Luzern in the Golden Hour

Kapellbrücke / Chapel Bridge over the Reuss River : Luzern, CH

This weekend, we traveled to Luzern to meet up with a friend I haven't seen in 20+ years. Alan P. has been stationed at the U.S. Army Base in Kaiserslautern, Germany, for the last couple of years. His assignment is ending and he's about to ship back to the States. We decided it would be fun to meet up somewhere in the middle between Geneva and Kaiserslautern, so we chose Luzern. (Actually, it turned out to be way closer for us than it was for him, but he was kind enough to drive further than we did.) We drove up to Luzern the night before and met friends Scott and Diana. These are just a couple of shots from that evening.

Luzern's most famous landmark is its wooden bridge -- the Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge -- that connects the two halves of Luzern across the Reuss River. Built in 1333, it is the oldest covered bridge in Europe. In 1993, a fire, allegedly started by a discarded cigarette, destroyed a significant section of the bridge, which had to be rebuilt. As a result of the fire, a series of 17th century paintings depicting events from Luzern's history were lost. A few remain. In the distance at the end of the bridge, you can see the Church of St. Leodegar.

Stadtkeller : Luzern, CH

On the north side of the Reuss, there are a number of older buildings that include beautifully painted façades and woodworking details.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

St Corneille Church

Interior : St Corneille Church : Puycelci, FR

In the center of the village of Puycelci sits a 14th century church, St Corneille Church. The interior is painted in the most gorgeous blue that is known colloquially as "Tarn Blue".

High Altar : St Corneille Church : Puycelci, FR

Christ Crucified : St Corneille Church, Puycelci, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

Winter Beauty

Winter Hydrangea : Château de Penthes : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/11

D’Orgue à Bellelay

The organ loft in the church at Bellelay Abbey : Belleley, CH

The trip home from Basel, CH, was taken on the back roads of French-speaking Switzerland. The town of Bellelay features an abbey, which now serves as a psychiatric clinic. The building includes a beautiful Baroque chapel, which is where this organ is at. I believe it's made from blue marble. Either way, it was gorgeous!

Different angle of the same organ : Bellelay, CH

Detail : Organ at the Bellelay Abbey : Bellelay, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Duck Duck Goose

On an evening walk, these basketball standards in the yard of a school in Ferney stood out and made me think of the children's game Duck, Duck, Goose.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

Water

Sainte-Chapelle in a Glass : Paris, FR

Nothing too exciting today. Just a glass of water on a blue table cloth at a sidewalk cafe on the Left Bank a block away from Notre Dame. That steeple in the background and in the water is part of Saint Chapelle.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Blue Doors of Montmartre

Blue doors in Montmartre : Paris, FR

While we were in Paris, we hung out with Virginia of Birmingham Daily Photo and Paris Through My Eyes and Peter of Peter's Paris. Peter was a wonderful host and tour guide. We spent the better part of the day in the famed 18th arrondissement of Montmartre and took loads of pictures. One thing that stood out for me were the blue doors.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Fêtes de Genève

Ferris wheel at the opening of Fêtes de Genève : Geneva, CH

As a run up to Swiss Confederation Day (August 8), Geneva hosts a party called Fêtes de Genève. Walking back to the carpark the other evening, there was this ferris wheel set up at the foot of the Pont du Mont Blanc. The light was perfect and I snapped a few pictures.

Ferris wheel fun : Geneva, CH

And now, for the first time in months, I'm caught up on my blog! Can't say that will last long, though. I'm going to Paris this weekend and leaving the laptop home. Oh well.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Swans

Swan at dusk : Geneva Harbor : Geneva, CH

In North America, we have Canadian geese. No offense to the Canadians or geese, but they're not very pretty.

Sunset Swan : Geneva Harbor : Geneva, CH

Over here, they have swans. They're quite pretty. Here are a few examples taken over the last two weeks. (And no, I don't know why the swan has its leg tucked up out of the water and on his/her back like that. But if you know, I'd like to know. Please share.)

Tranquil : Geneva Harbor : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 06/09 and 07/09

Pink

Sunset in Pink

My friend, Dr Lala, loves the color pink. The other day, we had a beautiful sunset I'm calling Lala's Sunset in Pink.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 06/09

Sun-kissed

Sun-kissed

When I was up on the terrace in the Main Building the other day, I noticed the late afternoon sun on these plants and snapped this photo. Nothing too special, but nice light.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 06/09