Friday flowers…French pink

We’ve done some traveling this month and this week so for our final photo, let’s hop back to the lovely village of Plombières-les-Bains. If you’ve been following my blog for some years, you’ve seen and read about this but just a brief review. Les Bains means “the baths”, referring to the hot water springs discovered by the Romans. We didn’t try the baths (really, really hot water just doesn’t sound exciting in the middle of a hot summer), but we returned a number of times to enjoy the various things to see and eat. This is a glimpse of a garden we saw while climbing one set of the steep steps leading from the main commercial part of the city to where our vehicle was parked on a much higher street. With great exercise comes great beauty, Grasshopper.

Becky and Jude, thanks for hostessing these two challenges once again. It’s been fun.

Umbrella

for One Word Sunday: umbrella

Thursday doors…something for everyone

Every recent visit to France so far has included at least one visit to Plombières-les-bains.  Unfortunately, this visit, our favorite restaurant was closed, but we enjoyed walking through the town, looking in shops windows, having a bit of lunch elsewhere.   The church was closed for restoration.  But there were as always plenty of doors.  This first set leads to a restaurant that we’ve never found open, not far from a tea shop we’ve never found open.  Mysteries, mysteries.  The name, by the way, means “Roman square.”  The restaurant is located on the square and the roots of the town are definitely Roman. The look, however, is more Art Deco.

Thursday Doors…Don’t even think about it!

Every time we drove to Plombieres les Bains,  France, we turned from the scenic back road to the main road at a point where we saw several buildings that had seen better days.  Once a distillery, the stone buildings were still attractive, so finally one day on the way home, we pulled over to explore, starting with this building behind the main structure.

An empty building can attract the wrong sort of people.  Of course not those in search of doors, but those interested a spot of burglary.  To thwart such nefarious notions, the owner/s attached this notice (enlarged in the second shot) to a very nice set of shutters on the main building.

Thursday doors…Plombières rouge

I’ve decided this is the year I have to get “fluent” in French.  In September when I was visiting my s-i-l, her cleaning lady, who always attempts to talk to me (in French), asked my s-i-l when I was going to learn French.  I forebode to say that she still speaks no English, but determined to do better.  To that end, I’ve moved my Duolingo, TinyCards, and Google Translate apps to the first screen on my phone and iPad and am practicing a lot more.  So…

Ces portes de Plombières sont rouges (These Plombières doors are red.) Although I love finding the distressed doors that need some love, these doors are aussi très jolie (also very pretty.)

I had a necessary and needed break, but it’s great to be back and to catch up with all of you!  Happy New Year!

Falling into a French rabbit hole

for Six Word Saturday

Thursday doors…These French doors are grate.

Bon jour!  Today it’s time for a quick trip to that most lovely of towns, Plombières-les-Bains.  We don’t have time for a trip to the baths, but since this is Thursday Doors, it doesn’t matter.  We’re in search of some grate doors and have found three.  Of course there are many more, but let’s not be greedy.  Afterwards, we can stop for a coffee and use the toilet before heading home.  Oui, oui!

One last look

After admiring the front of the church and the stained glass, we turn to leave.

Walking down the aisle, we have time to take pleasure in the beauty of the window, organ, and statuary as well as the arched ceiling.

L’église Saint-Amé stained glass

L’église means “the church” and this one’s ogive windows are beautiful.  Nothing more need be said, except that it can be difficult to get a good stained glass photo with a camera.  I was happy to see how these turned out.

The Church of Saint-Amé

Those of you who’ve been following my blog for a few years know how much my sister-in-law and I love the town of Plombières-les-Bains.  You’ll also remember that “les Bains” refers to the thermal baths that caused the Romans to settle here in 65 B.C.

As with most French (and European) towns, one side of the town square is home to a church.  In 1389 A.D, there was a chapel here,  Then as the town grew, a modest parish church was built.  The current Neo-Gothic ogival church was built in the late 1800’s.  What’s ogival?  It means having the shape of an ogive (now there’s a helpful definition!) or, in plain English, a pointed or Gothic arch.  You’ll see examples of this at the front of the church.