Sunday, March 15, 2015

Que c'est beau Honfleur!







Pour l'enfant, amoureux de cartes et d'estampes,
L'univers est égal à son vaste appétit.
Ah! que le monde est grand à la clarté des lampes!
Aux yeux du souvenir que le monde est petit!


Charles Baudelaire – Le Voyage













It was a glorious day when we visited Honfleur, two months ago,
my second time in Normandy, first on the northwest coast.
Beautiful connotations came to mind 
recalling poems and paintings I once studied inFrench
 art and literature. Baudelaire, Monet, Boudin, Seurat, Sisley, 
delighted by the exhilarating beauty of this area, gave birth 
to one of the most beautiful art movements; Impressionism. 
The changing weather, the unflagging play between the sun and 
the clouds, the fickle colors providing the perfect setting, this is
what fascinates you in Honfleur more than anywhere else. 

We strolled along the old harbour, through the cobbled streets and 
paved alleys savoring a romantic feeling of a timeless world. 
This town has certainly got something extra that makes it unique. 
It’s a lively, vibrant town preserving its artistic character with dozens 
of art galleries around. I wouldn’t have mind staying a little
 longer to gaze at the splendid port. And the French gastronomy, 
what a treat! We were definitely craving seafood, calvados, 
apple cake and were not disappointed . A little suspicious
 when it's touristy...But, such a scrumptious
lunch on the peaceful quay!










To a child who is fond of maps and engravings
The universe is the size of his immense hunger.
Ah! how vast is the world in the light of a lamp!
In memory's eyes how small the world is!

Charles Baudelaire – Le Voyage









Nothing serious has been going on recently, 
hope you are also doing fine…

Ι'm leaving you with
the smell of the sea, 
the Normand natural light 
and  Baudelaire's musical rhymes...

See you, 
O

45 comments:

  1. I share your love of Honfleur, but what exquisite winter colours you have captured in your photos, it looks more like spring.
    I was in Honfleur harbour when it was announcement on a big screen that the 2012 Olympics were being held in London.

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  2. What a lovely place you visited! I would like to go there some time. I love the colourful harbour.
    Have a nice week. Greatings from Aleta

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  3. We had but a brief visit there a few years ago as part of a repositioning cruise from England to the United States. Your beautiful photos have brought back lovely memories ~

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  4. Bonjour Olimpia,
    oh ouiii, moi aussi j'adore Honfleur et La Normandie.

    Tes photos sont magnifiques!
    Bisous )

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  5. Honfleur, looks a beautiful little town.
    The houses so colorful and the yacht basin with such charm.
    It sounds like you had a lovely time Olympia.
    xx val

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  6. It looks wonderful, Olympia. I hope to visit this place in the next years, I am sure it will make me happy to be there!

    Hugs, Ingrid

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  7. Wat een prachtige foto's van dit deel van Frankrijk, Olympia!
    Ik heb met je meegenoten!

    Lieve groet,
    Gerry

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  8. Hello Olympia,
    wow what a wondeful Place.
    Tahnks for looking the lovely Pictures.
    Now, i can good Dream from the nice colourfull Houses and Water, fresh Air and Holiday.
    Have a lovelky nice Sundayevening.
    greetings ,Moni

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  9. I am always in awe of the amazing architecture! I felt like I was on a vacation for my eyes just looking through your beautiful photos today Olympia. Thank so much for taking us along!
    Have a great week dear.
    hugs from here...

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  10. Moi, je vis à la campagne, dans une nature protégée mais vos promenades me plaisent beaucoup.J'aime bien la Normandie et vos photos la racontent bien.

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  11. Lieve Olympia,

    Kan me helemaal voorstellen dat kunstschilders al eeuwen lang gecharmeerd zijn van dit juweeltje in Normandië.
    En heden ten dagen is het nog steeds heerlijk slenteren langs de haven en door de straatjes om te genieten van de diversiteit aan monumenten en rijkdom, van zijn historisch, cultureel en artistiek erfgoed wat Honfleur zeker is.
    Kan met veel plezier blijven kijken naar je prachtige foto's met speciaal licht en warme kleuren!!!
    Het moet voor jou nog lang na genieten zijn van zo'n heerlijke trip met mooie herinneringen.

