This town in the Champagne area is a really cute town to visit and they have a nice champagne winery to visit. Enjoy the photos with Bill Smale Adventures.
Try champagne in Châlons en Champagne
Blois, France a real gem
After 10 days in Paris staying with a friendit was time to move on. I had this idea to see a number of castles and this town, Blois, France, seem to have a number of castles in the area so off I went. But when I got downtown the bus schedule seemed to be sparse for the castles. By 11:30 the buses had already left and there wouldn’t be any others until the afternoon at about four or five so I decided to spend the day walking around town. What I found was very interesting. There is a castle here built and occupied by many of the kings of France for the past 800 years and there are different kinds of architecture depending upon when the structures were built to serve the king of the time. And of course there are some interesting churches and a beautiful town with a Tudor like architecture of plaster between wooden beams and supports. So I highly recommend visiting this small and very interesting town.
Blois royal château, built on a promontory high above the River Loire, forms the heart of the urban community. Around it is a bustling old town shaped by its history as a 16th-century royal town. There are several ways of getting to know Blois, a town of artistic and historic interest. You can follow itineraries indicated by brass studs on the ground, take a guided tour, or simply stroll along the streets or up and down the steps. Its diverse heritage spanning a period from the 12t to 20mh centuries, its links with. the Loire that is listed as a World Heritage site, its wide range of museums to suit all tastes, and its gardens with their breathtaking views constantly give visitors and locals alike a chance to see the town from a different angle.
Gaston d’Orléans, the son of Henri IV and Marie de’ Medici, commissioned one of the greatest transformations that the Château underwent in the 17th century. King Louis XIII’s brother and for a long time heir to the throne, he became Count of Blois in 1626 and lived there from 1634, when he launched the construction of a huge palace. The works were directed by the architect François Mansart. In 1635, a new main building was constructed at the rear of the courtyard, taking the place of the “Perche aux Bretons” building. But in 1638 the works were brought to a halt. The birth of the Dauphin Louis (the future Louis XIV) put paid to Gaston’s status as heir to the crown and to a large proportion of the financial resources granted to him by the King. Although incomplete, the new wing is a manifesto for French Classicism. It has a projecting central pavilion, a colonnade, perfect symmetry, three storeys, each with a different classical order, and two superposed pediments, all emphasising the sense of verticality. If the project had been completed, the Louis XII and François I wings would have been razed to the ground and replaced by new buildings. Gaston set up his apartments in the François I wing rather than finish the works. He died there in 1660. The Gaston wing remained an empty shell until the Château was turned into barracks at the beginning of the 19th century.
The fervently Christian King and Queen attended daily public masses in the chapel and also had an oratory in their residence to allow them to pray in private.
The windows of this oratory, commissioned in 1858 by Duban from the master glassmaker Claudius Lavergne, were inspired by Michel Dumas’ sketches.
The Saints shown with their symbols all had a link to Catherine de’ Medici and the Valois familv.
A short stop in Nancy France
Just across the border from Luxembourg and a short train ride you can enjoy a short stay in Nancy France. I had no idea what to expect in the city. It had some fairly interesting things to see so I think it’s worth a day trip. It’s very easy to get around and it’s not a large town center. So at least when you tell people you visited France I think it’s fun to tell people you visited in Nancy France.
Enjoying Topkapi surroundings
when you visit Turkey it’s important to go to one of the greatest sites in Istanbul. The Topkapi palace where the sultans ruled for hundreds of years is a real treasure. One thing you won’t see, however, is the diamond portrayed in the movie “Topkapi”. While you are there remember to spend time Enjoying Topkapi surroundings. It’s a very beautiful and relaxing place to spend three or four hours and maybe more if you’re interested in studying every aspect of the palace.
Hobnobbing with the Royals
Luxembourg is a very small country but it is also the country of my great great grandfather and grandmother. I decided to visit on my way to Paris to see what there is to see and there was an interesting happenstance. I went down one street and then on my way back to the hotel turned right on another and wound up at some barriers with people standing around waiting for something something. I asked a fellow from Italy what they were waiting for and he explained the royal family would be coming by at about three. So I decided to wait to see the Royals. It was a very interesting event, a church related religious ceremony, the itinerary is in a photo below with a mention of when the Royals will show up.
Istanbul food and…
Just walk around the city and try all different kinds of Istanbul food. It comes from many different countries and definitely has things you will enjoy. These are just some ideas that might be interesting.
Incredible Hagia Sophia
as you probably know the Romans set up an eastern empire citadel complete with future religious independence in what is now Istanbul. This cathedral was their main church for the eastern Roman empire. They used religion to gradually gain back their influence over the western world as Rome became increasingly difficult to defend against enemies. And as you know this was the launching pad for what we now call the orthodox church or the Greek Orthodox Church.The incredible Hagia Sophia was later increased in size and embellished with the newer version of the Middle Eastern religions, Islam. The two come together in this very interesting structure. You of course will be told by everyone you need to see this as one of the major two or three attractions in Istanbul.
Visit Wright’s imperial Hotel
it’s an interesting story how I learned the original imperial hotel in Tokyo which was taken down in the 60s was replaced with a giant hotel structure more fitting the economic potential of the area. As some of you know this building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and that is why it was so cherished and rebuilt at Meiji Mura (Meiji era Village).
