France

France is to so many people one of those wonderfully romantic and classical destinations.The British and French have a long history of distrust and non-co-operation. Something that comes of going to war with each other for a hundred and thirty years. Then liberating the country from occupation a couple of times without so much as a thank-you only to have them set fire to our sheep trucks.There is some lovely countryside in France and it was where I caught my first fish (somewhere along the Loire I think) when I was about eleven or twelve, some of the towns have nice bits too.After having been to Paris, I don't know how many times, I have finally visited and taken some photos of some of the most famous landmarks.This is probably the most famous phallus in the world.

The views of Paris from above, are in my opinion better than from ground level.

My favourite thing in Paris is almost certainly Notre Dame. It has a majesty and grandeur that I think is missing in all the more gaudy and garish other stuff.

For some time, the only picture of France I could find was this one of a church by a river. I quite like it.

I spent a day in Lille in the summer of 2011, these are some of the photos from that visit.There are some attractive buildings near the Grand Place - with the blue skies overhead, it made it more photogenic.

As is often the case the side streets and bits along there were attractive in their own rights.

The Cathedral in Lille has been reconstructed in a modern style, so has a hybrid look to it that looks attractive, particularly from the inside, where the light comes through the marble facade showing the colouring and markings in the stone.

Lunch with my friend