After yesterday's Sunday stroll (that actually took place on a Saturday) through the picturesque village of Saint Amour Bellevue, come to Mâcon with me today. Mâcon is a small town of about 35.000 inhabitants and the next biggest place from Saint Amour, only a short drive away. Situated on the river Saône, people have lived there since Celtic times, and in Roman times, the place was fortified and developed into a "proper" city (I have this information from the Wikipedia article about Mâcon).
Our Australian friends took us there, and we walked along the river and through the old town centre. It was Sunday, and we could not look inside the church because there was a service going on. It was Sunday, and we could not let four-year-old H. have a ride on the roundabout because it was closed. It was Sunday, and we could not find a place open to sit and have ice cream because they were closed. It was Sunday, and we could only just about manage to buy some sweets from the only shop that seemed to be open for miles around - and was about to close when we found it. It was Sunday, and everything seemed to be shut.
We all thought it strange that such places of interest for tourists and residents would be closed on a day when people certainly have time to go out with their families. Of course we understand that shops aren't kept open 24/7, and for instance in Germany, they are not allowed to be open on Sundays unless they have a special permit, but ice cream parlours and cafés? Roundabouts? Tourist attractions?
Never mind - it was an interesting and beautiful place to visit, and here are some of the pictures I took:
Does anyone know what the tree in the middle picture is?
Some more pictures will have to wait - just now when I tried to upload them, I had the "You have run out of space" message again. It will probably work alright tonight or tomorrow; so far, it always has done after this message...
You know I have a thing for doors and doorways, and I found several there for my collection.
There were glimpses along narrow streets and into courtyards that I think are worth showing here, too.
You are welcome to look at the complete set of pictures from that weekend in my photobucket album, which can be found here.
And as you can see, I was now able to upload some more pictures without any trouble, and without having to upgrade to more storage space for money!
AH! FRANCE!!! I've always wanted to visit places like this. You know, with the quiet and peaceful surroundings and everything. I imagine myself sitting on a soft grass enjoying a good book or just doodle around with my notebook. :D
ReplyDeleteThe combination of a good book and a beautiful place sounds irresistible!
DeleteI think it is a kind of Koelreutia, golden rain tree.Lovely photos again! I love doorways too. One of my art teachers called them liminal pictures - of places where you move from one state of being to another. I like this idea. I like pictures of the bend in the road, too, where one doesn't know exactly what lies ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you - for telling me about the tree as well as for a word I've never heard before, liminal. Yes, doors and doorways for me also include narrow paths. Have you looked at my "Doors & Doorways" album on photobucket? In case you are interested, it is here:
Deletehttp://s524.photobucket.com/albums/cc327/MeksPics/Doors%20and%20Doorways/
I hope you had a pleasant weekend in spite of many places being shut. France goes on holiday in August! Actually, I am quite glad that there are still places where Sunday is not the same as every other day of the week. There's hardly a minute in the UK which is not 'open for business'.
ReplyDeleteThe whole weekend was wonderful, Friko - we didn't really mind that everything was shut in Mâcon, I was just a bit sorry for the little girl that she couldn't go on the roundabout, something she would have liked very much. But she was alright about it and didn't throw a tantrum or anything like it :-)
DeleteHere, Sunday is definitely not the same as every other day of the week. Apart from some bakeries, no shops are open, and those are only open for a few hours anyway. But you can go and sit somewhere nice for an ice cream or coffee and cake - and since that is the time of the week when people can do that, it makes sense to have cafés and ice cream parlours open on Sunday afternoons, doesn't it?
When I first visited France I was expecting everything to be open on Sunday. I had read all about the famous "continental sunday" so different from our miserable old British Sundays. Admittedly everything DID close all the time in Britain. But in France, after the SUnday morning market, everything closed as well. And Monday is nearly as bad. ! :)
ReplyDeleteWe didn't expect everything to be open, but we were certainly surprised to see that at the time of the year when most tourists would be there, and most regular inhabitants would have time, the cafés etc. were shut, just when they could have made good business!
DeleteEverything used to be closed here on Sunday but not anymore, it is just as busy as Saturday and sometimes, even more so. I miss everything being closed up. It was much more peaceful and quiet. A day of rest, not anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with the comment above, it is a golden raintree.
Meike, if you fill up your space, there is a way to get more room for your photos. I know I filled up my space last year and had to click on the link to get more. There was a charge but it wasn't too much.
YOU MAKE ME WANT TO GO TO FRANCE MORE THAN EVER!
Sunday is very quiet here in my town; I like that atmosphere, too. I just don't think there would have been any harm in keeping at least a few cafés open so that people could spend time (and money) there with their friends and families, as well as providing a welcome break for tourists after wandering around the old town centre. It wouldn't have taken away from the peace and quiet.
DeleteYour post made me smile. Some years ago, my sister-in-law and I went to the west of England, to visit St. Michael's Mount. We were only in the area for one day, but when we got to the ferry slip -- "Closed Wednesdays!"
ReplyDeleteIt has become something of a family joke. When my sister-in-law and I want to go somewhere, they promptly close up for the day. They must see us coming!
Thanks for sharing the lovely photos.
That's the best you can do about something like that happening - turn it into a family joke :-)
DeleteGreat photos -- colorful buildings, quiet river, unknown tree...smile
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mark! Now I hope I'll be able to upload the rest of my pictures. So far, it always worked again after a few days without me having to do anything about it...
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