    Lieve groet en hartelijk dank voor het delen!!!☺☺
    Ger

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  12. What beautiful photos. Love the fantastic harbour.
    Hugs from here

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  13. Dear Olympia,

    I always have the upmost respect for your photography skills and artistic eye. This post touches my heart almost as much as your Greek ones. I lived for ten years on that very same coast, a little further west, in a fishing village named Port en Bessin. Recently, I have been asking myself if moving back there might be a good idea. Your words and pictures capture so beautifully the very essence of the Calvados coastline. Bravo, Olympia! Vous êtes formidable!

    Stephanie x

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  14. Beautiful pictures ........and I agree " This town has certainly got something extra that makes it unique.
    It’s a lively, vibrant town preserving its artistic character with dozens of art galleries ......... "

    All the best Jan

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  15. Beautiful pictures ........and I agree " This town has certainly got something extra that makes it unique.
    It’s a lively, vibrant town preserving its artistic character with dozens of art galleries ......... "

    All the best Jan

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  16. Dearest Olympia,
    You certainly were in the mood for creating this lovely photographic poetry for us from such a picturesque area of France.
    Thanks for sharing this with your readers; quite a treat and I want to compliment you on that.
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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  17. Hello Olympia
    Breathtaking scenery and thank you for taking me to Honfleur this evening. The colours, reflections and light call the painter in me. You have so beautifully described this area. You are an observant traveller.
    Have a very special week
    Helenxx

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  18. Un lujar maravilloso, lleno de encanto, me encantan las fotos que has hecho, son preciosas.
    Besitos.

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  19. Good morning Olympia,
    We went to Honfleur some years ago , at Christmas time. It was very cold but I remember that I really enjoyed
    the stroll in the town and how beautiful and picturesque the buildings were. The sea food menus offered at the little
    restaurants were fantastic and at very good prices. Thank you for sharing these lovely photos with us.
    Have a nice week.
    Tina

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  20. Oh, yes, Honfleur makes me dream every time I make myself! You had the chance of a beautiful light that day !!! And with Baudelaire, it's a real pleasure !
    Have you seen my blog, Honfleur under gray skies?
    Have a good week !

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  21. Dear Olympia, I loved reading about your adventures and you've captured some beautiful photos of the town. I need to put this one down on my list of places to visit. Have a lovely week. Sharon

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  22. Quel joli billet de notre belle Normandie! Honfleur est tellement pittoresque. J’aime revoir tout son charme bien illustré dans ces jolies photos. Je repense aux crêpes normandes délicieuses arrosées d’une bonne bouteille de cidre !

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  23. Chère Olympia, tu aime la France et parle français? ça je comprends très bien.
    Cordialement Donna G.

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  24. These photos are absolutely spectacular! Your photos have put Honfleur on my wishlist of places to see if I ever get to visit France. What a lovely time you had here!

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  25. Quante belle fotografie , questo è un viaggio che ti invidio proprio , amo la Francia , ci ho vissuto 5 anni . Abbraccio e buona settimana.

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  26. Olympia,
    What a lovely place this is, and I love the charming alley. The picture of the potted tree next to the brick wall is very nice. The old buildings and the streets really add beauty to this town. I wonder if Jess went here when she visited France? Your pictures always bring a smile to my face, Olympia.

    love, ~Sheri

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  27. Thank you for the beautiful series of photos of Normany, I loved it and the poems of Beaudelaire too. When our children were young we used to go to France on holidays, also to Normandy. So nice to see Honfleur back on your pictures.

