Something Round

This week's Smarts & Crafts photo assignment.

Belgian cherries in my friends' backyard.

Where to begin?

Kilometre Zero

Kilometre Zero is right in front of Notre Dame on the l'Ile de la Cité, which is where we stayed while we were in Paris. So, that's where I'll begin.

Beyond my peach and vanilla Berthillon ice cream, is l'Ile de la Cité, literally an island in the Seine.

This isn't the Metro stop for Cité, but it looks just like this. These Art Nouveau entrances the Metro are so charming and so, so...  Paris.

The entrance and garden of our hotel which was actually a public hospital. Our room was on the 6th floor of L'Hôtel Hospitel. It was quiet and very charming complete with wifi, a flat screen TV, several maps and books on Paris, and a big bathtub. I hadn't taken a bath in over a year!

This turned out a little bit blurry - but it cast an eerie glow in the hall above the three gurneys and empty oxygen tanks. 

Besides the fantastic amenities, L'Hôtel Hospitel had the best location - right next to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Just imagine Phillippe Petin walking on a tightrope in the space between the two towers. That is exactly what he did in 1971.

Oops! He seems to have lost his head...

My favorite detail of the cathedral:

The door.

The interior and rose window.

Photo by Jon.

One of the Rose windows in Notre Dame.

I can see this color scheme on a quilt.

A quiet scene some where inside.

And then I looked up, I just love these stars on the ceiling!

Some side action...

Up on top:

A view like no other,..

And this is where we will pick up next post. 

Man on Wire

Have you seen this film?

It's incredible! A truly amazing tale. There are so many things I loved about this film, so many things that Phillippe Petit said and I wished I would have written down. I also wished I would have watched the documentary with English subtitles for the French speaking parts. I will have to watch it again.

This is not Phillipe Petite, but a performer I saw here in Leuven back in May. 
The city put on a free circus!

This was a perfect film for me to watch today, given the post-trip funk I am in. I think my funk may have to do with the fact that our time here in Belgium is coming to an end. In less than two months I will be up in the air, like Phillippe Petit. To quote the man ~

"To me, it's really so simple, that life should be lived on the edge. You have to exercise rebellion. To refuse to tape yourself to the rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge. Then you will live your life on the tightrope."

P is for Paris

Today is Bastille Day and I thought it would be a good idea to begin posting about our recent trip, starting with Paris. My original idea was to begin where our trip to Paris last December left off. I never did finish posting about that trip...

Les Ponts des Arts.

The bridge over the Seine is decorated with these Love Locks. There are literally thousands on this bridge. Some are engraved, colored and even heart shaped. We didn't leave a lock, but it's a romantic idea for a very romantic city.

Paris

(Sigh...)

Alas, it's too late to start a post about it all now. 

I'm still in the lackadaisical recovery stages from our trip.

I promise to post more tomorrow.

Bonsoir!

One and Three

The aftermath of our holiday:

There are a lot of photos and clean clothes to sort today. Yup, it's a lot of work, but worth the work. I am a lucky girl indeed.

Le Vie en Rose

I bought these coral earrings in Brugge last Saturday. I think they are adorable.

I'm on holiday this week. I'll be back on the 12th to share exciting adventures and stories.

Ciao!

Le Tour de France

Le Tour de France came through Belgium today. I love to watch le tour on television every summer, but the opportunity to see it in person was too good to pass up. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!

We made our way to Antwerp to view the big race. 

We waited two hours for ten incredible seconds. 

Flanders did a lot to keep us entertained...

Corporate sponsors drove by and threw things at the crowd.

I had a pretty good view, right up front. 

It was such a rush! 

They cycled by so incredibly fast. If I had planned it better, I would have made a big Texas flag for Lance Armstrong. 

Next time... 

How to Beat the Heat

Yesterday, the high reached 35° C, or 95° F. Texans are "supposed" to be used to the heat, but Texans are used to the heat AND air conditioning. Typical Belgian stores, café and apartments do not have air conditioning. Needless to say, I took 3 cold showers yesterday, and spent most of the day outside. I will also add that napping indoors proved to be gross. Hopefully yesterday was the hottest day of the year.

So, how did we beat the heat?

We went to church where it was nice and cool.

We bought some fans.

We sat outside and drank lots of water and watched the World Cup.

We stood under the tall cheering Dutchman's shadow.

We swung in the park and tried to make sense of the architecture.

We went to Beleuvenissen, which is a series of outdoor concerts in and around the city. 

We went for the best ice cream in Leuven.

The Master

The day.

The event.

The heat.

The skirt.

The work.

The end.