A glimpse of sun...

.. took me back to Kew this morning.  It didn't last long, so I didn't stay... And I discovered towards the end of my walk round the gardens, I'd still got my camera set to 'close up' mode so these aren't very good photos...I'll just share a few! I couldn't face re-tracing my steps to take them again!

 rhododendrons in a little glade...




I was looking for the summer feature "barefoot walk" which I eventually found - shut due to the recent rains -obviously too muddy!

 but this lovely fellow displayed for me - love how he blends into the greenery with the pond behind his feathers.

He turned his backside to me, how very rude, lol!!

The Pagoda - recently re-opened after refurbishment but there's an extra charge to go up,  even for members; and 253 steps it warns you at the bottom... so no, I didn't!!!

 Another of their summer features is the Healing Giant - a wooden structure cut to the shape of a human body, filled with various plants that are used for healing the part of the body they're planted in, if you see what I mean

 loved these bottles, they'd look good altered, don't you think....

The Temperate House, closed for major refurbishment, emptied of all but the largest of leaf ferns - you can peak inside the main door, but the photos I took due to my wrong setting, haven't come out well at all!

 hmmm ...me-thinks the slope in front needs weeding... they looked really bright and happy though!

 it was here I discovered my setting error, when I went to put the camera on close up to get these flowers...

 and the rose garden in front (or at the back of, strictly speaking!) the Palm House, were smelling glorious!

so there you go... a lovely walk through wet grass (we did have a lot of rain didn't we, this week!) wet boots (found the seam is coming apart too on one, time for a new pair I think!)

Come with me again, soon, won't you?!

Easter Saturday at Kew

I was keen to get to Kew again after the excitement of Paris and then Ally Pally last week... and luckily, this morning was forecast to be dry, sunny and warm(ish) and more importantly, the trains weren't affected by engineering works...

 The tulips were looking fabulous, as I made my way to the woodland section for the bluebells..

 past the Walkway, (didn't go up it today, wasn't feeling energetic enough!)but it's looking lovely in amongst the budding trees and shrubs.

 the woodland section was indeed, bathed in bluebells and sunshine..

 and offset by the bright yellow/lime green in the sun

Came across the charcoal kiln tucked away in the woods today..

 dappled sunshine, by Queen Charlotte's Cottage.

 love this shot, it looks deserted (good timing that!) although it was getting busier by now.

 peacocks sunning themselves too...

 and the Temperate House, closed for restoration but looking stunning against the still blue sky (it did change as I left!!)

 and the Gunnera  at the other side of the Palm House lake growing a-pace

 missed the daffodils a few weeks ago,

 but these alpines in the Alpine House were fabulous.

 as were the patches of bluebells all round the place - think these are white and pink ones which I've not seen before, but they were gorgeous too

 and finally more tulips on my way out!

Thanks for looking - hope to go again soon as everything is growing so fast now.

A Parisian Adventure - part 5 - the finale

The end is in sight... sadly!  I've really enjoyed sharing these photos with you and found it hard to leave many out! Although, amazingly I have...

Anyhow, the last chapter is on the Sunday morning before we had to leave to come home.  The hotel where we were staying was right alongside a street market held on Thursdays and Sundays so as we didn't have to be at the station for our return train until 12-30 ish, we had time to explore in the morning, after packing our by now very heavy cases!

 phew, it shut!!

 all manner of lovely - and some not so lovely - foods - lots and lots of fish (I don't do fish!)

 cheeses (not so fond of that either!)

 more fish!

 Sam and Emma making friends with a four-legged friend!

 beautiful flowers for sale

 errr -  more fish!

 sausages of all kinds

this is our hotel.  Lin and my room was right on the front, and pretty noisy it was with traffic all night too, because it was warm enough to sleep with the big patio style windows open...

 Sam waving to me down below!

Gare du Nord station, homeward bound now...

and home at St Pancras - exhausted but happy after a great few days, I had a great time, girls, thanks for the company - let's do it again some time!

A Parisian Adventure - Part 4 - Notre Dame to Sacre Coeur

So, Notre Dame was staggeringly beautiful... but we weren't finished yet!  We departed by the Pont de l'Archeveche - the Love Lock Bridge. The  bridge is covered in hundreds and thousands of engraved padlocks left by lovers... and it looked pretty delightful.

 the view from bridge down the Seine
















Lin and Emma posing on the bridge

we walked along the rows of artists and book stalls but most were a  bit pricey for us  .

From here, we wanted to go to Sacre Coeur, so it was time to negotiate the metro again.

 There is a little train that runs up the very steep streets to the top of the hill on which Sacre Coeur is perched, but we couldn't find it, so we had to climb... the view - this is about half way - was great though.

I thought I'd taken a photo of the steps we had to climb up, but can't find it so I was obviously too busy concentrating on breathing!  The view at the top though, across Paris, was fabulous!

 .. as was Sacre Coeur itself... it was late afternoon by now, but still very busy, as you can see.

 I loved the patterns in the arches on this wall!

 After wandering around for a while, it was time for an ice cream refreshment - for Emma and myself - and then...

 a cheeky alcoholic beverage at Chez Eugene, sitting and watching the world go by, before winding the way down the steep streets (definitely easier going down here than up too)

 Our final stop of the day - very long day - was a quick visit to Moulin Rouge. 

then it was back to "our" stop on the Metro and time to find an evening meal and an early (ish) night before our last morning and the journey home - I'll share that tomorrow!