11 May 2007
I think that may have been my hotel in Blois, France. I should caption these pictures in a more timely manner.
11 May 2007
A monument undergoing restoration in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A tiny shrine to the virgin mary in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A side altar in the cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A statue of St Joan of Arc in the cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The main altar in the cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A chapel dedicated to the virgin Mary in the cathedral in Blois, France
The picture on the left shows her reigning in heaven. The middle sculpture and window show her ascending into heaven, lifted by angels. The picture on the right shows her appearing to other saints in visions. On the top right is a giant 'M' with a crown over it.
11 May 2007
A side altar in the cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
The pipe organ in the cathedral in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A park in Blois, France
11 May 2007
Flowers blooming in Blois, France
11 May 2007
A château in the Loire Valley in France
11 May 2007
Wildflowers in the Loire Valley, France
11 May 2007
Wildflowers in the Loire Valley, France
11 May 2007
The Loire Valley, France
11 May 2007
Nicole snaps a photo of a village church in the Loire Valley, France
11 May 2007
Château de Chaumont
I didn't get closer to this Château because of the "mont."
Too tired to go uphill!
11 May 2007
Château de Chaumont
I didn't get closer to this Château because of the "mont."
Too tired to go uphill!
11 May 2007
St Martin
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
St Martin of Tours is one of the patron saint of France. He was only the second bishop of France (the first, St. Denis, was beheaded shortly after gaining the post) and has many miracles attributed to him. Also, he was a local boy to the Loire region.
11 May 2007
A saint whose name I cannot make out.
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
11 May 2007
St Joan of Arc
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
The camera flash gives her something of a beauty queen look in this photo, which, alas, is not present when seen in real life.
11 May 2007
Church altar.
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
The little red candle burning on the altar means that there is some consecrated host in the tabernacle. Which is to say that behind the small gold door in the bottom middle of the altar, there is a small chamber. Inside that chamber, there are some small wafers that appear to be a sort of unleavened bread made from wheat flour and water. However, during a mass, the bread has been consecrated and therefore has transubstantiated. Although there is no physical evidence to substantiate the claim, the bread only looks like bread. It is actually the physical body of Jesus.
Altars are always supposed to be given a certain amount of respect, but that increases when Jesus is hanging around inside the tabernacle. When crossing in front of the altar, it is customary to bow. Before leaving (after having approached it), it is customary to genuflect (drop down on one knee only) and make the sign of the cross. (Place your hand on your forehead, then your belly, then your left shoulder, then your right shoulder, all with head bowed.)
11 May 2007
Stained glass window featuring St Joan of Arc
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
«Jehanne la pucelle enlenu les premieres voir du Ciel»
"Joan the Maiden's first vision"
The three figures on the upper left are the three saints that she decribed as having visited her: On the top is St. Micheal the Arc Angel. On the left is St. Catherine of Alexandria and on the right is St Margret. Both women saints were virgins and martyrs.
The woman in the purple dress is Joan of Arc. She's so strartled that she's dropped the wool that she was spinning and it lies at her bare feet.
While she did brag of her skill at spinning wool and "the womanly arts," she emphasized that she was not a shepherd. Also, it's likely that her visions had not yet gained the shapes of these saints on the very first visit.
The bottom right of the window says "TOURS 1888"
11 May 2007
A parish church
Possibly in Rilly sur Loire, France
11 May 2005
A château or large maison along the Loire in France
11 May 2007
A troglodite wine cave near Amboise
