Beverly & I were stuck overnight in the DC area on our way home from our latest trip. Fortunately, the colors of Autumn were peaking, so the following morning we took the opportunity to take a bit of a detour on our way to the airport for a little photography. We asked our cab driver to take us “someplace pretty” and this is where we ended up. With few exceptions like the Lost Maples State Park (click for a link to some photos) we don’t really get these colors in Texas. Typically here the leaves just go from green to brown & fall on the ground, so it’s always a treat to spend a bit of time surrounded by such blazing foliage.

A light rain was starting to fall in Paris as we were hurrying to the Lourve for a private tour. (That’s another amazing story, and it was no doubt the highlight of our visit to Paris.) As we were crossing the river, a wonderful orange glow was settling behind the Eiffel Tower and Paris’ oldest bridge ‘The Pont Neuf’ or “new bridge” (built 1578-1607). My companions were quite patient while I set up my camera for a few shots before continuing on. You can see where there was a bit of rain on the lens, however, I’m still glad we paused for a few moments to try and capture the beautiful scene above the Seine.

On the Left Bank in Paris, just across from the Notre-Dame, lives a bookstore and an institution. Shakespeare and Company is an amazing place with an amazing past. You can quite literally read its history in the many nooks and cranny’s filled with literary soul. It is well worth reading the Wiki entry and visiting the website. Then, go to Paris and experience Shakespeare and Company for yourself.

A couple of blocks from the apartment where we are staying in Paris stands the Château de Vincennes including the Sainte Chapelle. It’s great being in Paris in the ‘off season’ because you have the opportunity to go to touristy places while the tourist are away. This afternoon we were in this magnificent space alone. For over 550 years people have been entering this space and awed by it’s beauty. I am probably one of the odd few that took the opportunity to lay down on the stone floor and look straight up at the heavenly view. I’m sure some would frown upon such behavior… They would be the ones missing the beauty. Occasionally you must be a bit odd to truly see a different, perhaps better, perspective.