Foto's uit Europa

Fontainebleu's most famous resident

2007-11-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

A square named after Napoleon I

Royal Hunting Lodge

2007-11-07T23:35:00.000-08:00

Fontainebleu is famous for its chateau (right behind me) as well as its acres of woods: the town once served as a royal hunting lodge in the days when the Bourbons were still in power.

Fontainebleu Train Station

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Located at something like 40 km away from Paris, I spent 2 hours taking the train to arrive here.

A chemist's shop

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13 degree celcius - a rather agreable temperature to stroll in

Port of Vannes

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Notice the Britanny flag fluttering high on the flagpole

Vannes

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In France, cars navigate roundabouts in an anti-clockwise fashion, much to the horror of motorists from most Commonwealth countries. This photo is taken in Vannes, a historical city that is also the prefecture (or administrative capital) of the Morbihan department.

Saint-Goustan

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Street sign in Sainte-Anne.

Mediaeval timbered houses

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In the neighbouring commune of Saint-Anne

Sainte-Anne-d'Auray

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Church dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary. Built between 1867 and 1872, this imposing edifice replaced an older structure dating back to 1630, itself erected on the site of a much older chapel tracing its roots back to the 5th century. An interesting story revolved around this noteworthy pilgrimage site: in 1623-25, a peasant Yves Nicolazic received a vision of Saint Anne who accordingly said this to him "Doue e venn ma vein inouret aman" - God wants me to be honoured in this place.

Concarneau

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Taken from the "Ville Close": a view worthy of a postcard.

Alignements de Carnac

2007-10-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

Au néolithique, entre 4500 et 2000 ans avant J-C, des alignements mégalithiques sont érigés. Les alignements sont partagés en plusieurs groupes distincts. Dans la photo, on voit bien qu’ils s’étendent sur plus d’un kilomètre, avec les restes de cercles de pierres à chaque extrémité.

Carnac

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Carnac

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Standing before the rows of megalithic monuments at Carnac, a relic of pre-Christian Britanny where dolmens and menhirs abound. They are the enigmatic counterparts of their more famous cousins at Stonehenge, England.

Breton Fisherman

2007-10-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

Fishing is a traditional livelihood for many Bretons. While its importance has diminished since the end of the war, many Bretons still take to the sea like ducks to water.

View from my Bedsitter

2007-10-16T03:42:00.000-07:00

When the fog-woven curtains close, And the hoofs on the beaten mud..
Lorsque les rideaux tissés de brume se ferment, et que les sabots dans la boue battue…

Etoile filante et puis, c'est fini.

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Flying the national colours despite a bitter defeat

Heartache

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Chabal sinks to his knees in dispair as Wilkinson coldly dispatches the French once again.

England v France

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Watching the rugby with bated breath at the Champs de Mars. France leading by a razor-thin margin of 7-6 at that juncture.

L'Avenue du Champs Elysee la Nuit

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C'est beau, Paris la nuit. En fait, on dit que c'est la plus belle avenue du monde.

La Grève

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A showdown with the Government. The CGT is a trade union with Communist leanings and autumn protests are a part of the political landscape every autumn.

Ecole Polytechnique

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Or informally known as La X - one of the best engineering schools in the world

Champs de Mars

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French and English supporters duking it out a few hours before the kickoff

A Scrum or Un Mêlée

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English and French supporters on the verge of a scrammage at the Champs de Mars

Outside the Louvre

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Wee Poh and myself

Cafe au Lait

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A very Parisian thing to do

Drinking coffee

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Coffee that cost 10 euros which Wee Poh graciously paid for!

Going Home

2007-10-15T07:28:00.001-07:00

And so after a long and fruitful day in Amsterdam, it's time to head back to Rotterdam.

De Wallen

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A canal that cuts across the heart of the neighbourhood and me in between

De Wallen

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De Wallen - it is evident without me saying what exactly is the main industry here.

The Grasshopper

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This is a coffee shop, not a koffie huis; one consumes drugs in the former, but coffee in the latter.

Rotterdam Lake

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On Sunday morning before I return back to France

Dinner at Amsterdam

2007-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

In an Argentinian restaurant: Mag in a sombrero.

Trams

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Standing fearlessly in the path of a tram to take a brilliant photo

Winkelstraat

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Winkelstraat or shopping street

Still outside Anne Frank's House

2007-10-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

As the long queues discouraged us from entering the aborde of the plucking Jewish girl, we stood outside to admire the picturesque surroundings. I am with Lucas in this photo. He's a Romanian student on exchange in Erasmus Rotterdam.

Outside Anne Frank's House

2007-10-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

Prinsengracht

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Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal. Taken right outside Anne Frank's House.

Canals

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Amsterdam is replete with canals which make a very picturesque sight as they criss-cross across the city.

In the Bijenkorf

2007-10-15T06:51:00.001-07:00

Demonstrations!

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Showing solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi

De Niewe Kerk

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De Nieuwe Kerk or The New Church is quite an oxymoron as it is really a mediaeval church. I wonder what they mean by De Oude Kerk then.

City Hall of Amsterdam

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Hailing a hansom cab

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Horse carriages still serve as a viable mode of transport only for the curious tourist with an excess of cash in hand

Dutch flags along a street

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Amsterdam

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Red-bricked architecture as the dominant style in the Netherlands

Gloomy Day

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The Dutch and their fondness for bicycles

Amsterdam!

