“Big Pletzel” — A mosaic tile covered Paris bakery with a sign featuring “Big Pletzel.”
First, the title “Big Pletzl” comes from the sandwich board sign on the sidewalk in front of this Paris delicatessen. We were out for a long walk this past winter, and I grabbed the photograph as we passed the business. A few things caught my eye, including that sign. (Yes, I had to look up what a pletzel is.) It also has the generic outdoor tables – and there were people seated there even on this cold December day. But the main thing was the tile on the front walls.
Today we are accustomed to generic, corporate signs on businesses. Chain stores and fast food “restaurants” may be the most common offenders, but even individual businesses now try to copy that appearance. But I love places whose appearance is at least a bit novel and individual. Here it is the remarkable mosaic tile work on the outside walls, including both text and imagery.
“Rainy Evening, Montpellier” — Shoppers walk along Rue de la Loge on a rainy winter evening in Montpellier, France.
It isn’t news to anyone who has spent some time in Europe, but cities there often have large shopping areas that are automobile-free, or nearly so. This is treat for Americans, who are used to being stuck on sidewalks as cars whiz by. In fact, I think it is one of the big things that attracts us to European cities. Here in Montpelier you can walk almost anywhere in this old central district without contending with auto traffic.
When American cities propose closing business districts to vehicle traffic — or even limiting it — businesses typically raise loud complaints that it will stifle business. But in every European city I have visited with vehicle-free areas like this, the streets are filled with shoppers. Here in Montpellier that was even true on a rainy weeknight!
“Church and Winter Trees” — Neue Pfarrkirche St. Johan Baptist and dormant winter trees, Munich.
We spent several days in Munich/München in December. It was the final stop on a visit of several weeks to Germany (with a side-trip to Alsace in France.) We chose this time for our visit since we thought it would be interesting to visit a few of the famous German Christmas markets. To be honest, by the time we got to Munich the markets were becoming less of a focus — still interesting, but how much gluhwein can one drink?
On the last day of our stay here we went out for a longish walk. Patty’s brother and sister-in-law live in Germany and are familiar with these places, so our walk took us away from the popular tourist areas and through neighborhoods that we would otherwise probably not have visited. (One highlight: winter surfers in Munich. Yes, really.) At one point we walked past the Neue Pfarrkirche St. Johan Baptist, and I was struck by the contrast between the perfect vertical forms of the church and the organic forms of the silhouetted trees.
“Chateau d’Eau” — Chateau d’Eau (water tower) at the end of the Roman aquaduct at Place du Peyrou, Montpellier, France.
On our first full day in Montpellier, France we went for a long walk, heading gradually uphill from the central square near our hotel and eventually arriving at this impressive monument, the Chateau d’Eau. (In American English, we’d say “water tower.”) Behind it — and not visible in this photo — an old Roman aqueduct extends into the distance. The tower is at its termination and I assume that the aqueduct once supplied the pond with water.
The area around the structure is quite interesting, and there was a lot to see. Behind my camera position is the Place du Peyrou, a large public square on the top of this hill — where the town’s Christmas Market was in full swing . Beyond that is the Montpellier’s own Arc du Triomphe.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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