Shadows-en-Roussillon, south of France

© Photos by Kay Davies, April, 2011

Even as the warm sun of the south of France washed the color from the leaves, it helped them cast shadows on the undergrowth and paths of the condominium complex where we stayed in Canet-en-Roussillon, near Perpignan, during the second part of our spring vacation in Europe. In the two middle photos, a pergola-covered walkway with luxuriant wisteria is draped in dappled shadow, attracting us as well as the community tabby-cat who visited with us every day.

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday

hosted by Tracy at her Hey Harriet! blog.

Thanks, Tracy!

To see other shadows shot by other photo-bloggers, please click

HERE!

Camera Critters, Collioure, Catalan Coast

© Photos by Kay Davies and Richard Schear    

Posted for Camera Critters hosted

every week by Misty Dawn. Thanks, Misty, for keeping this meme going!

To see other critters captured by other cameras, please click

HERE!

Watery Wednesday: Perpignan, south of France

© Photos by Richard Schear       

Posted for the Watery Wednesday meme, hosted by

2sweetnsaxy at T. Bruce Photography,

who invites us every week to get our eyes wet!

To see what wetted the eyes of other photobloggers, please click

HERE!

Our world: Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales

The city of Perpignan, in the French province of Languedoc-Roussillon, formed the hub of our travels one week. From its busy train station, we could go in almost any direction, making it, as Salvador Dali said, "the centre of the universe" for a while. My husband took these photos in Perpignan, the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France, during our March/April visit to Europe this year.

Our world for a week was in and around, and in and out of the city of Perpignan, which possesses many claims to fame, one of which is the oldest cemetery in France.

© Photos by Richard Schear       

Porte Notre Dame, Perpignan, with the Catalan flag flying, above right.

The city of Perpignan offers history, culture and beauty.

It was a wonderful place to see, and to be.

Posted for  My World Tuesday the meme

hosted weekly by the team of Wren, Klaus, Sylvia, Sandy, Louise and Fishing Guy

Thanks, team!

To see other worlds on this planet, please click HERE!

Lovely yellows in Perpignan, France

© Photos by Richard Schear       

My husband took these photos in early April when we stayed near Perpignan at a condo in Canet-en-Rousillon. A city bus stopped near the condo complex and took us to the Gare de Perpignan. From there, we enjoyed many day-trips by train to other places in the south of France.

The bright Mediterranean colors of the homes were reflected in the trees and flowers. Even the trash and recycling containers were tidy and colorful.

The bus passed pretty playgrounds every time we went to and from the Perpignan train station, but somehow we never stopped to play!

Posted for Mellow Yellow Monday, hosted

every week by Drowsey Monkey. Thanks, Drowsey!

To see other mellow yellows from around the world, please click

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Shadows in Perpignan, French Catalonia

Northern Catalonia (French Catalonia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Catalonia

© Photos by Richard Schear    

Posted for Shadow Shot Sunday hosted weekly

by Tracy over at Hey Harriet!  Thanks, Tracy.

To see other shadows espied by shadow-shooters around the world, please click

HERE!

Reflection of Perpignan train station

© Photos by Kay Davies and Richard Schear, April, 2011   

Above, in the south of France, the Perpignan railway station as seen reflected in the building across the street. Below, the train station itself, reflecting itself. The name on the face of the Gare de Perpignan says "el centre del món" which means "centre of the world" in the Catalan language, because Salvador Dalí (see below) called it "the center of the universe". Like Dalí, we had lots of good ideas while here, with a great many choices for day-trips using our Eurail passes.

Following a visit in 1963, the Catalan surrealist artist Salvador Dalí declared Perpignan's railway station the centre of the universe, saying he always got his best ideas while sitting in the waiting room.

In the 1965 painting below, Dalí shows the vision of the universe that came to him while reflecting on the subject in the Perpignan train station.

From about.com

Posted for Weekend Reflections, hosted

transcontinentally by James. Thanks, James!

To see what made other photobloggers reflect this week, please click

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The changing skies of Perpignan, southern France

Posted for

SkyWatch

Friday,

hosted every week by

Klaus, Wren, Sylvia, Sandy and Fishing Guy.

Thanks, team!

To see other skies

from other parts of the planet,

please click

HERE!

Canet-en-Roussillon, our world for a week

Across the street from the Europa Hotel, we could catch the bus to Perpignan, and up the street we could catch a bus to the beach at Canet Plage. The bus stops had great views of Mont Canigou.

© Photos by Kay Davies and Richard Schear    

Our apartment (we didn't get any exterior shots) had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a living area and a balcony big enough for a table, two chairs, and a folding laundry-dryer. The location, between Perpignan with its "center of the universe" train station (according to Salvador Dali), and Canet Plage with its beautiful Mediterranean beach, was perfect for our sightseeing needs.

Our condo at Malibu Village was the center of our world for a week in Canet-en-Rousillon. Here, Dick waits for me in the shade of the laundry room, while the camp tabby-cat sits in the shade of the wisteria pergola, hoping to see a lizard or something else to eat. Read about his hunting here.

Published for My World Tuesday hosted by

the talented team of Klaus, Wren, Sandy, Sylvia, Louise, and Fishing Guy.

To see other worlds around this planet, please click

HERE!

Canine camera critters in Canet

In April, after we returned from our month in Europe, I did a Camera Critters post about this tabby cat, our lovable little French friend who lives at the Malibu condo complex in Canet-en-Roussillon near Perpignan in the very south of France. Click the link below to see him trying to catch a small lizard.

http://unfittie.blogspot.com/2011/04/camera-critter-canet-cat.html

Today I have photos from the Mediterranean beachside town of Canet Plage (Canet Beach). Even though this is often called the Catalan Coast, I'm featuring canines at the beach: one who works there, and some who are just spending the day with their families, or perhaps making new friends.

© Photos by Kay Davies and Richard Schear        

The basket on the left belongs to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on the right. This small but watchful guard dog at the beachside stand is careful not to fall off the counter.

The heat haze doesn't seem to bother anyone on the beach, including a big yellow dog.
(I can never resist photos of big yellow dogs, so my husband captured this shot for me.)

Posted for the Camera Critters meme, hosted

every week by Misty Dawn. Thanks, Misty!

To see what kinda critters captured the eyes of other photobloggers or their spouses,

please click HERE!