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Popular posts from this blog

Rebuilding Notre Dame

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Disney Fairytale to Construction Site A centuries old symbol of Paris that has played a role in Disney films, romantic stories and the backdrop for many major events in French history, now stands behind a fence surrounded by cranes and construction equipment.  When I approached the site of Notre-Dame de Paris I wasn't sure what to expect. In 2019 a huge fire gutted what was the most popular tourist attraction in Paris and left it a smouldering ruin. Since then work has been on going to restore it but this has clearly been a long and difficult process. I was very relieved to find that the postcard facade with the large circular window and two towers either side remains largely intact. Unfortunately, due to the scale of the rebuild a large fence has been erected and it is impossible to get any closer than the square at the front of the building. Even despite the damage, Notre Dame is still an impressive site and in the evening sun provides a beautiful spot to end a walk around Paris....
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Mont Saint-Michel

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 Medieval Tidal Power Tidal power makes headlines today for being a possible method to generate power without creating any greenhouse gas emissions. However, the power of moving water is not a new revelation. Mont Saint Michel is an example of how humans have been combining human ingenuity with the natural power of the tides with spectacular success and creating the greatest tidal fortress and monastery in the world. As the bus travels from the train station towards the coast I become aware we are approaching our destination by gasps of wonder from the fellow passengers. This causes me to turn my head to the window and I soon join them. A magnificent fortified building stands off the coast topped with a grand abbey. Previously, the only way to access the fortress and village was to wait for low tide and walk across the exposed beach. Nowadays, thankfully, there is a bridge which the bus is able to use to drop us off near the huge stone walls. From the bus I take a moment to fully c...
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Nîmes Arena- When in Rome...

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I hadn't originally planned on visiting Nîmes but there were no hostels available in Montpellier and so I picked the next nearest town. Stepping out of the train station and walking down the tree lined avenue into the town centre I became aware of the sound of loud footsteps.  Lots of synchronised footsteps.  Marching towards me.  As I turned the corner I was confronted by a Roman legion marching right past of me. For a moment I stood frozen in complete confusion as they march past me. A curious urge makes me follow them and this leads me to the huge Roman Arena of Nîmes. This marching display was to promote a show that was happening that night in the Arena. The promotion worked because as soon as I found this out, I went straight to the box office to buy a ticket. I had to find out what all this was about. Little did I know I was about to witness one of the best pieces of theatre and the best restored historical building I have seen in my life. View of the arena from the...
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