Victory in Europe Day 2018

On this day in 1945, World War II officially ended in Europe.  Today in Amboise, a ceremony was conducted which included the laying of flowers on a memorial by the kids.

sunset on the tulips

Their show is over for this year, but they had quite the run.

(No tulip was injured in the making of this shot.  I was lucky to find it this way, flaps down, staring into the sunset.)

shadow box

To me this window shutter has a certain Joseph Cornell look to it.

CDP Theme Day for May - "laugh"

The first of every month is Theme Day for the worldwide bloggers of City Daily Photo and today's theme is "laugh".  Here, it's "Miller Time" for these participants in a historical reenactment spectacle on the grounds of Clos Lucé.

To see how the others interpreted this theme click here.

end of the sunset drought

This is the first post of a sunset that I have taken in the last seven months.  (Now I did sneak in a couple of older ones 'cause I was so desperate, but they don't count.)  I'm hoping it is indeed the end of the drought.

tulip town

The tulips have been magnificent this year.  Maybe they're trying to compensate for the long winter.  In any case, the town's public flower beds are awash in many different colors and varieties.  Much to the delight of the many tourists... and photographers.

vigilance

the wisteria goes to school

the entrance to Saint Denis

Here are previously posted shots of this twelfth century church.

going for the gold

Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far, 20C/70F.  "And the flowers bloomed like madness in the spring".  (Name that tune.)

the first tastes of spring

Spring is very slowly starting to make its presence in Amboise.  Finally.

CDP Theme Day - One color

The first of every month is Theme Day for the worldwide bloggers of City Daily Photo and today's theme is "one color".  To see how the others interpreted this theme click here.

These trees behind the Amboise annual outdoor ice skating rink were lit in many colors... but one color at a time.

soon to awake

foggy morn

the long path to spring

Although technically, it arrives today, the freezing temperatures this morning belie that fact.

the aliens

These aliens (aka the floodgates of the river Amasse) were as cold as us locals last week when the temperatures were hovering around freezing.

the path of snow

It'll be awhile before this bike path is again filled with cycle tourists that will arrive in spring.  This snowy day I had it all to myself.

le glacier

The French word glacier is shop where ice cream is made (or at least sold, by my own observations).  The French word glace means ice cream or just ice.  I thought this view of a café on Place Debré brought both of these words together last week after the snow.

snow removal

This is how snow gets removed in Amboise.  Not to worry about the cold too much though (note the green sign) since temperatures here are on the Centigrade scale.

stairway to pigeon heaven

These stairs lead up from the left bank of the Loire to the level of the open market place.  On that level is found this pigeon shelter.  Of course, the shelter has the dual purpose of also trying to control the pigeon population.  So they may not actually find it so heavenly (they are not killed but some of their eggs are injected to render them neutered).

lightning strikes twice

Figuratively anyway.  In fact, after a five year "drought" from snow, Amboise had its second snow of this winter yesterday.  So guess what you're gonna be seeing for awhile here !

This the top of the levee, with the Loire on the left, and the château in the distance.

CDP Theme Day - "play"

The first of every month is Theme Day for the worldwide bloggers of City Daily Photo and today's theme is "play".  To see how the others interpreted this theme click here.

During Carnival festivities a few years ago, these guys were having a great time playing characters from times gone by.  I too am playing as though I have six pack abs.

this just in, it's still winter

This shot taken before the holiday decoration were taken down from rue Nationale sums up the winter here so far:  long nights, lots of rain, low (for Amboise) temperatures.

shadows on the levee

Shoppers leaving the Sunday market have a great view of the Loire from the levee, but they're missing out on the shadows.  This shot is quite in contrast to yesterday's which was taken very close to this one.  But no more snow now.  The sun has returned yet it's quite cold (for Amboise).

frozen roses

Another shot from the snowfall of two weeks ago.  Here is a rose arbor on top of the levee next to the Loire.  The sky was very overcast, and I decided not to brighten this up as this is how it looked. 

gone but not forgotten

The snow of two weeks ago is gone, but not the photos of it.

rive gauche sous la neige

up on the rooftops

Sometimes in my photos, certain antennae seem to disappear.  Can't image how that happens.  But this time I think they add an interesting touch to this shot.

the curtain, two views

le portail rouge