naked !

but not for long. 

sandscape

An unusual phenomenon of sand from the Sahara desert being blown north to France has resulted in some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  In addition, everything is covered in a fine layer of yellowish dust that will hopefully be washed away with the next rain. 

first taste of Spring

 

Christmas 2021

 

Saturday night fever

 

le marché de vendredi

 

The Friday market in November.

morning has broken

 

the grand illumination

 

La Tour d'Or Blanc

 

This "tower of white gold" was inaugurated this weekend along with a festival of local food and wine. It stands almost 50 feet high at the end of the bridge leading into Amboise.  It pays homage to the white grape (Chenin Blanc) that fuels the white wines of the Loire Valley.  It also honors the wine makers themselves who worked closely with the artist Jean-Michel Othoniel to create this monumental work that overlooks the town and the river like a golden lighthouse.

No one gets into the chateau !

Unless you're a tourist.

 

Alright Mr deVille, I'm ready for my close-up

 

That would be Monsieur deVille d'Amboise.

pergola en rose

 

sunset on the guinguette

 

A guinguette is where you meetup with friends for a drink and perhaps some light eating.  Often there is music and dancing in the evenings.  This one in Amboise has the advantages of a nice view of the Loire and being right next to a bike route where lots of cycling tourists pass by. Here is another view:

Spring at last

 

by the stream

 

heartwood

Arrrg !

 

In warmer times ...

it's freezin' here

 

simple man simple dream

 

dark times

 

baby it's cold outside

 

really cool web site

 

sunset on 2020

 

Christmas 2020

 

tonight Santa arrives by hot air balloon

 

This is a local yard display.  In France hot air balloons are called montgolfières (in honor of the brothers of the first working balloons in the 1780's).

December Solstice 2020

 

Today Amboise will have only 8 and 1/2 hours of sun whereas on the Summer Solstice we have about 16 hours of sun.  These extremes are because we are above Maine in latitude.  Even so, the weather here is milder than in the States year-round, thanks to the Gulf Stream.

caught in the web

 

follow your own path

 

lowriders - Amboise style

 

December on the Loire