Doesn't this look like a little village dropped between the hills and loved for ever after? We found this view near Besse, which is a beautiful ski resort area. 
For any American flying to Europe, as you come in for a landing to your airport, especially in the spring, you are bound to see a patchwork quilt of colors. Making the focal point of this "quilt" would be the yellow such as you see above. This is a rapeseed field. We came upon this view as we were driving. It is near the village of Clemensat. Rapeseed has many uses including biodiesel fuel, it is cultivated for animal feed, and it made into canola oil. 
The mountain range in the Auvergne is called the Monts Dore. This picture was taken near St. Nectaire.Notice the road. This past year, we bought a GPS and decided on a model which also had European maps. We used it a lot. Often we were directed onto one lane roads which we, as Iowans, would call "cow paths." It was amazing to see that these lanes actually had long, complicated French names. As is typical, no street signs were in sight. Our dear GPS lady was right-on! It is still so amazing to me, how this is possible.
The church in this picture was in the perfect location for a beautiful picture.
The church in this picture was in the perfect location for a beautiful picture.
I'm going to have to start reading your blog in the evening. Why? Because I want to sip a glass of good French vin and enjoy--the wine and your travelogue! Today's photos are beautiful. I hope you are nowhere near done blogging about your trip.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
I agree with bonnie...but your travelogue is great even with coffee and sandwich :)
ReplyDeleteThe village looks like it is by a group of nomads who were travelling..found this place and decided not to leave :)
Susan, as usual your photos and descriptions of what you have seen and done want me to follow right behind you to experience what you and Dale have seen before it is no longer the same. When I was a child we had a small patch of rape on our farm for some reason. I was slapped once by an up-tight old biddy when I told her that we had rape on our farm. I had no idea what rape meant in the general populace. I later learned that the processors could no longer call it rape seed oil--it had to be called canola oil which is now totally acceptable. Rape is a common plant in Canada but obviously it was not terribly well known in Iowa at the time I was a child.
ReplyDeleteThanks goodness for the GPS when traveling back roads in France. I didn't see rapeseed last fall, but when we traveled to France one spring we saw many field of the beautiful yellow. Loved the last picture.
ReplyDeleteStunning! We leave in two weeks for France and I am excited.
ReplyDeleteBreath taking...wowzaa...so fun to see this part of the world through your eyes!!!
ReplyDeleteKeep the trip going....
Oh My!!! How beautiful! I am looking forward to reading all of your posts now that Nick is safely back from Hong Kong and the dust has settled (I have been rushed off my feet dealing with the wine business and haven't had much spare time). Your posts are a real treat for me so I will sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteYour tour today was a travelers dream, Susan. I am so enjoying your vactaion :-). I do hope there is more to come. Thanks for the birthday wishes. Hugs and blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely great pictures and thanks for sharing them. That church scene is fantastic with the mountains and beautiful sky. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love those photos... the church looks like heaven nestled in those hills... what a time you must have had~
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