black Friday.

CDP theme day - "people in their workplace"

The first of every month is Theme Day for the bloggers of City Daily Photo, and today's theme is "people in their workplace".  Sébastien and his wife Alice run a fabulous boulangerie on the main pedestrian street, rue Nationale, in Amboise.  But believe me, these croissants are not pedestrian.  They are the best!

He was very generous to allow me to enter his workplace which is a beehive of activity.  I tried to stay out of the way.  On another day, I will show you more of the kitchen activities and the others who work in this magical place.  Merci bien, Sébastien !

Click here to see how the other bloggers interpreted the theme.



Le premier de chaque mois est la Journée de thème pour les blogueurs de City Daily Photo et le thème d'aujourd'hui est «les gens dans leur milieu de travail». Sébastien et sa femme Alice gèrent une boulangerie fabuleuse sur la principale rue piétonne, rue Nationale, à Amboise. Croyez-moi, ces croissants sont les meilleurs!

Il était très généreux pour me permettre d'entrer dans son milieu de travail qui est une ruche d'activité. Je ai essayé de rester en dehors de la voie. Un autre jour, je vais vous montrer plusieurs des activités de cuisine et les autres personnes qui travaillent dans ce lieu magique. Merci bien, Sébastien!

Cliquez ici pour voir comment les autres blogueurs ont interprété le thème.