21 April 2016. We are once again traveling with stops in Milano, Paris, London, and Dijon. Rather than give you a rundown on the sights we’ve seen, I thought I’d share some of our more unusual photos. We have a lot of fun going to less-known neighborhoods and sights, taking walks where mostly locals walk, and looking at even famous sites with a fresh perspective.
Please click on any photo for a better view and complete caption.
Frog pond, Jardins des Plantes. He was singing and two others were responding. Quite the morning chorus.
Design week had just ended in Milano. Perhaps that is why this shop displayed chocolate shoes. They were priced from 39-65 Euros.
From Milano to Torino we were the only people in our car on the TGV, See Ric in the middle? At Torino a British tour group filled the car to capacity.
RIce paddies in Lombardia, as seen from our train. We’ve taken this trip many times, but never seen the fields flooded.
Rapeseed, planted on hundreds of acres across France, blooms beautifully in April. Sorry about the blurring. Taken from the train, you know.
Wooden coats on display at a haberdashery, Paris Left Bank.
VIew from the top of the Arab World Institute. Security was incredible.
Did you know there are Roman ruins in Paris? The Arènes de Lutèce once held 20,000 spectators. About 1/3 of it is missing and the rest of the seating is now park area.
Late morning croissants at a darling cafe and art gallery near Notre Dame.
Just like the train from Milano to Torino, we were almost alone on the Seine cruise. The top deck was crowded, but we got out of the sun and enjoyed the lower deck.
Naughty captain on our river cruise: feet up, controlling the boat with a joystick in one hand and texting with the other. Luckily we did not hit any of the bridges.
This caused a second glance. Along the Seine, painted on a portal in the floodwall, as seen from our boat tour.
Lovely door in the Hammam Mosque of Paris. They have a tea room anyone can visit.
Girovaga 
In France, the rape seed is called ‘colza’, and is either used as feed for animals or for canola oil. The yellow color is so bright in the sun that it is almost blinding. I try to get photos of it, but have never been able to capture its beauty. This year the entire countryside is covered with it. Lucky us.
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It was stunning! If the sun had been brighter I think it would have hurt my eyes to look at it.
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I love the frog shot too! All your Oregon Zoo friends would love seeing it! Loved all the photos. Platform shoes again! Did you save any from years ago? I didn’t and don’t believe I will buy them now to be in style. This feels like such a relaxing trip for you two – that is good!
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Thanks, Carolyn! Hard to find wildlife in the city. We were delighted. Very relaxed pace on this trip, although I have our London itinerary chock-a-block with activities!
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I just love those shoes and then the ‘permanent jackets’. And that frog…you should enter that one in a contest!
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Shoes too-good-to-eat! The French and the Italians do a fine job on windows.
Now to find the right contest for my frog! Let me know if you see one!
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Looking forward to do some travelling north of Italy – great pictures and thanks for sharing.
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We will have to give you some recommendations in Paris! We’ve found some great restaurants over our three visits.
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You are turning into such a photographer! I had several favorites, the frog among them.
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The frog was the highlight of the gardens. My little point-and-shoot does a pretty good job!
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