Diana, Princess of Wales

Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.

Just two weeks after the deaths of Diana Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and others, I visited what has become the place that people now come to pay homage to the deaths that occurred in the underpass by the Pont de L’alma in Paris. A new tourist attraction had been tragically and instantly added to Paris. The Liberty Flame, a full sized replica of the flame that sits atop the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbour was given to the city of Paris by America in celebration of the bi-centennial of the French Revolution. The Liberty Flame by the Pont de L’alma was now added to the list of places to visit when in Paris.

Although the monument is constantly cleaned and flowers and mementoes removed this is the place that for ten years people have stood and wondered...............

In those weeks after her death I went on to photograph Paris through the eyes of a tourist because no matter what tragedy had taken place here there were still all the other well known places to visit. This story can be seen here.

Albi Summer

It seems like summer is over with the bad weather we are having. It is so changeable so this summer snap of a street in Albi is to brighten my day.

Sunny Pool

I am posting this lovely peaceful image of the sun rising over the pool and it looks so inviting. The weather has been like this for a few days although a little too hot.

This morning after some very noisy thunderstorms, and lots of rain we have woken up to a scene more reminiscent of my Scottish heritage - lots of Scotch Mist!

Changeable weather to say the least.

Cruise the Tarn

Cruise the River Tarn at Albi.

Right at the end of the vacation / holiday season we are now getting a heat wave!! From the weather forecast is is not set to last too long, but today is it pushing towards 40°C and that is just a little too hot.

I now need to go take a rest.

Old Wood

Strong beams of wood still holding up after hundreds of years.

On the corner of the lovely market square in the town of L'Isle sur Tarn is the Maison de la Presse. The beautiful vaulted walkway that surrounds the square has a variety of shops to explore.

Olive Bar

Bar L'olivier in the town of L'Isle sur Tarn. I know the weather this year has affected tourism in many areas and it has not been a good season for many businesses.

This image was taken mid afternoon, a quite period and I'm sure the Bar L'olivier is doing OK.

Fast Cars

Red! What other colour is there?

The area of the Tarn, although not exactly a sleepy backwater, is very much a farming and wine country. I have noticed elderly farmers driving around in 30 years old cars and I am fascinated that these almost classical cars still doing good service.

As you enter the town of Gaillac there is a used car lot with top of the range models for sale including a few which would definitely have difficulty negotiating the rolling twisting roads of the Tarn.

Red Ferrari! Who needs one?

Church Thinking

I seem to remember there are two subjects that should be avoided at dinner, religion and politics, as neither interest me much it is unlikely I would get involved anyway.

I am however drawn to church interiors and photographing them and often wander around old churches and watch for how the light entering through the various stained glass windows can make for interesting photo taking opportunities.

I am not alone, as I see many people do the same do the same!

The interior of the church at the abbey of St Michel in Gaillac, Tarn, France.

Candle Light

Light a candle for me!

Taken in Albi Cathederal

Old and New

Modern art joins the old in Albi's ancient cathedral.

I wasn't quite sure if it worked as an exhibition because there is just so much detail to take in when you visit this vast cavernous cathedral.

Albi Windows

The vast interior of Albi Cathedral. The detail of the design and art is impressive.

Buy a Bottle

After visiting the Château and the surrounding grounds and tasted a few varieties of wine it is time to buy a bottle or two of Château Lastours.

I'm not sure my wife is seeing those number all that clearly!

Walk the Vine

The grapes on the vines at Château Lastours are nearly ready for this years harvest. In many areas of France "Les Vendanges" have already begun.

See the series I posted last year on the annual grape harvest in Les Corbières region of France.

Wine Search

From my post of yesterday this is the drive way into the Château Lastours and some people looking for 'La Cave' so they can buy some wine direct from the producer.

A beautiful setting for a lovely old wine producing Château along the banks of the river tarn.

Wine Château

The Château Lastours has been featured on RDP before. It is where we take our visitors to taste and buy some wine. The warm welcome and the wine tasting is always enjoyed by all.

The Gaillac region is the oldest wine producing area in France and one of the reasons for is not being as well known as wines from Bordeaux is that to get the wine to the coast for export it was transported by barge along the Tarn river that joins the river Garonne and arrives at Bordeaux. The council of Bordeaux of course heavily taxed these Gaillac wines and the result was Bordeaux wines were more popular.

Lunch Time Guard

The great tradition in most of provincial France is that shops close between midday and 2.00pm. Wandering the quiet streets taking photographs can be fun, and the guard dog was more interested in staying in the shade than me trying to take a photograph!

This is a fantastic tradition, that is unless you desperately need to buy something!

Number 14

Old town house in Albi, south of France. There is always something new to discover as you wander the lanes and back streets of towns and villages through out France.

Red Car

Living in the south of France has its benefits. Getting out the car, roof down and exploring the country lanes with the wind in your hair.

This is taken not far from where we live in Réal at the beginning of summer. Oh, and by the way the car belongs to a friend who was visiting us, unfortunately he took his car with him when he left. Now the only way to feel the wind in my hair is to get my bicycle out and it does look as if a little exercise would not go amiss.

Hi From Luca

Time also to catch up with Luca our Grandson, and Zannnie asked the other day, 'Any new pictures of Luca.' Here we are playing catch up with a photograph taken in April in the UK. This is a place were we used to take Michael, Luca's father, when he was young.

Luca waving and saying saying hello.

Say hello to Luca.

Taken at a popular spot called the Devils Dyke in Sussex that gives beautiful views north, and to the south over Brighton and Hove towards the sea.

Image by Izabel James

The Song Man

The song man entertaining tourists wandering the streets of Albi, France.

Dinner is Served

To launch my new commitment to posting a daily photo (well I'm going to try) here is another image from the Family Lewis and friends that were such a joy and pleasure to have stay at Le Peuch Haut and I think I can say that they all left after having a great vacation in the south of France.

Two postings in one day! Good start eh?

Lewis Family and the gang

It has been a busy summer and I have neglected to keep up with RDP but Andrew and his lovable gang persuaded me I should keep posting.

We have just had a great couple of weeks with these lovely people and their mischievous kids, and it was sad to say goodbye last night as they left very early this morning.

The now mandatory group photo taken in the garden looking towards Roquemaure on the last evening of their stay.

It is always sad to say goodbye..........