A Pinay in Europe

They are all over the place again, snails!  It’s that time of the year when they come out of hibernation and start getting active, like crawling on every leaf or plant, feeding on herbs such as my pot of basil.  They are not at all bad, in fact, their shells are truly a work of art, their flesh, gastronomic, at least for the French, and their slime,  now used as beauty concoction!

A snail colony.  Wonder what are they discussing about?
Provence, France

Oooopppsss….it’s their toilet time
Provence, France

The Snail Species have been with us for millions of years.  This is a fossil of a snail found in Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK

As the fossil collecting centre of the world, Lyme Regis, uses the shape of the snail as its symbol.

Lime Regis, Dorset, UK

A snail sculpture in someone else’s garden

Essone, Ile de France

Because of the snail’s renowned slowness, it is also the symbol of the Slow Food Movement which was first founded in the town of Bra in Piedmont, Italy

Snail is a gastronomic delight in France and the best place to try it is on this restaurant in rue de Montorgueil.  Notice the snail facade.

Paris

I took this photo of a snail from a public garden …

..and with a little tinkering using a photo editing software, I managed to create a snail artwork that could liven up a boring wall at home.

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Since this is the time of year - early summer - when soft fruits  are the flavours of the season, our theme this Monday is dedicated to these nectar-laden delights.   And believe it or not, I took these images in just one garden, in the home of my Filipina friend and her Franco-Belgian family who live just outside Lyon in the Rhone-Alpes.  That even if her little paradise is covered in snow in the winter, each arrival of Spring promises a bounty which her neighbours and friends get to share.  I really wish I am a next-door neighbour for however I adore these fruits, it always give a dent on my purse for they are quite expensive!

A prune starting to turn blue

Pear that grows into a giant

Nectarine

strawberries for the picking!

lovely and beautiful cherries

peaches

Apricot tree and its fruits

luscious apricots!

and the star of the garden - this windmill!

You might also want to see:  DAILY PHOTOS

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It’s the Vide Grenier season again and what a thrilling way to spend our sacred Sundays than to explore towns and villages and at the same time window-shop for grandmotherly articles, not necessarily to buy them but to photograph them for my vintage collection.

Yes, every Sunday and special days, a vide grenier is held even in remotest places. The things you can find here will most likely last for another hundred years - for just pennies - than the brand new ones you buy in shops, Made in China, which will eventually end up in rubbish bins in a week or two simply because they are made of cheap materials that wobble when assembled.

One of my favorite photographic subject is this facade of a building attached to the church of Saint-Clement.  The sign says “School of Jeanne d’Arc”.

The hanging plant display of the Mairie (town hall)

Arpajon is always popular among vide grenier enthusiasts. 

What a fun way of disposing one’s tired objects.  I am curious about that bowl with several legs!  And the glass horse in blue is awesome!

I saw a similar “globe on a stand” in the Palace of Versailles, I didn’t realize it is also a bar when opened! 

 Must be a 1950’s scooter.  A bit of tinkering and servicing could attract those vintage collectors.

A painting of museum quality, all of one euro!

A Euro each: for the hat which is definitely a must-have this summer; and for the mannekin jewellery holder.

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I call them the Crayon Fields because of the intense display of colours!  And they are not just there for aesthetics but as food, drink and aromatherapy oils. 

I invite you to explore this Monday’s theme:  Fields

Sunflower field, Hungary

Lavander field, outside Digne les-Bains, Haute Provence, France

Grape field or simply called vineyard.

Piemonte, Italy

Rapeseed field, South of England

Cornfield, Ile-de-France

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One of my favorite photographic subjects is Mailbox.  I particularly like those that are artistic, cute and weird.  Since I have accumulated quite a number taken from some remote villages and towns of southern France and the Italian Liguria, I would like to feature them here for this Monday’s theme.

South of France

A mailbox guard

To protect it from the rain

A designer mailbox

A do-it-yourself

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Italian Liguria

Just insert here, please..

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Paris

Find the mailbox if you can…

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Did you know that the first animal cemetery in the world opened in 1899 in Paris? This was in answer to the city government’s call that dead pets should be buried one meter below the ground and 100 meters away from the nearest habitation.  Whereas before, the corpse of  animals were thrown into the Seine or dumped in garbage bins which became breeding grounds for infectious diseases. 

Today, I went exploring this cemetery in Asnieres, northwest of the capital, to see for myself the fascinating tombs, sculptures and the famous animals buried here.  

The art nouveau entrance designed by the Parisian architect Eugene Petit

A barge sailing through the Seine as seen from the cemetery

“He saved the lives of 40 people, but was killed by the 41st..”

This is the monument of Barry who lived in early 19th century and belonged to the monks of the Hospice of Great St Bernard.

Born in Burnham, Illinois on August 17, 1920

Died in Paris on April 30, 1931

Marquise and Tony, dogs of Princess Lobanof

Not only dogs are buried here but also cats

Rin tin Tin, the dog who appeared in films such as “The Adventures of Rex and Rinty (1935) among others.

No, this cat is not a statue.  The cemetery has also become a refuge for abandoned cats.  Men and women are paid by the local authority to take turns in feeding these animals.

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