V.O. Photo and Travel Blog

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Ice on Lake

Published on December 26, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

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Horses of the Pyrénées

Published on November 7, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The Mérens, Cheval de Mérens or Caballo de Merens, still occasionally referred to by the older name of Ariégeois pony, is a small, rustic horse native to the Pyrenees and Ariégeois mountains of southern France, where the Ariège River flows, and northern Spain, near Andorra.

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Monaco Fiasco

Published on September 13, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

I swear it’s the last time i ever go to Monaco.

I had a mini panic attack driving through this grotesque concrete jungle on its minuscule promontory for the mega wealthy of our planet.

A whopping 53,000 euros per square metre for property in Monte Carlo!

Why?

Oh right…low taxes…and a great marina for the gigantic yatch..

Really?!?

I did not even want to stop ! just get me outta here!

V.O

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Pink Lotus

Published on September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The most important lotus, the true lotus of Buddha, is depicted as pink in color.

Stemming from this title, the pink lotus represents the history and essence of Buddha.

My pond has reached enlightenment…..

For further reading on the symbolism of the LOTUS please go to : Abundance of Wisdom

Happy photography!

V.O

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Calanques de Marseille-Cassis

Published on March 20, 2021January 2, 2022 by V.O.Photoblog

A garden at the top of entrance of Calanque d’en Vau

An abandoned stone cottage and its lilies

View of the Mediterranée from the cottage, perfect for pause.

Moderate to difficult from Port Pin to D’en Vau…gets tougher and tougher in climbs and conditions of track.

Moderate to difficult hike for these two calanques in particular.

Magic all the way.

We camped nearby in a natural setting.

The park is regulating the number of visitors to protect the environment..Hourah!

for Landscape Photography and great hiking..can’t go wrong here.

V.O

Website here

Gordolasque Valley, Alpes

Published on September 5, 2021September 8, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The Valley of Marvels

Located in the Mercantour National Park in the Alpes Maritimes department.

Quite a feat along the windy roads to get there with a worthwhile result.

The hike is splendid, no other words.

These are the summer views..i can just imagine in winter when these peaks are covered in snow.

It is called the valley of marvels..La Vallée des Merveilles..No contradiction here.

Auberge for well deserved coffee after a splendid hike

Google Advice here

Happy trails!

V.O

Apsaras of Angkor Wat

Published on August 18, 2021September 8, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

I fell in love with these ubiquitous graceful hindu goddesses in the various temples of the great Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia.

Apsaras Wikipedia for more info.

Happy Trails!

V.O

Quirky Paris (1)

Published on August 17, 2021September 7, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

I miss Paris so much! it’s been 18 months since my last visit…Yes the COVID.

It was a twice a year trip this last decade since moving to the south of France.

From home (Ariège) it’s a 4 hour high speed comfort plus train ride to the centre of my favourite city for walking, exploring, eating, lazying..and just being Parisian.

Quirky Paris Series will begin with the last neighbourhood of the snail shaped centre of the city, the 20th Arrondissement, home of the Pere Lachaise Cemetary, one of the quirkiest sites in the world and “the Campagne à Paris” a quirky country village.

Pére Lachaise Cimetiére

And so many more: https://www.paris.fr/equipements/cimetiere-du-pere-lachaise-4080

A Country Village

“La Campagne à Paris” in the 20th Arrondissement is a housing development dating from the 1920’s for the working class.

Cobbled streets and Country style bungalows with gardens.

Now it is for the rich..from 10,000 euros per square metre!

20th arrondissement of Paris

Walk Paris to dicover the quirky side.

V.O

The “French Tuscany”

Published on July 26, 2021September 7, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

Tuscany and Provence seem to be the only regions of international renown for their sunflower and lavender fields in stunning rural landscapes.

However, there exists a small region in the plains of the Pyrénées Ariègeoises with a striking ressemblance to its famous neighbours and locally nicknamed as “The Secret French Tuscany”.

Head on the National roads towards the Pyrénées from Carcassonne to Mirepoix for a few kms and Boom!

V.O

Quirky London!

Published on July 15, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

Quirky series..aaah London ranks high on the “Quirk scale”.

let’s start with the red double decker buses

Ubiquitous black cabby even in the middle of parks

The authentic “British Arms” Bar and ubiquitous black cabby

Sphinx in Park…little red double decker in the background

Nasty baboons at the Tower of London..yikes

The Master and the Master in front of National Gallery

V.O

The Eiffel lights up

Published on July 14, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The Bastille day favourite for fireworks in Paris..pre-Covid of course..Here is our dame at sunset.

V.O

Quirky Tour de France

Published on July 12, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The quirky silly nonsense is built into the event.

“La Caravane” is the Big crowd drawing parade of advertisers who throw free gifts at supporters and play loud french party music ..from the disco era of course..Donna Summer etc..and the latest rave music…Cacophony ensured!

Lets get the party going and cheer the cyclists on people!!!

Make sure to stand next to these catalans and the girls and boys will smile straight into your lens and throw you gifts..

