Waterways

Strasbourg is basically an island, la Grande Ile, the big island. A lot of water here. It used to be far more, as many of the streets are dried out rivers (called ramblas in other places). So canoes should be a convenient way of going around town...

A weekend reflection

More weekend reflections here

Contrast

Did I mention that Strasbourg is a colorful and very international place???

La Belle Epoque

The merry-go-round near the St Thomas church

Before and after

Before...

...and after the storm

A troubadour

troubadour

Origin

French, from Provençal trobador, from trobar ‘find, invent, compose in verse’.

Holidays!

C ya soon!

The local version

Like... the other one. Well, almost

14 juillet, Bastille Day

The traditional 14/7 fireworks, as seen from the safety of our balcony.

Skywatch Friday is here.

Carpe diem

14 juillet, aka Bastille day. Today, 227 years ago, Parisians stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, freeing all 5 prisoners (including the Marquis de Sade), shouting liberté, égalité, fraternité, liberty, equality, fraternity.
Empty words nowadays...  Very little of it left, if any.
Big army parade in Paris, militaristic lobby sponsoring...
As for me, I am neither militaristic, nor patriotic or a nationalist at all, as they are all empty, hateful words for me. Symbols of oppression. But then, I am so little french after all.
And anyway, I hate ALL flags!
But hey, it's a day off! So carpe diem, let's have a nice meal!

Welcome!

This is the very inviting entrance to a hotel on the Place du Corbeau, or raven square.

The hidden parts

Well, it takes... guts to do it! Would you do it???

Tall!!!!

Gosh, she is tall!!! 142 meters. Which makes impossible to get her on one single photo without a very expensive fisheye. But where is a will, there is a way, with a photo-stitching program. 7 photos in one, using Microsoft ICE, a free program.

A Weekend Reflection

There are many many art galleries in town, a surprising number for a midsize city...
This is for the Weekend Reflection meme. Click here to see more reflections from all around the world.

Let's throw someone in the river!

The big naval battle, Strasbourg vs Schiltigheim. When I left, Strasbourg was leading, 2-0

The hat man

It is pink tourist weather, Thanks mate for your invaluable contribution to the general wellbeing!
And no thanks, I dont like hats.

Tu tires ou tu pointes???

Pétanque, aka boules. More commonly played in the south of France. Two main ways to play it: rolling the ball, or shooting it. The goal is to get your ball closest to the cochonnet, the smaller ball.
It is a men's game for some reason, you rarely ever see women playing it. Maybe they have better things to do. A shame.

Love

The little dog saw me!

Beauty and the photographer

Came across these ladies last Sunday. Maybe models on a photoshoot

The 1776 BREXIT

Yes, they did it 240 years, exiting Great Britain (not the EU, lol!).
And 150 years ago, the first US general consulate opened in Strasbourg, adorned with a flag, with 36 stars and 13 stripes.
2 interesting documents about it, here, and also here, the latter from President Obama. Have a look!