Bienvenue!

This is a photo diary of my trip to France and Spain in September and October 2007. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

First impressions of Paris

21.09.2007 Paris, France
It would seem impossible, but Paris is even more beautiful and charming than I imagine. Stepping out of Les Halles station and turning on to rue Montorgueil, I felt like I had entered a storybook.

Eglise Saint Eustache

This 500-year-old Gothic church is only minutes from where I was staying in Les Halles.

Notre Dame cathedral

Constructed between 1163 and 1345, the ornamental details of Notre Dame are breathtaking.

Sainte Chapelle

With curtains of 13th-century stained glass on all sides, the chapel looks like a jewel box.

Jardin du Luxembourg

There are so many beautiful gardens in Paris full of colourful flowers and with former palaces as backdrops. The Palais du Luxembourg now houses the senate.

And the sun sets over the Seine

This obligatory sunset shot was taken from the Pont des Arts.


The glass pyramid of the Louvre needs no introduction.

Day 2 in Paris

22.09.2007 Paris, France
I love it that you can walk everywhere in Paris. And the view is always good.








I spent so long on the lower levels of Musée d'Orsay that I ran out of time to see its extensive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist works.


Anne has a lovely apartment filled with books and objects from exotic places.

Musée du Louvre

23.09.2007 Paris, France
It was incredible how crowded the museum was despite its size. There were numerous tour groups jostling for space. Not that I'm about to complain about tourists, being one myself.



The famous Mona Lisa.

Jardin des Tuileries

In this Sunday afternoon, the garden was full of people lounging in the sun and children playing with boats in the fountain. It seems to be the idyllic Parisian life.

Arc de Triomphe

No time for rest

24.09.2007 Paris, France
One never runs out of places to go in Paris.



Ten years on, tributes to Princess Diana can still be found at the Flamme de la Liberté, Place de l'Alma over the entrance to the tunnel where she and Dodi were killed.

Tour Eiffel

My visit to the Parisian icon coincided with a cold snap, pouring rain and near-zero visibility, and was enlivened only by an impromptu bagpipe performance at the top of the tower, and a few colourful rugby fans from Slovenia.

Pompidou: part 1

Centre Pompidou is only a short walk from Anne's apartment. I'll just soak up the atmosphere outside, and save the museum visit for another day.

Basilique du Sacré Coeur, Montmartre

25.09.2007 Paris, France
What a difference a sunny blue sky can make. When Gaultier drove us here the other night, it looked seedy and dirty and stank of urine. Today, the white basilica just looks perfectly sweet and charming atop the green lawns.

Hôtel de Ville

I'm not sure why there were so many roosters outside the city hall. Maybe somebody could tell me?



The Rugby World Cup was taking place across France. It seems even the statues were swept up by rugby fever, although I remained quite immune.

Take it easy

The fine weather was not to last. Without an umbrella, I took shelter from the rain at the Musée Carnavalet, an old mansion in Marais.


A blue door I came across while shopping in Marais.


Dinner at a local Italian café.