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  28. Superbe reportage sur Honfleur et ses couleurs .... Magnifiques photos que tu nous présentes, elles sont vraiment impresionnantes de beauté ! Bonne journée, Amicalement,

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  29. Dear Olympia,

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos of Normandy - have never been there and it is on my list of places I would love to see.
    Love all the gorgeous buildings and so picturesque.
    Enjoy the week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  30. Bom dia, excelente fotorreportagem da Normandia, as fotos são magnificas e revelem muita beleza local.
    AG

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  31. such beautiful images Olympia...I love the colours of the row of buildings...the light is superb...have a nice week ..Gail x

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  32. The buildings, the boats and the mirror like water of the harbor are beautiful, and I can see origins or hints of Impressionism there and the pointillism of Seurat too.

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  33. A really gorgeous series of photos. Greetings from Montreal, Canada.

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  34. So charming and romantic! To walk in the footsteps of the world's greatest artists must be so exhilarating! Lovely photos - a beautiful place! xo Karen

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  35. How beautiful! I love the old houses. Nice fields of studies you had!
    Tinka

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  36. The light and all the colours are just so lovely in your images it looks a good trip a such a contrast to Paris. Sarah x

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  37. Bonjour chère amie,

    Tu ne pouvais pas me faire plus que plaisir en me présentant toutes ces merveilleuses photos de Honfleur que je connais si bien et que j'affectionne ! Honfleur a la particularité de nous nous dévoiler en une seule et même journée des couleurs et des lumières extraordinaires.

    Jusqu'à aujourd'hui, je voulais acheter une petite maison à Honfleur. J'ai recherché longtemps... Je suis allée très souvent à Honfleur qui pourtant se trouve à plus de 800 km de chez moi !
    Je voulais une maison coup de coeur, pas une maison pour un toit !
    J'ai eu deux coups de coeur. L'un fut pour une maison de pêcheur sur le port avec la vue comme sur celle de ta 7ème photo. Malheureusement, un acheteur a été plus rapide que moi.
    Le deuxième coup de coeur fut pour celle où Eugène Boudin fut né. Elle était à la vente et son propriétaire était comme moi un artiste peintre. Mais un talentueux artiste ! La maison avec son adorable jardin avait aussi un sublime atelier.
    Nous nous étions mis d'accord... La machine était en route... J'allais avoir ma maison à Honfleur.
    Puis malheureusement, la vente n'a pas pu se faire. Le propriétaire souffrait d'une grave maladie et voulait vendre pour se rapprocher de son fils à Toulouse. Seulement la maladie l'a rattrapé plus rapidement et son état ne lui permettait plus de faire se "grand saut en déménageant".
    Nous sommes restés lui et moi très proches et nous sommes même devenus amis. Il est malheureusement très mal en ce moment.
    Ma déception a fait que j'ai renoncé à acheter quelque chose sur Honfleur.
    Je retourne à Honfleur et je continuerai à retourner à Honfleur...
    Je recherche à présent quelque chose dans le sud de la France...

    Merci ma chère amie pour ce joli billet qui me touche énormément.

    ❀ Gros bisous ❀

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  38. Hello Olympia,
    Very great shots!!
    The pictures with that harbor and the special houses at the back are really fantastic.
    A nice place to be, I think.

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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  39. Beautiful photo's of Normandy Olympia. It brings back many happy memories of the time we visited Honfleur as a family.

    Wishing you a happy weekend!

    Madelief x

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  40. Je n'ai malheureusement jamais eu l'occasion de visiter Honfleur et je te remercie pour ce reportage sur cette belle ville de Normandie, chère Olympia! Tes photos sont superbes!!
    Gros bisous et bon Dimanche!

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  41. Looks utterly divine.....and now am hungry!!

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  42. Olympia! How ever did I miss this most beautiful post of Honfleur??! No matter, I finally made it, and am awestruck at its beauty, colour, timelessness, and harbour. Your visit must have been full of romance for the place, its people, its aura. Thank you for sharing it with us; I long to visit France one day!

    Happy Spring!

    Poppy

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  43. Oh Honfleur! We were there in July 2014 and our whole family has great memories. Such a beautiful touched, almost untouched by modernity. I love the colourful port and the quiet streets. It was VERY busy when we were there - I'll have to head back sometime during winter to see it in a different "impressionistic" light!
    Your newest follower, Bronwyn
    www.queenbcreativeme.blogspot.com

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