Reflections on the Rio di San Lorenzo. Venice
Notre Dame Reflections – Rue St. Jacques. Paris

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I return to Paris whenever possible and am always delighted to discover this beautiful city in all its different moods – whether it be the soft gentle days of spring sunshine when the Parisians love to stroll along the banks of the River Seine enjoying the warmer weather and new Spring growth on the trees or the wet, dark days when the streets reflect the light from the shops along the boulevards and Parisians hurry by in a sea of different coloured umbrellas. Then there are the markets – where the important business of selecting produce for that nights meal is conducted on a daily basis amid a colourful exhibition of fresh vegetables, flowers and barrels containing breads, cheeses and olives.

In March of this year I visited Venice for the first time and once I got over the amazing introduction to the city via the Canal Grande, I discovered another part of Venice amidst the many narrow cobbled alleyways and little bridges that open to the wonderful campos - the hub of everyday Venetian life. Here it was possible to while away a morning sipping on a coffee, enjoying the gentle Spring sun as elegant elderly ladies dressed in long fur coats with a basket over their arm shopped at the local markets, while their menfolk gathered to gossip and play cards. Casual encounters on the narrow bridges that led from these plazas would evolve into long chatty conversations while the colours of washing strung out over the canals to dry could be seen flapping overhead. I also enjoyed wandering by the little narrow canals that reflected the ancient faded colours of the old buildings – reflections that shattered and regrouped as the gondolas, markets boats and taxis wound their way through the complicated waterways.

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