Tag Archives: Paris

Quote

Weekly Photo Challenge: Victory (over Terror)

This weekly photo challenge is on the theme of “Victory.”

The events of Friday evening culminating in the cold blooded murder of 129 people and countless injuries were perpetrated by a group of terrorists affiliated to ISIS, they also killed 43 people in Beirut and another 80 in Baghdad.  Many of the killings in Paris were in outdoor restaurants – this is where the events of Friday come home to me most chillingly.

Given the events of recent days in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad and probably other unreported places I thought I’d post these pictures from an earlier time in Paris – a beautiful city, in honour of those who died who called this place they called home and others who died there and elsewhere.

Just over 1o years ago in October 2005, I spent a day in Paris with my parents and my own young family. It was a great day – visiting the Pompidou Centre, Notre Dame, taking a boat along the Seine and climbing the Eiffel Tower. It’s the sort of thing that I am sure many will have done last Friday.

We ended that day sitting outside in the warm Autumn air at an outside restaurant.

I imagine that Parisians are both shocked and scared and that those bars and restaurants will be much emptier this weekend. My sympathies are with all those affected by these atrocities. I don’t blame people for staying indoors and keeping a low profile. Terrorists terrorise  and they have achieved one of their aims.

I wonder how long before people return to the street cafes again?

If they do then they have declared victory over terror.

If they don’t then terror will have won the victory.

I hope that that will never happen.

Paris 102

Weekly Photo Challenge : Zig Zag up the Eiffel Tower

A submission to this week’s photo challenge – Zig Zag.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, viewed close up – with its metal work zig zagging up the frame.

 

France 2005 – Paris

In October 2005 we travelled to France for a Half Term Break with my (Graham’s) parents. It was a great week away staying on a Fleur Holidays campsite near Paris

Day 1 – Journey to La Croix du Vieux Pont

It was an early start to catch the Eurotunnel train across to France, but a great way to cross the Channel. We were going to France to celebrate Bekah’s 5th Birthday (and Anita’s 36th!).

Crossing the channel joined the fast moving French toll roads, stopping only for a picnic at a Bois D’Arsy.

We arrived at our Mobile Home for the week situated on the ‘La Croix du Vieux Pont’ about an hour from Paris. It turned out that this was the same one we had stayed in on our previous visit.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Visit to Longpont and Pierrefonds

Having settled in we made the most of the afternoon and visited two local towns.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Day 2 – Coucy le Chateau

Coucy le Chateau – a great place to visit.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Day 3 – Disneyland Paris

One of the  highlights of our holiday was a visit to Disneyland Paris.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Day 4 – Chateau de Sept Monts

Another day another Chateau.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Day 5 – Vic Sur A’sne, Carrières de Confrécourt and Fort de Condé A day in three parts. Starting with a visit to the local village of Vic Sur A’sne. Having visited the local market we then travelled out and off to Carrières de Confrécourt, caves hidden within a woodland copse and home to the French Resistance. These were really hidden away amidst fields and mountains of sugar beet. Having stopped by a canal we travelled on to Fort de Condé, which was built in the time of the revolution.

 

Day 6 – Paris

A visit to the region just had to include Paris – so an early morning drive to a tube station and a train into the centre. It was a gorgeous sunny October day, perfect views from the Eiffel Tower of the city below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Day 7 –  Journey Home and Lille

We broke our journey home with a visit to Lille.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It was a great holiday, a fabulous time together – little did I know it would be the last holiday with my Dad, who passed away the following year.

Pierrefonds 009