France on Rambling Record

Of azure and ochre

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Day 1

The hardest part is renting the car. I had booked a compact, but there isn’t one available. After a 30-minute wait, an employee shows us a black Jeep. We walk around the vehicle together, and I spot a nasty gash in one of the tires. Goodbye Jeep. Another 30 minutes go by while they clean a different car. This time it’s a gray DS7. It’s big, but at least it looks roadworthy.

Paris as a tourist

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A trip to France usually means passing through Paris. It’s the perfect chance to visit a few places in the capital.

We start at Place de la Bastille, then move on to Place des Vosges and Saint-Paul. Crossing the Seine, we reach Île Saint-Louis and soon find ourselves on the forecourt of Notre-Dame. We were hoping to visit the cathedral after its renovation, but the line stretches all the way to Petit Pont. I hadn’t realized that August 15 is a religious holiday—another time, then! We take a break at a café in Saint-Michel, then head to Saint-Sulpice. Walking back, we stop at Saint-Germain-des-Prés church. I had never been inside before—what a great surprise! It too has benefited from a recent restoration, and the paintings are dazzling.

Loose pictures: Fall 2024

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

September 23rd – Visiting Chionin temple

October 6th – Marutamachi

October 22nd – Nîmes viewed from the Magne tower (2/2)

October 22nd – Jardins de la Fontaine (1/2)

October 22nd – Jardins de la Fontaine (2/2)

Loose pictures: January / February 2024

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

January 4th – Place d’Italie

February 4th – Kiyomizudera

February 4th – Yasaka pagoda

February 29th – On Sanjodori street

Loose pictures: December 2023

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

December 9th – Hike at Mt Take (1/2)

December 9th – Hike at Mt Take (2/2)

December 16th – In Kyoto

December 23rd – The Simone de Beauvoir footbridge and the National Library of France

The Rochers de Trenze

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Heading to Lozère and the Cévennes for a hike around the Rochers de Trenze.

Starting from Vialas, the ascent is gentle and steady, leading to the hamlet of Gourdouze. The path then follows the eponymous stream and runs along the Rochers de Trenze that overlook Vialas. The descent is a bit technical but very enjoyable, first among the broom bushes and then on a paved path under the chestnut trees.

A walk by the sea

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I’m spending the end-of-year holidays with my family in Alès. We take the car towards the coast to enjoy the sea and walk between La Grande Motte and Port-Camargue.

Loose pictures: August 2023

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

August 13th – Roads going through the Bois de Boulogne are closed to traffic on sundays

August 17th – Gare de Lyon

August 18th – Vézénobres, near Alès

August 19th – Guinguette de la Lecque, a bit above Bessèges

Loose pictures: July 2023

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

July 25th – Boulevard du Montparnasse

Seeing Saint-Malo again

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Leaving with a TGV at 8 a.m. from the Montparnasse station to Rennes. Break in a coffee shop waiting for the connection for Saint-Malo by TER. Little walk within the city and we come out on the battlements and on the Grand Bé.

We have lunch in a “crêperie” and we take a shuttle boat to get to Dinard. We follow the GR 34 for a while and we get back in the city center. In the meantime, the light drizzle turned into a shower and we start getting wet feet. We go back to Saint-Malo by the same means. Another tour of the city and its battlements before having dinner at the Ancrage. A few clouds remain, they mask the setting sun and add to the scenery.

Trekking in the Écrins

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Intro

Leaving on Saturday at 7 a.m. from Gare de Lyon, towards Grenoble. A bus then drops me at the UCPA Serre-Chevalier around 2 p.m. My friends traveled with the night train and are already there. We spend the rest of the day between the swimming pool, the bar and the terrace. We chat with the staff and other participants.

The UCPA centre, its terrace and swimming pool

Loose pictures: June 2023

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

June 16th – Alès, Martyrs de la Résistance sq.

June 16th – Alès, train station

June 17th – The Bambouseraie 1/2

June 17th – The Bambouseraie 2/2

June 21st – St Eustache on Music Day

We Love Green

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

It’s music festivals season. This year starts with We Love Green at Bois de Vincennes. My friends and I choose to go there on sunday, mainly to check on Bon Iver.

Source: https://www.welovegreen.fr/?lang=en

The place is welcoming but a bit more of shadow would not hurt. Multiple stages are set around the central field. There are stands for food, drinks, water fountains. Looks good to me.

Where is Waldo ?

Loose pictures: May 2023

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

May 10th – Rain over La Défense

May 13th – Entry of the Cité Universitaire

May 13th – On the Petite Ceinture, right under the bar Le Poinçon

May 15th – The Palais Royal before it gets crowded