Paris Parfait

Glimpses of history at Montreuil-sur-Mer

Signpost near the stone walls and bataillements of the ancient city of Montreuil-sur-Mer, France.

Openings to view activities in the valley beyond the walled city. Click photos to view detail.

Grass now covers a former moat surrounding the citadel.

More of the moat, beneath the fortress on a hill.

More stone walls and the moat.

Path leading to the citadel.

The citadel's main entrance.

An historic thatched-roof building just outside the city's walls.

Another stone wall in gradient height, above a grassy knoll that was once a moat.

A path winding from the city's walls to a main street.

See more of Montreuil-sur-Mer's ramparts here.

Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder 2009

Patricia of Abyssal Plain alerted me to the Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder 2009 contest. To help celebrate this Year of Science, consider entering your photography, poems, essays and even dancing here before June 10th. Entries are invited from around the world.

Picture hope

Hooray for Shutter Sisters Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts! Read Jen Lemen's Hope is more than wishful thinking about winning the Name Your Dream Assignment competition.

Earth Mosaic 2009

Workmen paint an iconic Art Nouveau metro sign at Bastille, Paris. The cast iron signs were created by architect Hector Guimard in 1899. Click photos to view detail.

The Colonne de Juillet is at the heart of Place de la Bastille. The monument marks the prison site stormed by the mob, as the French Revolution began in 1789. In the metro station beneath Bastille, stones from the prison's foundations remain.

Won't you contribute your own images to the Earth Mosaic 2009? Take some photos today, April 22 and upload them here.

How green is the valley

The lush green valley spreads beyond the medieval walled city of Montreuil-sur-Mer in Northern France. The cobbled-street city was the setting for much of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Click photos to enlarge.

Ancient ramparts surround much of the city, once a thriving river port. Because of the River Canche's silt build-up, Montreuil-sur-Mer is now about 13 miles from the sea.

The photos in my banner (above) are from a previous trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer. Check back later for more photos of this beautiful city.

*With a nod to Richard Llewelleyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley and John Ford's 1941 film of the same name.

Seeing double

Airborne - Horses fly to the finish line at Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.

Hope you're having an action-filled weekend, whether you're celebrating Easter, Passover or simply enjoying the company of family and friends.