Day 1, April 7
O miles, 0 miles total
Altitude: 2,066 feet
Weather: warm and sunny
Le Puy
Au revoir to Sarah, Frederic, and the Pantheon as I depart for Le Puy.
Author: Linda
Bandit in Paris ~ April 6, 2014
50,000 Paris Marathon runners plus one bandit, me. To run a race without paying the entrance fee is to be a bandit. Racing or simply running a marathon on the eve of 1,000 walk would be to invite trouble; so, I ran the first 25km for the joy of experiencing Paris as centuries of heroes may have experience the Champs-Élysées with cheering crowds and the unique splendor only Paris can claim.
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All but the Kitchen Sink ~ April 4, 2014
Luxembourg Garden has all but the kitchen sink…huge water fountains with model sail boats for children to sail with pushing poles, tennis courts, pedal go-carts, competition chess games with both the traditional hand-slapping analog clocks as well as cell phone stop watches, bocce ball, Shetland pony rides, climbing walls, play structures, statues, flowers, topiary trees, sun bathers, picnic baskets, readers, bee hives, and runners.
Trees planted like spokes radiating on a wheel continue to fascinate me.
Versailles Garden ~ April 5, 2014
How would you get around a garden 608 acres or about a third the size of University of Virginia’s 1,683 acres? At Versailles Segways, auto-trains, golf carts, bicycles, and various boats are available for hire. As for me, I walked.
Gardens made of trees helps give concrete form to the scale. From a high perspective the symmetrical patterns created by the trees, some clipped into precise shapes and others let to grow in their natural forms, can be seen.
Live Like a King ~ April 4, 2014
Where else but in Versailles would one live like a king? This picture was taken in the Hall of Mirrows.
Louis XIV moved from Paris to Versailles in 1682 making it the center of political power. The royal family was was forced to flee to Paris October 1789 at the start of the French Revolution.
Versailles is one of the world’s largest palaces on 608 acres of breathtaking gardens. As homes have gardens of flowers, Versailles has gardens of trees anchored by enormous water pools and elaborate fountains all in symmetrical fashion.
Do You See What I See? ~ April 3, 2014
Eiffel Tower is in the background as seen from the top of Notre-Dame Cathedral. A 360 degree view of this magical city. Yes, I fueled myself with a Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut crepe) before the climb.
If It is April ~ April 2, 2014
Then this must be Paris. More exact, this is Notre-Dame. I spent my first day in Paris wandering around Ile De La Cite and along the Seine River.
Sarah has gotten me sorted out with Orange phone/internet service, maps, and metro tickets. I am anxious to reacquaint myself with the Paris she and Frederick introduced me to decades ago and with the city I love.
Last Walk ~ April 1, 2014
April 1, 2014
Yorkshire
Lesley, Rick, and I did a proper last English walk together. We began at a pub, returned from the half-way point pub, and finished at a pub. Our American establishments fail to reproduce the village atmosphere found in English pubs.
Urban Planning, A World Heritage Site ~ March 31, 2014
Sir Titus Salt, a leading industrialist in the Yorkshire, got it right with his 19th century urban planning for his textile factory and employee housing. The photograph shows an example of his neat stone houses for workers. He included wash houses with tap water, bath houses, hospital, school, library, recreation facility, gymnasium, concert hall, billiard room and scientific lavatory. Is there any wonder why UNESCO selected “Saltiare” as a Wold Heritage Site?
Today Saltiare has become a fashionable living distract. The textile mill turned into a huge live arts center featuring Yorkshire ‘s David Hockney amazing art, restaurants, shops, and historic displays. It was keen seeing how an old industrial building could be revitalized into attractive and financially profitable space; thus, spearheading residential development of restoring and preserving old neighborhoods.
Durham Cathedral Cloister ~ March 30, 2014
A wee bit of background before moving to Durham Cathedral. I met a father and 16-year old son on my second 192 mile Coast-to-Coast walk and we became fast friends. A few years later James attended Durham University; however, he took off one year to attend Boston College. As that was a year I ran the Boston Marathon, James jumped in the race and ran from the iconic Citgo sign to the finish line as my bandit.
Having toured Boston College with James, I was eager to see Durham University with him and his family.
Six hundred year old Durham University is the third oldest university in England incorprates Durham Castle and Palace Green, as well as managing a World Heritage Site in conjunction with Durham Cathedral. The photograph was taken at Durham Cathedral Cloister. An amazing day spent with James and his parents, Rick and Lesley. Not surprising bits of Harry Potter were filmed here.
Linda Scandore 