Back to Paris

December 2015 and January 2016

Paris is such a grey city. But it's alive with culture and history, too. I wouldn't want to live there, however it's nice to visit for a few days!

A band playing in a metro station. So many different instruments! There's also a double bass that can't be seen in this photo.

The Arc de Triomphe combines key tourist destination with horrific roundabout. Everybody sits there honking their horns. The photos you find on postcards don't do the traffic or the noise justice.

Before we hit the Christmas market, we came across the massive installation of solar panels powering it. I hope it's used all year round!

The market stretched on for blocks and blocks.

The Eiffel tower

Even the trees were getting cold

...has there been a big storm?

No, it's an art installation.

The famous Pont Des Arts. I've heard that the city periodically removes padlocks, as the weight puts too much strain on the aging bridge.

Mur pour la Paix (Wall for Peace) by artist Clara Halter and architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte

It sits on the Champs de Mars, named after the god of war. The Eiffel Tower is visible in the background

The word for "peace" is written on the monument in 49 different languages. It has been vandalised many times, often with racist graffiti, and I imagine that's why some panels are currently missing.

Mulhouse

8 - 14 December 2015

Mulhouse is a hard-to-pronounce city in Alsace, the region in France known for its Christmas markets (which can now be found in every French city). The market in Strasbourg may be better known, but the Mulhouse Christmas market is cheaper, less crowded, and still a magical experience.

I imagine it's a nice town any time of year, but mulled wine, Christmas spiced sausages, and everyone out in the streets talking and drinking together definitely add to the experience.

It's winter!

There are churches everywhere you look in France

The entrance to the Christmas market. These cabins are put up for about a month every year, all over France

Christmas tree, elves, reindeer, lots of lights...

And a Christmas-themed bar! 

The ferris wheel

The view from the ferris wheel (Finn was convinced I was going to fall out as I tried to get a good photo of the view)

Lyon

6 - 8 December 2015

Lyon, the third largest city in France, is a treasure trove of architecture and history. I wanted to see more, but the weather was miserable so we spent lots of time in the art museum.

It's not always sunny in France

... but even fog adds to the view

Cathedral Saint Jean Baptiste

Sharing the cathedral grounds are the remains of one of the oldest Christian churches

A brief description of the images above and their history

Moving tribute to the Paris victims. Some quotes: "Love, peace" "We are united"

In the centre, you can read:
- What do you want for Christmas, my child?
- Peace, mummy

A view over the city from Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Inside Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. The church is a work of art

Art preserved within the church

Our second night in Lyon, our lovely host showed us how to cook frog's legs

They're coated in flour

Garlic and herbs are blended to cook with them

Everything is fried

They taste like a cross between fish and chicken 

We did have a little sunshine in Lyon!

Grenoble

3 - 6 December 2015

Grenoble is an inland tech and science hub, surrounded by mountains. Lovely views, great people, ski access (we didn't go skiing though), and a nice, compact city manageable on foot or public transport.

Trams, cycle paths, footpaths, impressive natural features and housing density - what more could one ask for in a modern city?

The view across the river

Snow capped mountains

 

Christmas market!

Crepes, vin chaud (mulled wine) and Christmas presents

Space age tram passes the carousel - and there's even a public toilet on the left there!

City council-funded free expression board filled with posters advertising a violence against women protest

 

The view from Bastille

Finn's scared of heights so he didn't like the look of these

That long glowing road you can see right of centre is the longest straight road in France... and I believe the third longest in Europe

One of the two rivers running through Grenoble

Caves!

Another window in the same cave!

The city glows prettily in the evening

Peyrus

1 - 3 December 2015

Peyrus is a small village near Valence. It's super quiet, and there are some lovely walks nearby. We stayed with friends while we were there. There's very little in the way of holiday accommodation in Peyrus, but I assume there is some in nearby villages.

I climbed a small mountain :-)

I took many photos that looked a bit like this, in an attempt to capture one of the squirrel who was darting around the tree. Can you spot it?

Path of drugs

The view 3/4 of the way up

My first glimpse of snow!

It was cold

It was hard to work out what was white stone and what was snow

Definitely snow, of the blanket variety

The top of the mountain was super flat. It was used as grazing for animals, and I grazed there too.

Magnificent view

The white cliffs

A cold and bright winter's day

I realised the sky was changing quickly...

...it was time to head back.