Saturday, December 31, 2016

In the Bleak Midwinter







"My dear,
In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.
In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.
I realized, through it all, that…
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy. 
For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, 
within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

Truly yours,
Albert Camus"

MySpot: On Top of the World








"Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame."


W.B. Yeats - The Land of Heart's Desire

France, Loire Valley - Château d’Angers III (The Gardens)
















The apparent austerity of this shale and limestone fortress, 
which the young King Louis IX had built on the edge of his kingdom in the 13th century, 
contrasts with the tranquil grounds inside the castle walls and the pleasant residence of the Dukes of Anjou, 
composed of buildings constructed at the end of the Gothic era. 
To transform and embellish the castle into a more welcoming home for the Anjou Court, 
terraces and gardens were laid out, galleries built and the gateway erected.

The ramparts today offer prime views of the city and the valley.
A medieval garden has been landscaped on the eastern section.
The moats, dug in 1485, have given way to formal gardens that highlight the beauty of the medieval fortress.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

France, Loire Valley - Château d’Angers II























By entering the huge drawbridge across the moat you can explore the interior of the Chateau d'Angers with its architecture, 
which shows the course of the site's development across the centuries, 
with the construction of the fortress and its towers by the young King Louis, 
the Royal Lodge, the chapel and the Châtelet (small scale castle) - all built by the Dukes of Anjou. 

Inside the fortress lies the pleasant residence of the Dukes of Anjou, 
composed of buildings from the Gothic period, the governor's lodge, the dungeons, the battlements, gardens and even some vines.