One of the things I definitely wanted to see was Monte-Carlo in Monaco. It was similar to when I was one of the few people who was enthusiastic about going to Las Vegas. Both cultural phenomena fascinated me even though I had no idea about gambling. My original plan was to stay in Monaco. When … Continue reading / view photos Monaco by bus
Tag: France
Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer coastal walk
I started the morning by going to the daily morning market in central Nice. On my way, I was pleasantly surprised to see a statue of Albert Camus. Camus had a strong connection with the Mediterranean generally rather than Nice itself. The statue, a gift from Brazilian Edgar Duvivier, was installed earlier this year. From … Continue reading / view photos Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer coastal walk
It’s nice to be in Nice
It’s obligatory to make up a pun when in Nice! Originality optional. All good things come to an end. Having already extended my stay in Marseille, I was moving on. I’m sure I’ll return one day. Nice was my next destination. The TGV train took about 2½ hours. It was a scenic journey. The train … Continue reading / view photos It’s nice to be in Nice
Marseille — Mucem
After yesterday’s full day in Avignon, today was an easy day. In the morning I stayed at the hotel and wrote my blog. In the afternoon, I went to Mucem – the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations. I’d passed its striking building several times already. It’s on a scenic walk along the harbour. Every … Continue reading / view photos Marseille — Mucem
Avignon — art and culture
My day trip to Avignon continued. Calvet Museum The next stop was the Calvet Museum, the city’s museum of fine arts from the 15th to the 20th century. It’s impressive this was once one man’s personal collection. Esprit Calvet devoted his life to medicine and art. Ceccano Library The Ceccano Library is stunning. It was … Continue reading / view photos Avignon — art and culture
Avignon — Palais des Papes
Next on my list was the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World heritage Site. The Popes’ Palace looks huge and is, in fact, two buildings joined together. A symbol of the church’s influence and power in the 14th century, the building is a fortress and the largest Gothic palace in the world. Nine successive popes … Continue reading / view photos Avignon — Palais des Papes
Day trip to Avignon
Marseille is a train hub. It’s convenient to go to surrounding areas. My Interrail card lets me go anywhere in Europe by train. Most of the journeys are free. For busy services, such as the TGV train, you have to pay a seat reservation fee. This varies but is usually less than €10. Today’s trip … Continue reading / view photos Day trip to Avignon
Marseille — culture and counter-culture
I’d been meaning to go Marseille’s central library and today I finally got round to it. Called Bibliotheque l’Alcazar, it was about a 15-minute walk from my hotel. On the way, I again passed the building that resembled the Arc de Triomphe. The library building was huge. Unlike Germany, there was no hassle getting into … Continue reading / view photos Marseille — culture and counter-culture
Vincent Van Gogh in Arles
Since the French Revolution, Saint Trophime Cathedral has been a parish church. It’s adjacent to the Town Hall, which I passed on the way to the Cloister of Saint Trophime. As it happens, I went to the cloister first and had a chat with the ticket person. After talking about her knitting, we decided that … Continue reading / view photos Vincent Van Gogh in Arles
LUMA Arles
LUMA Arles, the city’s cultural hub, is another example of old buildings being repurposed or giving way to new buildings as times change. Factories, legacies from the industrial 19th century, once stood where the LUMA Arles campus now stands. At the heart of LUMA Arles is the Frank Gehry Tower. It’s a spectacular building, with … Continue reading / view photos LUMA Arles