The Grand Palais

Ain't it grand?

Well defended

Les Invalides holds forth.

Stairway to the stars

Are you ready?

Uphill

We're getting there.

Top of the hill

That's the mont in Montmartre.

Postcard heaven

Remember to buy your stamps.

Paris to the horizon

Ah, but the weather, she is cruel.

Seating available

Curtain going up for the best show in town--Paris!

A view from the hill

Sacre Coeur holds the Paris high ground.

A sketch with your petit dejeuner, monsieur?

Hungry for art.

Music man

Busking the Montmartre stairs.

Top of the world, ma

Montmartre sees all.

We climb

Stairway to the mont.

Navigating Montmartre

Let's see, take first left, then second right…

That place again

The city of light, looking dark.

Calvados distilled here

 So we visit the little Calvados orchard and distillery in, naturally, the Calvados area of Normandy.

 Built the old fashioned way.

 Obviously, a small batch barrel, very special.

 Calvados aging quietly.

 Mashing up them apples.

 Pot still, still going strong since early in the last century.

 The family run home of Toutain Calvados brandies.

The lineup. And free samples too, if you're in the area.

Lily filled

Great for painters.

Pads on the pond

No rush, life's easy on the pond.

Etang des nympheas

Or lily pond, if you prefer.

A bit bent

Let me show you my leaves, Monsieur Monet.

A Monet-eye view

I'll set up my easel here.

Monet floats

The fleet is in.

Follow the bamboo grove trail

…To etang des nympheas.

Bubbles bubbling

Making a break for it.

Monet's gardens

Monet's favorite landscape.

Monet's Monets

Homemade.

Leafy in Giverny

The ivys rule. 

Maison du Tourisme

In the Giverny spirit.

Now for something a little different

Wandering Giverny, Monet's retreat.

Last tourists standing

Time to pack it in.

The day dwindles

We're losing our sun here.

Top of the street

Speed limits strictly enforced.

Piling on the rocks

Just square it up, and we're good.

Backroads

No path goes unpaved.

France seems so far

Try the side door.

Courtyard airy

Green thumb on the rock.

Simple

Quiet dignity here.

Top of the rock

Lining up for the abbey.