A timeless French street scene

One of the many RSS feeds I monitor from time to time is a photography one, and I just came across a photo that is a “perfect little European medieval street … in Lyon” but since the photographer lost track of his shots there’s a “10% chance it is in Paris”. Wherever it is the first thing I thought of was Lymond and Philippa’s chase through Lyon. See if you agree . It’s certainly a fine photograph

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/3918813080/sizes/l/


Comments

A timeless French street scene — 16 Comments

  1. Thanks Ioana, I had a feeling I’d seen that shape before but having never been to Paris I had no real place to start investigating (and no time anyway!).
    Much obliged

    Bill

  2. Having just finished “The Disorderly Knights” I see I have a chase through Paris to look forward to!

    My review of Knights jsut went up today.. http://allsheread.blogspot.com .

    There are also reviews of the earlier Lymonds and many if not all of the Niccolos.

    I am a recent convert… and went straight to absolute worship. I liked Niccolo, but Lumond is such a phenomenal character I jsut can’t articulate it.

    The only thing that would make me happier is if this blog was updated more often.. it’s your priestly duty, Bill!

    Nan Hawthorne
    http://www.nanhawthorne.com

  3. at virtourist.com – there are several photos of “Old Lyon” – this sounds totally apropos:

    We will start this Photographic Tour in one of the most beautiful districts in Lyon: ‘Vieux Lyon’ (=Old Lyon). This district occupies more than 24 hectares on the banks of the Saone River at the foot of the Fourviere Hill. The visit to this district must be done on foot. This way you will enjoy the several Renaissance restored buildings, which reflect the prosperity the city underwent during the 16th and 17th centuries.

    You should not miss the opportunity to book one of the “Traboules Tours”. The Traboules used to be passages that allowed the transportation of the precious silk through the district’s houses.

  4. Nice review Nan, delighted you enjoyed Disorderly Knights. Now why would anyone want to strangle Lymond? (grin) Jerott on the other hand…

    I’ve been called many things, but never “priestly” before!! Nothing would give me more pleasure than to devote more time to the blog, however earning a living now that I’m completely freelance and there’s no monthy pay packet coming in is unfortunately having something of an impact. What I really need is a rich widow – preferably not Margaret Lennox 😉

    best wishes
    Bill

  5. Thanks Bea, I wasn’t aware of the virtourist site. I’ve long wanted to visit Lyon and this just whets my appetite further.

  6. That’s what I get for not seeing your latest entry for three days — took one look and said, ah, Montmartre, with Sacre Coeur in the background! Good catch, Ioana! Bill, you really must come to Paris (October 2010 sounds like a good month and year). One of these days I’ll even visit Sacre Coeur, although it’s still impressive from the Louvre, or was it the Orsay?

    Best of luck with all the free-lancing. It’s just so not easy… have another wee dram of Caol Ila.

    Cheers, Olive & Kell

  7. Hi Olive, ah Monmartre, I seem to remember that a friend told me there’s an excellent restaurant there. Work allowing, I am hoping to come, but given that similar plans to attend earlier continental gatherings came to nought I’m not making promises at this stage.

    The Caol Ila bottle’s getting close to the bottom (plenty of Talisker left though!) – so maybe a little self-reward trip to the whisky shop may be in order once I get my finances all in order 😉

    best to the family

  8. Sorry, I’ve been away for almost 3yrs–busy making a documentary film. But thought I would ‘stop by’ and say hello again. I, too, immediately recognized Sacre Coeur/Montmarte in that pic–but it was still evocative.

    But re: DD: I did manage to re-read the Niccolo books last summer, and thought to continue thru Lymond series again–for 8th? time—but, instead did McCullough’s Rome series for a break (Besides DD of course, I like her research/detail too.) I shall try to visit more often.
    The film’s trailer has been posted online for anyone interested; it’s about Angel Corella’s new classical ballet company in Spain.

    Many many thanks to Bill Marshall for all past and future kindnesses rendered to me and the so many other dedicated DD readers. I have some good memories of Simon and look forward to his direction too.

  9. Lovely to hear from you again Gerri. Sounds like you’ve had a interesting time recently – hope the film is well received. By all means put a link up to the trailer if you want.

    Niccolo seems to get fewer mentions here than Lymond so if you’ve any thoughts from you recent read then fire away.

  10. “Le vin de Montmartre,
    on boit pint;
    on pisse quart.”
    I can’t remember which book, and my husband’s put them all on a high shelf at the moment…

  11. Hello again,
    RE: my post late last year, and Bill Marshall’s suggestion…
    (I know it’s off topic from DD etc.) but anyways…

    Here is the URL for the trailer to my documentary film on the creation of Corella Ballet Castilla y Leon, which was founded by Angel Corella, international star of American Ballet Theatre.

    http://www.dancemedia.com/v/1528

  12. Lovely little trailer Gerri – some superb dancers in that company. Has the full documentary been shown on TV?

    I don’t know for sure if Dorothy was an admirer of ballet – she certainly loved opera but we never discussed dance – but I suspect given her all-round appreciation of the arts that she’d have appreciated this.

  13. I’m glad you liked the trailer to my documentary, but unfortunately nothing else has been posted online/distributed yet- other than some additional excerpts shown in New York during Corella Ballet’s debut performances there last March, and mentions in a few blogs. (I am also concerned about copyrights to music and choreography. The trailer has been cleared, but I must be careful before releasing further excerpts.)

    The principal delay was caused by my need to secure funding to finish the film. All production was originally funded by myself, and my employment situation has severely curtailed any additional self-contributions, consequently affecting post-production.
    Lack of major government funding in the USA, also means I have to convince private donors, or foundations to support the project instead; a long process I’ve been doing alone for over a year now.

    *I have a feeling Lymond probably has a quote somewhere regarding the ‘meaning of art’ in our lives, and need to support it, but can’t remember where.

    I’m glad you liked the trailer, it keeps my spirits up.

  14. As an avid fan of the “Game of Kings” series I’m delighted to have found your website. My daughter and I are about to visit Scotland for the first time and will have a little time in Edinburgh.

    I hate to sound completely ignorant, but are the famous traboules still there?

    By the way, I have to agree with Nan Hawthorne — Lymond has to be the most phenomenally developed character I’ve ever encountered in literature.

  15. Welcome Sandra. I hope our awful summer has improved by the time you get here. It’d been much colder and wetter than normal – and much of Europe has been little better.

    The traboules in Lyon are indeed still there – I was sent some pictures of them by another Dunnett reader a while back – actually they should be on the site and I’ve just realised they aren’t. When I get a chance I’ll try and sort that out but life is busy at the moment and I haven’t had time to redesign the site yet. In Edinburgh there are plenty of the old “closes” still in existence in the Old Town.

    Yes, although Nicholas has two more books I think we find more about Lymond, and either of them are far more developed than the vast majority of other fictional characters.

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