Funky Friday Fotos

I took a different drive to work this morning along Beach Road. I wish I had $1 for every time I'd been up and down this glorious road that caresses Port Phillip Bay - I'd be a very rich man.

Sometimes, just sometimes these scenes that you see often go unappreciated. During my drive to work I passed by Luna Park. Its a very old theme park. I went there as a child and I suspect my parents went there as children. We even took our kids there. Its one of those places that has always been there and you don't really give it much thought anymore.

Building of Luna Park began in 1912 and since its opening still runs today except during periods of war  or renovation. Today its an icon of St Kilda, Melbourne's early heritage.

It was a place to take family and possibly someone on that first date!

Even today it might a place to take some one to relive that first date.

That is until this morning and I promised on the way home from work, I would stop with my little pocket camera and take some shots. Not of the colourful entrance with the huge clown's head - NO!
It was the back that intrigued me with its tatty looking high corrugated steel wall and the peeling paint on the Scenic Railway structure.

Only last week I purchased this photo editing program for my Macbook Pro. Here's some effects from two of the original shots.

ORIGINAL PHOTO

ORIGINAL PHOTO

I have to admit that my fairly average photos take on a different perspective with the use of this program using special effects. Having said that, I really respect people who take captivating photos ala natural, don't you?

Talk to you after the weekend.

Finally Back to PARIS

This was our third trip to France - what was to be our once in a lifetime trip in 2006 had now become our usual holiday destination. We had previously finished our 2006/2008 trips with a one week stay in Paris. This time it was an apartment in the 11th out near Pere Lachaise Cemetery. The area is non-touristy and had a local feel about it. We'll tell you more in future Wednesdays.

We travelled back from Lyon on the TGV to Gare de Lyon and grabbed a taxi that took Sue and I, also my precious bike bag with the Bike carefully packed away. I couldn't wait to reassemble it and start riding the streets of Paris over the next week. I also was going to catch up with my cycling friends who live in Paris, Michel and Leigh. Sue was looking forward to visiting the local market nearby and I was looking forward to eating and drinking.

The apartment was owned by a Canadian and was comfortable and affordable. It was on the ground floor and had its own private courtyard garden where we spent most of our dining. We'll tell you more in following posts on our week in Paris.

The apartment courtyard and the "bike bag".

Most meals were enjoyed in this leafy courtyard with the occasional bird waiting for a tiny morsel of food. Most enjoyable it was!!!

Most mornings we would pass by the Stature of Leon Blum - We'll tell you more about him later.

Walking the paths of Pere Lachaise.

See you next Wednesday for our week in Paris.

A Melbourne RETRO Weekend.

As you may be aware, Friday night is bubbles night, the end of the working week and time to enjoy the weekend. Saturday for us was the first day of spring. Signs of spring were about with the grass growing once again and bulbs sprouting in the garden, along with weeds.

We had guests joining us for dinner Friday night and so we decided to light the open fire in the living room followed by a sit-up dinner in the dining room. Neither of these rooms get much use these days and with Spring and the impending summer, meals will be outdoors soon.

Possibly the last open fire for this year. Who's that in the mirror?

Bubbles with salami, olives and a dip. Ahhh! Friday nights.

It wasn't a late night, maybe in bed by 11.30 pm for a 6.30 am get-up to join my mates for the last Retro-Ride for the year. Our Retro-Ride is where we bring out our old racing bikes. No carbon fibre here, just old steel bikes with 10 gears, not the 22 that modern bikes of today have. We even dress up in the cycling clothes of the era. Bit daggy really but if you need to laugh at yourself occasionally!!!

Resplendent in my 1980s jersey road bike that has been  restored to its former glory.
Wish I could say the same for the legs. 
This picture was taken by my friend Ellen who has many great pic @ http://www.redbubble.com/people/ell-on-wheels

Feature of the day was my friend Bob's classic barnyard find, a 1930 Clifton Star racing bike.

On our return to where we start our ride, we discovered a classic car exhibition in the car park of the shopping centre. There was quite an array of interesting cars spanning the pre-war period with Austin 7s to some muscle cars of the 70s. I'm not big on the American cars but I do appreciate the work that their owners put into their restoration. I actually heard a like minded fellow utter the following statement. "It's amazing how such extraordinary bad taste in design actually has appeal today."
And I believe its true - those beautifully restored beasts look amazing when compared to today's homogenised shopping trolley cars of today where they all the same to me.

