"If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it."

High Altar : Baroque Church : Annecy, FR

We don't have a lot of Baroque architecture in the U.S., so when I run across the occasional Baroque church in Europe, I snap photos. Not that Baroque is my favorite architectural form, mind you. I find it rather gaudy and overwrought. But the bright colors and carved figures always grab and pull me in. This little church in Annecy was no exception. To see more pictures of Annecy, visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Note: The title is a quote from the Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast." 

Look!

Nouveau LOOK : Annecy, FR

One of the places we went while my sister was here was Annecy, France. This quaint little town is on the road to Albertville, France, host of the 1992 Winter Olympics. Currently, it is one of three finalists, along with Munich, Germany, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, veying to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. Annecy lies on Lac d'Annecy, about 35 km (22 miles) south of Geneva in the Haute-Savoie region. As we were walking through the older part of town, I noticed this doorway. Looking a little closer, I was delighted by this sign.

Look a little closer : Annecy, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Caption This...

 My dream is to one day pilot a whirligig. It could happen. I already have the coat for it...

This week's "Caption This..." photo was taken in Annecy, France, where we went to see a cute town and to have raclette for dinner.

Last week's photo caption winner is Carolyn of Oakland Daily Photo, who wrote, "Look lively, lads. The recruiters for Cirque Du Soleil are in town!" The runner up was Melissa, who provided dialogue for all three statues. To see last week's photo and caption, go here.

Updated -- February 22: The winner of this week's captioning contest is L.A. Cochran. See her caption above. The runner up was Carolyn of Oakland Daily Photo with "Am I really seeing this or did I forget to take my medication?"

Thanks everyone for playing along!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Yummy, Cheesy Goodness

Raclette: Yummy, Cheesy Goodness! : Alpage : Annecy, FR

One word: Raclette. If you haven't had it, honestly, you haven't lived. What's not to love about lots of yummy, melty cheese? The answer lies in the question.

Cheese. Goooooooooood.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

At the Alpage V (Saint Bernards)

The Parade of the Saint Bernards
started with this "little" guy : Alpage : Annecy, FR

These are the last of the photos from the Alpage. In addition to the goats and sheep and cows and geese and horses and donkeys that were a part of the parade, there were Saint Bernhards--those storied dogs of Alpine adventure and bravery who rescue hapless folk from the harsh realities of winter in the Alps. These dogs are HUGE!

Massively huge Saint Bernard : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Here's a bit of information about these mythical dogs of Alpine wonder.

A pair of Saint Bernards : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

At the Alpage IV

Ringing of the Cow Bells : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Just a couple more shots from the Alpage. Today's feature the parade of the cow bells. My guess is, these are the farmer's with the highest producing cows in the region. They come through with these huge bells on yokes. Immediately behind them then come herds of cows. It's a pretty noisy, prestigious affair!

Goatherd and a sneaky pickpocket : Alpage : Annecy, FR

I featured this picture yesterday in my slideshow, but I like it so well and it has a story that I decided to post it. These goats and their herders stopped in front of where I was standing and, while they were waiting, the goat next to this woman kept trying to steal corn out of her basket. The two of the together we're pretty funny! She finally got hold of him and managed to get him to stop pickpocketing her long enough for me to take this photo.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

LABELS: Alpage, Animals, Europe, France, Locale-Annecy, NaBloPoMo

At the Alpage III

Savoyard Reservist : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Continuing on with this... A few weeks ago, we went to the Alpage in Annecy, France. In October, the farmers and herders of the Alps bring their cows, goats, sheep, and various and sundry other animals down from the Alps and the meadows and back into the valleys and towns for the winter. When this yearly migration occurs, the towns and villages hold an alpage festival. These are just a few pictures from the events in Annecy, which is not far from Albertville, France, host of the 1992 Winter Olympics.

MORE PHOTOS a la Janet:

These are just a few of the 185 shots I took in Annecy that day. More than 2/3 of my photos were of the alpage. If I can figure out a way to load the video I shot of the parade of cow bells, I'll post it. (But no promises!) In the meantime, here is someone else's video from the Alpage. (Oddly, this video was shot the year before not that far from where I was actually standing this year!)

VIDEO:

DESCENTE ALPAGE ANNECY 2008

At the Alpage II

One Alphorn and Its Owner : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Just a couple more strangers at the Alpage in Annecy. We missed actually hearing the alphorns, which was a huge disappointment for me. But the horns themselves were pretty darn cool! And again, no names for either the Alphornist or the Trumpeter. Let's just call them Gerard and Jacques, shall we?

Trumpeter : Alpage : Annecy, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09

At the Alpage

Mischievous Twinkle : Des Alpage : Annecy, FR

Today's shot is from my archives. I took this gentleman's photo at the Alpage in Annecy, France, a few weeks ago. I love the mischievous twinkle in his eye. Sadly, no name since I don't parle vous Francais.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/09