It's been way too long...

I haven't added anything to my blog for so long.  Thank you Meesh.

Last October a friend and I went looking for edible mushrooms.  We didn't find many mushrooms but we did find some beautiful scenery.  The two first two pictures below are of Vernon Lake. 

On our way back to the to the highway we stopped at a grove of alder trees. It was like a park, with this creek meandering through it. 

Growl....arrgh....grrrrr....

Dieppe

There are several memorials and monuments commemorating the efforts of WWII Canadian Soldiers for their attempt to take possession of Dieppe from the Germans. 

Dieppe is a very popular vacation destination for British tourists.  There is a ferry service between Dieppe and the UK. 

The pebble covered beaches beautiful. Our second day here, Ron and I enjoyed a picnic lunch on the beach.

Sun setting on the Dieppe chalk cliffs

Orange cat looking for breakfast in the market

Flemmish-style building

Dieppe Castle, now a museum

Dieppe Castle at night

Looking over Dieppe from the Castle

Shuttered windows and potted geraniums.

Vimy Ridge - Memorial

The memorial is beautiful white marble, it is 30 meters tall.  The name of every Canadian soldier who lost their life in WWI name is chiseled into the base of the monument, there are over 11,000 names.

There are two Cemeteries on Vimy Ridge,  we visited both.

Vimy Ridge Memorial - the Trenches

After our four days in Paris, we picked up our rental car at the airport and headed north, to Vimy Ridge.

The Vimy Ridge Memorial park is a Canadian National Historic Park.  The park is managed and maintained by Canada, the guides are all Canadian, most are university students.

The trenches.

There was only 30 meters between the Canadian and German front lines.  This is from the Canadian side behind a sniper shield.

"No mans land" between the two front lines.  The ground between the two front lines has not been changed - the topography is as it was from WWI.

Looking from the German front line trench to the Canadian side.

A mortar canon.

Paris sights

Rose Window, Notre Dame Cathedral

Edge of the Red light district

Many of the buildings have beautiful iron railings.

 

I love the different Metro signs (subway stations)

A great place to look over the City of Lights is from the steps of the Sacre-Coeur on Montmartre

The Sacre-Coeur steps...

...The View!

Looking down to Rue Steinkerque.

Peaking through the trees the Eiffel Tower at dusk.

Paris France!

Ron and I went to France for  3 weeks in July.

Our first 4 nights were in Paris.  We stayed at the Hotel de Champ du Mars, a wonderful small hotel only a 5 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.

The contrast of the evening "blue" light made a wonderful contrast with the lights on the tower.

Paris is an easy city to enjoy by foot, bus or Metro. 

Our first full day in Paris we walked from our hotel towards the Notre Dame Cathedral. 

 One of the most beautiful bridges in Paris is the Pont de Alexandre III. The statues are painted gold.

On the left bank of the Seine, these small green boxes are businesses second hand books and magazines, souvenirs, antiques nicknack's...

 

In front of the Notre Dame Cathedral, was a man selling Bread to tourists to feed the sparrows... this little girl was enjoying the experience.

July 14th is Bastille Day, a National Holiday for France. Celebrations start with a parade down the Avenue des Champs Elysees starting at the Arc de Triomphe down to the Place de la Concorde. 

We discovered that the parade is basically a show of  France's military.  The parade starts with horses and President Sarkozy waving to the crowds.

The Grand Finale is fireworks set off behind the Eiffel Tower.

Two great Arches in Paris,

The Arc de Triomphe

 

and La Grande Arche.

The Seine snakes it's way through Paris.