(little trick from experienced photographer and fan of “le Tour”)

Million dollar show..Highest rating international TV sports event…yep i get it..

July 11 2021, Mont Louis, Pyrénées Orientales. etape 15 :Ceret-Andorre

V.O

The Tour de France in the backyard

Published on July 10, 2021July 13, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

I was swallowed up by the Peloton today up the road in the next village..every year it is a ritual to photograph this awesome event!

This year i was so lucky to be on a bridge parapet and within touching distance from my favs.

“It felt like being shaken inside an M&M box!” lol

The leader at that point in time i feel pretty safe on my parapet wall…

OMG the peloton is soooo big!!!! retreat behind the parapet!

Peloton leader looking straight at my cam..Hello!!!

now i am getting swallowed up in this energy!!!

here comes yellow jersey..Pogacar!! i just shoot and shoot completely swept up in the wind and buzz!

YELLOW and GREEN in same shot!!! Pogacar and Cavendish! i am now lost inside this whirl of skinny arms..just skinny arms buzzing by!

Yikes i Love the tour!

Caudeval (Aude/Ariège etape 10 july 2021 Carcassonne-Quillan)

V.O

Mont St Michel

Published on July 8, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

In Normandie, rising above the temperamental tides and famished quicksands, Mont St Michel has dominated the bay since Medieval times. Millions of christian pilgrims and tourists have since been drawn to visit this surreal and powerful site.

Mont St Michel is a Mass tourism Site so pick your time of year carefully if like me you are crowd phobic.

We went by camping car and there are tons of parking sites. As a first timer to the Mont you may want to spend the night. The visit requires a full day..maybe 2 for passionados.

Here is the website…

This is a bit of #travelspam as i was not there at the right time of day for the right light for photography..maybe next time..again..and again…i dont mind going back every few years..Normandy is stunning!!!

V.O

Andorra Summer

Published on July 8, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The Tour de France is going through Andorra next week!

Soldeu is a winter sports world championship station in winter and in summer a hiking paradise and one of the highest golf clubs on the planet..Jetsetters and “beautiful” people love Andorra..well what’s not to love, really?!

Through the long tunnel between the two countries…

Magnificent Andorra!

V.O

London’s battle of the Highest Rises

Published on July 7, 2021July 13, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

Winner is the most omnipresent….

I just went through my London Skyline shots and had a laugh at the visible battle of cocks in London..gotta love it!

but seriously London’s skyline is awesome : look here.

Players: The Walkie-Talkie, The Shard, The Gherkin.

The Gherkin

In the view from the Park..behind the pointy fence ..ok not bad

The Shard

The Walkie-Talkie

even sneaking in here behind the Tower of London

OOOH!! the two of them battling it out now…

Dont worry guys you’re all wonderful!

more London please…

V.O

Quirky Tuscany

Published on July 6, 2021July 6, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The weird stuff you see in the back streets …and the even weirder stuff silly people do on holiday and what silly commerçants do to please those silly people..it’s a synergy…

He is alive and became an artist in the end…

Freaky Mannequins

Still spooky no matter what age..so scared to lie!!!

Are you trying to sell me or scare me???

Sillyness….

More ducklips honey and push that tower like you mean it..

The autos..

It is not the size that counts..but if you can park it..

Bicycles

Street Art ..literally

This is one of the treasures of the world..a fresque in a church..MAGNIFICENT..street art at a whole other level..

Bizarre statues

Definitely not David…This epicurian on his turtle is in the Grotto garden

Big metal hand and man in perfect alignment..Mr Dali would love it..

Another Charlie but footless and in metal

She’s been waiting for her moped mechanic… in an open garage

one statue wrapping another in an open garage ready for container..

The menus for the touristas..(they are not Davids)

Dante’s tomb

David (the fake one)

no age for appreciating art..do you see the anarchia?

V.O

Nothing like a Rainforest…

Published on July 4, 2021July 13, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

to cool down in Summer…

New Caledonia..Mont Koghi Tropical Forest where i spent a lot of my early childhood years with my grandparents who lived there..The brilliant red is from the iron ore which is omnipresent on the island.

V.O

Orientalism in London

Published on July 4, 2021July 10, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

British Museum series

The Canon captured this kind of light in the Asian wing. Perfect for low-light Photography.

More London, please more…#londonfan

V.O

The Rosetta Stone in London

Published on July 4, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

The British Museum series

Egyptian Section

Moi ticking off a lifelong bucketlist goal reflected in the glass vitrine of the Rosetta Stone..Shivers up the spine!

The heiroglyphs above and the Greek letters below allowing Champollion to translate Egyptian Alphabet…amazing.

More more London please…

V.O

Psychedelia in Lima, Peru

Published on July 2, 2021 by V.O.Photoblog

Scroll as I stroll through the ecclectic mix of architecture from Roccocco, Colonial Renaissance to Art Deco and everything in between. Bright, colourful, an outstanding effort from Lima City in the guardianship and exhibition of its long, rich and glorious history.