"Z" is for Zodiac

This is Day 26 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

We've made it to the end of the alphabet, and the letter "Z" which is for zodiac. The twelve astrological signs of the zodiac have appeared in art for centuries.


In Venice, the gold signs of the zodiac run counter-clockwise on the blue face of the astronomical clock on the Clock Tower in St. Mark's Square. They are surrounded by the 24 hours of the day in Roman numerals engraved in the white marble. This clock dates from the early Renaissance. 

Astronomical Clock, Venice

"Y" is for Yacht

This is Day 25 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter "Y" is for the many yachts found in the waters of the French Riviera.


Monaco is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world and its harbour is filled with luxurious yachts of all sizes.

Monaco's Port Hercule

"X" is for Aix-en-Provence

This is Day 24 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter for today is a tough one but my choice of topic, the town of Aix-en-Provence in France, is known simply as 'Aix' (and pronounced 'X').

As the name suggests, the city of Aix is located in Provence. A large fountain at the centre of La Rotonde once marked the entry to the town.

La Rotonde Fountain, Aix-en-Provence

"W" is for Window

This is Day 23 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is window. The French have a colourful expression for window shopping: faire du lèche vitrine or "window licking".

While touring Europe I visited some iconic department stores, like Harrods in London and Galeries Lafayette in Paris.

Egyptian Escalator at Harrods, London

"V" is for Van Gogh

This is Day 22 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is the Dutch painter known equally well for his bold strokes of colour and his tumultuous life, Vincent Van Gogh.

Statue of Van Gogh, St. Paul de Mausole

"U" is for Umbrella

This is Day 21 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter "U" is for umbrella, which can provide shelter from the rain or the sun. The origins of the umbrella go back 3,000 to 4,000 years in ancient Greece, Assyria and China.

I don't like to carry an umbrella when I'm travelling. I prefer a hooded rain jacket which frees up both hands for other important things, like putting on your reading glasses, unfolding and refolding maps, digging out a few euros from your bag or pocket, holding on to tickets, using your camera, etc. (A third hand would be much more useful.)

Rainy Day in Rome

"T" is for Trompe l'Oeil

This is Day 20 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The topic for today is trompe l'oeil, which is French for "trick the eye".



Nowhere have I seen more trompe l'oeil murals than in the city of Lyon. It's become a local art form to honour prominent citizens and the city's gastronomic heritage. (There's an interesting article from France Today on the history of the murals of Lyon.)

The following murals were all painted on the same building.

La Fresque des Lyonnais

"S" is for La Serra Spa

This is Day 19 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is a lovely spa in the Italian town of Sorrento called La Serra.

"R" is for Roman Ruins

This is Day 18 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The topic for today is the Romans and the ruins of their ancient settlements found outside the walls of Rome.

The town of Pompeii south of Rome was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, preserving extensive ruins under layers of volcanic ash.

The Ruins of Pompeii

"Q" is for Quay

This is Day 17 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is quay (or quai in French), a waterside platform by a river or sea.

A quay can provide docking facilities for the many cruise vessels travelling the major rivers of Europe.

Quai on the Saône River, Tournus

"P" is for Princess

This is Day 16 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter "P" is for Princess: Princess Grace of Monaco.



American film star Grace Kelly came to Monaco to film Alfred Hitchock's  To Catch a Thief with co-star Cary Grant.

View of Monaco from the Corniche

"O" is for Olive

This is Day 15 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's post is about the olive, valued since ancient times for its fruit, oil and wood. Olive trees thrive around the Mediterranean, as well as other arid regions of the world.

The Olive Fruit, or Drupe

"N" is for Nîmes

This is Day 14 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter "N" is for Nîmes. All who share the modern obsession for jeans owe their thanks to this city where denim fabric was created. The English word denim comes from the French "de Nîmes" (from Nîmes).


Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France, Nîmes is better known for its well preserved ancient Roman buildings, like the Maison Carrée

Maison Carrée, Nîmes

"M" is for Macaron

This is Day 13 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is the macaron - not the coconut confection we have in North America (a macaroon) but the colourful creation of French patisserie Ladurée.


The French macaron is a delightful sandwich of ganache filling between two meringue-based cookies. They are prepared in a variety of colours and flavours.

The French Macaron

"L" is for Lavender

This is Day 12 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The letter "L" takes us to another item on my Bucket List: Lavender.

Vendors at the Cours Saleya Market in Nice sell an assortment of lavender products, but I wanted to see fields of flowers in full bloom – the lavender fields of the Luberon. And thus began my pursuit of lavender on a return trip to France.

Lavender Products, Nice

"K" is for Kilogram

This is Day 11 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today's topic is kilogram, a unit of measure of weight in the metric system which is used across Europe. It equals 1,000 grams and is roughly equivalent to two pounds.



If you wish to make a purchase at a market in Europe, be prepared to ask for it in units of 100 grams. Here is a sampling of items you can buy by the gram or kilogram.

Some items are quintessentially French (and very expensive).

Frog Legs

"J" is for Joy

This is Day 10 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

For today's post I've chosen the topic of joy: the joy I've experienced in Europe through each of my five senses.


JOY in smelling the overwhelming fragrance of a field of lavender at the St. Paul de Mausole Monastery in St. Remy-de-Provence.

Lavender in Provence

"I" is for Island

This is Day 9 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

Today we visit three very different islands: Ile de la Cité in Paris, the island of Burano in the Venetian Lagoon and the Isle of Capri off the west coast of Italy.


Ile de la Cité is the birthplace of Paris. This is where you'll find the gothic cathedral of Notre Dame and a climb to the top of the tower rewards you with panoramic views of the city.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

"H" is for Harbour

This is Day 8 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

I've always been drawn to the water, so today's post is about some of the harbours and ports on the French Riviera and in southern Italy.



The town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is located midway between Nice and Monaco on the coast of the French Riviera. This first photo was taken from our hotel balcony, a great place to observe the comings and goings of tiny sailboats, motor boats and tour boats at any time of day, but especially at dusk with a glass of the local rosé.

Port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

"G" is for Garden

This is Day 7 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

The topic for today is gardens. In my part of the world early spring can look a lot more like winter – snow fell on Easter morning. But the days are getting longer and gardeners' thoughts are turning to long hours spent outdoors.

I love flowers and seek them out wherever I travel. Here's a photo tour of five memorable gardens from my recent trips to Europe.

#5 - Sunken Garden, Kensington Palace (London)

Kensington Palace, London

"F" is for Ferrari

This is Day 6 for the

Blogging from A to Z Challenge

for 2013.

My last topic for Week One of the Challenge is an item from my Bucket List: the iconic sports car by Italian car maker Ferrari.

It's a little strange because I'm not a car aficionado, but when I was planning a trip to France last summer I came across a company that provides tours on the French Riviera by Ferrari and I just had to add it to my Bucket List.