I remember the first time I saw what is called a half timbered building in France. It was an almost magical feeling, seeing something in person that I must have seen in photos or movies before. The images were floating around in my mind somewhere but it was such a pleasure to see one. We in the States, I think, are used to seeing the framing or the skeleton of a building covered up. Most of the half timbered buildings are made of oak, a very durable wood, that has been used in buildings that are still standing. It is called half timbered because the log used has been cut in half. The frame is then filled in with bricks or wattle and daub which I assume is some sort of plaster mixed with straw. Whatever, I especially love looking at these buildings.

Many are just brown wood with white fill but Auxerre had many building sthat had been painted with, I thought, great taste like this blue and white one.

I really liked this effect using brick instead of motar.

 A view of several together

 Love the red door. Notice that the street level is higher by about three feet than the original base of this house.

 Yellow-love it

 This had me doing a double take. An English phone booth. It turned out to be a gift from a English town “twined” with Auxerre.

 Maurice is doing some work with his son in various cities around France this month and, as I haven’t seen some of those cities, I asked to come along. So as Maurice slaves away, I have the delight of strolling around and taking photos. Hard work but someone has to do it.

 The first city was Auxerre. This isn’t new to me as I saw it when we first came to Paris but I remember being charmed so wanted to see it again. I’m so glad I did as I had a fabulous sunny day that was perfect for exploring.

 Auxerre is famous in French history as one of the places that Joan of Arc stopped to pray on her way to battle the English.

 I especially loved this stained glass window to commerate her visit

 I was touched by this small statue of Mary looking rather like a princess in bare feet.

The first time I came to Auxerre we had stopped to see the cathedral and I thought that was all there was to see. Maurice was thirsty so we went further past the cathedral and found this fabulous door left from an ancient building. We would have missed all that Auxerre has to offer if Maurice hadn’t wanted something to drink.

 A close-up of the clock

 I would love to take a Photoshop class and learn more about all there is to do with that incredible website. I know I am missing so much. Even fumbling around on my own I have been able to do fun things with photos.

 An ordinary green chair after a rain in the Tuleries Garden

The chair after, sort of dark and mysterious

 I had the setting wrong and Sacre Coeur came out blue so I managed to make it look like a water color.

 A heart over a door in Morroco

 After photoshop. I think I should call this, “The Way To My Heart”

 I took these photos over a month ago on a cold day on Rue Montorguile (right around the corner from St Eustache) but they made me think of Spring.

 Rue Montorguile is a very busy pedestrian shopping street, mostly for food and restaurants. The largest vegetable and fruit shop always has fascinating displays of their ware, very artistic, like these beans.

These cherries were from Chili. I was tempted to buy some but at over 19 Euros a kilo I passed. Cherries are my favorite fruit and I am looking forward to Summer in Provence when I can eat my fill.

A lovely girl with what must have been a very heavy head piece.

 One of the large floats with an Indian god. Note the girl on the elephant in the back.

I was fascinated with this costume.

 Another nice one. There is an interesting elephant in the rear made the same way.

There was also a group from Tahiti. This guy was very war-like and I’m not sure what the tongue sticking out means in Tahiti. In New Zealand it is done by warriors to scare off unwelcome visitors-copying snakes or lizards, I think. Anyway, he was a very handsome guy when he wasn’t doing this.

 The parade was interesting in that the streets of Menton were totally blocked off and you weren’t allowed to watch it unless you had purchased a ticket and you couldn’t bring your dog in either. They had huge elevated seating areas which sounds good on paper and I think the people would have been 50 deep if they hadn’t had them, but the best photo taking area was on the street which is where I ended up. There were huge floats covered in oranges and lemons but I liked the people the best in their carnaval costumes.

There was a band from India

 This lady in a group from Brazil

Interesting costume

 Lots of beautiful girls. There was even a group from Sweden which doesn’t strike me as a place that would be dancing in the streets in February for carnaval. The girls were pretty but they were all white and wintery looking, not like those in the hot blooded countries.

 They had a mariachi band from Mexico and some of these Aztec dancers.