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The iconic landmark of Amsterdam -viz Centraal Station. Unfortunately, it has been partially obscured by construction works in progress.

Erasmus Bridge

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Rotterdam - Erasmus Bridge at the background

My hosts in Rotterdam

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Impromptu snapshot

A Calvinist Church

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A deconsecrated church in the heart of Rotterdam that also miraculously survived the Blitzkrieg. Now used as a venue for party functions, one could droily remark that it is also desecrated as well.

Accomodation up for Sale

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Modern Rotterdam

2007-10-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

Rotterdam is not an aesthetically pleasing city by any stretch although I suppose it's not really its fault - it didn't ask to be destroyed. Nonetheless, there are some visual treats in store for the careful visitor who keeps his eyes peeled.

Hullo! Hoe gaat het met u?

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Since Ed and Mag shook its hand, why not me?

And how do you do?

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Mag

A metallic hand that emits warmth

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Rotterdam

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The Town Hall

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Possibly the oldest surviving structure in Rotterdam. The city was razed to the ground by the Germans during WWII to serve as a warning to the resisting Dutch forces that were proving to be such a tenacious bunch. The Dutch got the message and capitulated soon after.

Edward's room

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Relieved to be in the warmth of his room and carrying the plate of pasta he made.

Self Portrait

2007-10-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Taken at Centraal Station, Rotterdam

Centraal Station, Rotterdam

2007-10-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

Taken at 4 AM. Edward was late as the metro wasn't running yet. It was drizzling and it was really cold. This photo captures -or hopes to, at any rate- Rotterdam stirring to life.

En Route to the Netherlands in Belgium

2007-10-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

This way to Brussels

Magdalen

2007-10-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

En face d'Edward et moi dans la brasserie

St Michel

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Dining at chic St-Michel in a brasserie

Skyline of Paris

2007-10-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

Once again taken on my repeated visit to Montmarte

Ici repose Oscar Wilde

2007-10-15T06:21:00.001-07:00

And tell me the importance of being earnest, please!

The most Glamorus Cemetery in France

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Dans l’enceinte de la cimentière Père Lachaise

Another Parisian street

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J’ai l’impression des fois que l’on aperçoit la même chose partout dans Paris

Billet Aller-Retour

2007-10-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

My ticket to Rotterdam!

Allez Les Bleus!

2007-10-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

Celebrating a drop kick, courtesy of Lionel Beauxis

Red flare!

2007-10-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

"This is just like in Europe," I told Edward incredulously, to which Ed incredulously replied, "But you're in Europe, mate!"

Rugby Live!

2007-10-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Crowds milling before the Hôtel de Ville to savour a Gallic triumph

Watching the rugby

2007-10-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

Taken outside the Hôtel de Ville where we were catching the rugby match between France and Ireland. From left: Ed, Mag, me and Manuel.

Entering the Louvre

2007-10-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

Mag and Ed passing through a security scan

Magdalen

2007-10-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Checking the camera batteries before making a move

Edward Ti

2007-10-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

Downing a pint in my kitchen

In my room

2007-10-15T06:10:00.001-07:00

Desmond, Zhilin, Valerie, me

Edward

2007-10-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

Comme moi, cet Anglais, lui, est aussi fou de cricket!

Mario, le Berlinois

2007-10-15T06:09:00.000-07:00

Anaïs et Moi

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Tony

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Apparemment, il a trop bu!

Party at the Residence

2007-10-15T06:06:00.001-07:00

Aron with psychedelic lights

Et je te présente aussi Zhilin

2007-10-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Giving Zhilin a glass of Sang-Real as a welcome drink to good old Cergy!

Je vous présente Desmond

2007-10-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Desmond est monté à Paris de Rouen pour me rendre visite.

Centre Georges Pompidou

2007-10-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

Nommé en souvenir d’un ancien Président de la République française, le Centre Georges Pompidou héberge une collection de l’art moderne. Franchement, c’est nul ce qu’on appelle de l’art moderne !

Dans une crêperie

2007-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dégustant des crêpes bretonnes dans St-Michel en compagnie de Solenn

Syndicat d'Initiative

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Tu y iras pour te renseigner si tu es perdu en France

Chateau de Versailles

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The beautiful garden of Versailles

Inside the chateau

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Galeries des Glaces or the Hall of Mirrors - a special indulgence of the notorious Marie Antoinette

Inside the chateau

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A sun-drenched corridor leading to the antechamber

Being a photographer

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Taking a photo whilst listening to the fascinating audio commentary

Inside the Chateau

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Perhaps one of the rooms of Marie Antoinette

Versailles

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A royal seat of power when the Bourbons were still on the throne

Central Business District

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The CBD devoid of life on a Sunday morning

La Grande Arche

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Solenn devant la Grande Arche

La Pigalle

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The famous cabaret of Moulin Rouge

Vue de Montmarte

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La Butte de Montmarte où il y a beaucoup d’animation

Dans le RER

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Tanh et Tony!

Inside the Bambou Restaurant

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Jani (Austria), Tanh (Germany), Tony (Nederland), me, Aron (Hungary)

Le Resto Viêt-Namien

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On y a dîné et on s’est nourrit bien !

Chinatown

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Chinatown off the Porte de Choisy