Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Alloway

Spotted on visit to Ayr bench with life-size bronze sculptures of Luath and Caesar, the dogs from Burns’ poem ‘The Twa Dogs’. Created by artist Sally Matthews near the 'Robert Burns Birthplace Museum' in Alloway

West Bow Edinburgh...

 

We are doing a lot of walking here in Edinburgh but it is a joy!

With a Princess on Princes Street...

Took Ada into the city yesterday for fun in Princess Street Gardens and along the Royal Mile.

Late Xmas present...

Yesterday, Pauline and I were able to take advantage (at last) of Eileen's Christmas Present to us, afternoon tea served in the delightful surroundings of The Georgian Tea Room of the Dome here in Edinburgh. 

Thoroughly enjoyed it and were really impressed by our surroundings - quite stunning! It was built as the headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Scotland in 1847 and stands on the site of the  the offices of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, which was constructed in the 18th century to designs by James Craig (no relation), the planner of the New Town here in Edinburgh .

Sunday stroll...on the old Ayr - Turnberry railway line.

Yesterday Eileen took us over to the 'Robert Burns Birthplace Museum' in Alloway where we parked the car and proceeded along a track and down on to the cycle path that follows the tree-lined track bed of the old Ayr - Turnberry railway line which closed in 1968. You start the walk by entering a couple of tunnels which could take a bit of inspiration from a similar project over in Edinburgh as these are only lined by graffiti.

 It takes you to a bridge over the River Doon, from where I took the first photo (above) from the bridge looking back towards the old 'Brig O' Doon' which was built in the 15th century and features in the last verse of Burns' epic poem 'Tam O'Shanter'.

The treelined path takes you all the way over to the ruins of  Greenan Castle a former 16th-century tower house that sits on the high ground overlooking the coastline.

We had intended to walk back through the parks of Belleisle and Rozelle but rain (no surprise there) meant we headed straight back to our starting point passing this homage, a 2m tall mouse, to Burns' poem 'To a Mouse' not quite the 'wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie' he referred to.

 

Surprise brocante...Ma Petite Madelaine

 

We had to go back up to Tours yesterday to exchange something that I had bought that was the wrong size - yes I do get it wring sometimes! That done, on the way in we had noticed that much of the car park at 'Ma Petite Madelaine' was taken up with brocante stalls. We popped in - first in years - had a walk around in beautiful sunshine but bought nothing. Our friends will understand why but it was good to be out and about.  

Spring walk in the gardens of the Musee des Beaux-arts in Tours...

On a visit to Tours on Wednesday we wandered into the gardens at the Musee des Beaux-arts to walk around the gardens. It was too early for their usual spring planting but we noticed the 'perfect' hedge was being worked on. If you ever wondered how they kept it so perfect they use wires, a ruler and a plumb-line and do a great job! 

We will come back next month to check them out again as it is usually a spectacular display.

Tours in springtime is always a pleasure.

This weeks short walk - around La Celle-Guenand

For Monday's short walk we headed over to La Celle-Guenand on what was a very pleasant spring afternoon. We started out from the carpark in front of the church which is still going through a major restoration.

We took the path behind it which leads along a small waterway and past the remains of an ancient monastery before passing a host of golden daffodils and some interesting houses.

We then headed over to the etang which we are more used to seeing surrounded by brocante stalls at the large annual event held here.

We then headed up past the Le Moulin de Civray and back to our starting point in the village.

'Sable du Sahara'.

The effect yesterday morning at Chateau de La Guerche from the Sahara sand / L'effet ce matin au Château de La Guerche du sable du Sahara.

This week's short walk - a good walk around Chateau du Chatelier and Neuilly-le-Brignon