Sunday was our official second day of Spring and at the same time, FATHER'S DAY. Having a daughter in Queensland, and our oldest son in London, we had a quiet affair with our first BBQ for the season. My youngest son, Mitch who is back from Montreal cooked on the BBQ while I enjoyed a couple of ales he bought for us to enjoy. I rang my father who is also in Queensland so as you can see we are a bit scattered around these days.

To finish off the weekend, I may just kick back with a glass of red wine and watch the highlights of the Tour of Spain on tellie.

Hope your weekend was as enjoyable as ours.

 Back to work tomorrow.

Friday Foto

We know its Spring when the Jasmine blooms.

Another Day in Lyon

The real reason I wanted to see Lyon was from what I'd read in our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide. Like many of France's great cities, the Romans at one stage influenced their growth in trade, culture and architecture. Lyon has its fair share of Roman influence.
Originally a hill fort of the Gauls, the Romans settled the area in 42BC. I read where the Gauls named it Lugdunum and because of its position on two main rivers, it became a prime centre for trade.

Lyon is also known for its Gastronomic delights and that's maybe why Sue agreed that Lyon should be on our travel wish list. I'm not sure which we discovered first - after all it was 2009. For the purpose of this post lets say we visited the Roman ruins in the Fourviere Hill region first.
It was the two Roman Theatres I wanted to see and when I did I discovered that Leonard Cohen was to give a concert at the larger theatre in a few days time. Unfortunately we would be on our way back to Paris.

Setting up for the Leonard Cohen concert in Lyon.

I spent some time wandering, climbing and just sucking in the history of the place, being totally in awe of what was. But time was creeping on and Sue was waiting for me to return to where she was waiting. I was excited and wanted to share what I had seen. It was time for her to experience the culinary delights of Lyon. We had no idea where we would enjoy lunch and had not booked anything in advance but luck was on our side.

The doors were closed on the bike shop so I drooled on the window at this magnificent classic bike with its wooden rims. It was directly across from the Bouchon where were lucked upon.

Sue speaking now...
I'm not sure that luck was on our side, but I was certainly on the case! While Leon was fantasizing on the bike shop window, I was reading the menu of the bouchon opposite. Sounded great, so we decided to try our luck there. On entering, we asked for a table for two, and were met with a long, slow consideration of both of us from the waiter. He finally asked if we would be happy to share a table. We assured him we would. He showed us to a table for four at which sat an older couple half way through their meal. They were very polite and pleasant in welcoming us to the table, so that was OK. He spoke a little English, which he said he learned at school and his wife, no English at all. They would have been late 60s maybe. But definitely old school. The table next to us had a group of four American people who were happy to make themselves known to other English speakers. They wanted to know our secret, as apparently many others had tried to get into this busy restaurant while they were there and had all been turned away. They had apparently booked many weeks in advance as the place was well known. We didn't know the secret, drat! as I'm sure it is something that would be a handy skill on occasion! 
Anyhow, we had a lovely meal and a great time, conversing with the people both at our table, and those at the table beside ours. The French couple were on their way from Brittany I think, to visit with their son in the south,as they had just been delivered of a third grand child. We didn't get to choose our meal as food just materialized in front of us. Must have been a lunchtime deal, although it didn't say so any where, and that's not what seemed to happen with our US friends at the next table. It was a little odd as I recall. In fact there was a moment of awkwardness when we were given an amazing plate each of a mix of chocolate desserts and next door were given fromage blanc! They objected very strenuously and were eventually given a complimentary chocolate dessert to share. The bill in the end was about half what we expected. All in all yet another fabulous experience. Lyon is not my favorite city in France, but I would happily return to this bouchon!

I wish we could tell you more about this Bouchon's location but alas, I've tried in vain with Google Earth. Maybe one of our readers can help.

The following day we needed to catch the TGV from Lyon for our week back in Paris before returning back home in Melbourne. This was our longest trip to France starting from Senlis, Chantilly and onto the Loire and Burgundy. Along the way we met some lovely people - people that we keep in touch to this day.
Join us next Wednesday while we spend a week living in an apartment in the 11 em of Paris.