Pete Muir and his wife Marjorie we’re close family friends often coming over for bridge and a dinner which gave us kids a chance to have some wine. Pete was the grandson of John Muir who you know as the great advocate of the Yosemite national park and many other things. He and Marge planned to visit Tokyo and I was going to take them around to interesting places I found. They had booked the imperial hotel and we’re surprised when they got there it was not the imperial hotel they remembered maybe from the 1950s or early 1960s. So I checked into the history and found that they were rebuilding the original hotel brick by brick near Nagoya at Meiji Mura. This was the first I heard of this place out in the middle of nowhere but my next post will be about the other buildings in this beautiful park which I highly recommend visiting if you’re interested in Japanese history, culture and the period between 1870 and 1925. if they wanted to again see the imperial hotel they remembered they could visit Meiji Mura which they decided to do.
https://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/en/tokyo/special/wright-building
Amazing Cappadocia churches
if you travel to Turkey and decide to go to Cappadocia make sure you visit the historical open air Museum including the best preserved and amazing Cappadocia churches.
Exploring Lao art Museum
if you visit Vientiane, Laos, there is now a very interesting art museum to visit so don’t forget Exploring Lao art Museum. It’s quite a ways out of the city but it’s well worth the trip, about 40 minutes from the main tourist part of town. Plan to spend a minimum of one hour and as much as three hours looking at all the beautiful works of art most of which were carved from old fallen trees from forests, rivers and other places.
The fellow responsible for this museum has quite an interesting history which you should make sure to read after you go through the main big entrance. The entrance fee was about 220,000 kip for foreign visitors and a little bit less for Lao citizens. There are three major tourist attractions to visit in Vientiane and this makes the fourth. The other three are the Mekong River with the night market, Tat Luang and the victory monument. That monument was finished up with cement intended for an airport funded by the US government. The cement was redirected.
“Dear Visitors,
It is with great joy that I welcome you to our museum, a space dedicated to celebrating the beauty and potential of wood. Here, you will discover art crafted from discarded materials that many overlook, transformed into pieces that tell stories of resilience and creativity.
As you explore, I hope you feel the passion that drives our mission —to honor Laos’s rich natural heritage and inspire future generations. Your presence here supports not only the appreciation of art but also our commitment to preserving our environment and culture.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Enjoy your visit!
Warm regards,
Phisit Sayathith
Founder, Lao Art Museum”
there are four different environments from which these trees were collected.
Unearthed from farmland where trees were removed, these intricate roots were left behind by farmer. Each piece reveals the complex structures of life underground, showcasing nature’s artistry.
Retrieved from the depths of local dams, these weathered logs have spent years submerged in water, gaining unique textures and colors that enhance their aesthetic appeal.
When a storm brings down a large tree, the remnants are often discarded. However, our museum strives to preserve that damaged wood and transform it into beautiful artwork.
Charred wood that tell stories of resilience and rebirth. Source from aftermath of forest fires.
Collected from tree that have experience disease, this wood feature distinctive patterns that highlight the beauty found in imperfection and decay.
“On March 9, 2024, the langest Leucaena leucocephala tree in Vientiane succumbed to a storm, resulting in significant damage. In light of its age and the circumstances, the office has decided to proceed with the removal of the tree. The Lao government has designated a portion of the tree for the Lao Art Museum, enabling its preservation and creative transformation into artwork instead of being discarded. Utilizing this wood, the museum has crafted five Buddha sculptures, which are now proudly displayed at this Lao Art Museum. In collaboration with the government, the museum has decided to Identify the healthy remnants of the fallen tree and replant them in a garden near its original location. As of September 30, 2024, this tree has successfully been revitalized and is thriving.”
This sculpture, crafted from a log that has been submerged in the Namgnuem River for centuries, has been brought to our museum and transformed into a new art piece. We aimed to preserve its natural beauty, so we chose to sculpt only the head of the Buddha statue, leaving the body of the wood exposed to display the unique marks created by the water.
if you have ever visited Bangkok you probably walked around Wat Prah Keow where the emerald Buddha sits. Here is the official and mildly worded official Lao explanation of how this Lao emerald Buddha wound up in Thailand. Just a hint. The Thai military “moved” the emerald Buddha to Thailand.
“Hor Phra Keo, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is a renowned Buddhist temple located in Vientiane, Laos. Originally built in the 16th century to house the revered Emerald Buddha statue, it showcases exquisite Lao architecture. The temple features beautifully ornate structures, intricate carvings, and a serene ambiance, making it a significant cultural and religious site. Although the Emerald Buddha was later moved to Bangkok, Hor Phra Keo remains an important symbol of national heritage and spirituality. Today, it serves as a museum, displaying a remarkable collection of religious artifacts and art, attracting both locals and tourists who seek to explore Laos’s rich cultural history.”
I was born on a Friday so this Buddha posture his representative of that day. “ContemplatingBuddha. The Friday Buddha image symbolizes a brief moment following enlightenment when the Lord Buddha remained beneath the Banyan Tree. During this time, he expressed that comprehending and applying the dharma was challenging for ordinary individuals. However, with profound compassion and loving kindness, he recognized that all living beings have unique tendencies, much like the nature of the Lotus flower. Consequently, he chose to utilize the dharma to assist all sentient beings.”