tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post6698493472253310010..comments2024-03-29T06:26:28.942+00:00Comments on Shadows & Light: Hatton Cross to West DraytonSteve Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-569499780232413492017-12-23T22:45:33.284+00:002017-12-23T22:45:33.284+00:00Great persistence on your part to keep walking the...Great persistence on your part to keep walking the trail.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-26663140073841489382017-12-23T22:35:13.389+00:002017-12-23T22:35:13.389+00:00Merry Christmas Steve xMerry Christmas Steve xJohn Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-10734167456414925722017-12-23T20:51:48.635+00:002017-12-23T20:51:48.635+00:00So happy you didn't sink to oblivion in the bo...So happy you didn't sink to oblivion in the bog!<br />Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Steve. Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02366449267039641100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-86259650333653877012017-12-23T19:23:25.081+00:002017-12-23T19:23:25.081+00:00I went to Giverny a few years ago, in December, on...I went to Giverny a few years ago, in December, on purpose. I wanted to visit some new friends and see what Christmas looked like in the tiny village when Monet's garden was not open for view and the place was not run over with 600,000 tourists. There was some kind of heavy construction going on at the church up the road from Monet's house, so I stood in the road and took photos. Truthfully, I was framing the shots so I could sneak some pix of the kibitzing locals, old guys in berets with dogs at their side. The foreman walked up to me and demanded to know know why I was photographing his work crew. His tone was not at all friendly.<br /><br />French people are, by law, permitted to walk the streets in private and they are quite touchy about having their photos taken in public places. It's exactly the opposite to what has been established in America, where anyone in a public space has surrendered their assumptions of privacy so if I happen to take a snap of you at Times Square with your mistress, well, you had it coming, for taking her out to such a public place means you did to have any right to expect that I'd respect your sense of privacy. True fact. <br /><br />I have lived in France and I know vey well how offensive it is to French people to steal their souls with my camera. So I knew I was pushing it, by taking photos out on the street. So I had an answer to the mean guy demanding that I explain myself: Why was I taking photographs?<br /><br />I said, "Because I'm from America and everything about France interests me."<br /><br />Well! the change in his attitude was instant. This guy seemed so pleased with the situation that he became my personal tour guide to the church of Saint Radegonde, taking me through the cemetery, explaining who Radegonde was, showing me architectural details of the structure that, really, I wasn't at all interested in, but couldn't help but enjoy. He also sent one of his workers to the home of the church's off-duty sextant to rustle up the keys so he could take me inside, but the caretaker was not in, quel dommage. He even took photos of me posing with the church's ancient attraction, a big stone slab that has been there since neolithic times. I forget if it's a grave or some kind of magic druid megalith. It was a wonderful visit.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting that the thug who accosted you would have turned out to be a bosom buddy. Men like that are very threatening on purpose. But if you are ever similarly challenged in France, maybe my tip will help you ingratiate yourself to even the most persnickety native.<br /><br />I like your travelogue about these Loop walks. If you expand it to book-length, think of the delightful digressions you could take!Vivianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11990041745880166605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-3558441605096473622017-12-23T16:43:03.134+00:002017-12-23T16:43:03.134+00:00That guy was probably about to rob the cafe and yo...That guy was probably about to rob the cafe and you were interrupting his schedule! Or not.Catalysthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804837416104556928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-161041630785838902017-12-23T16:22:48.153+00:002017-12-23T16:22:48.153+00:00I love reading about these walks. You should writ...I love reading about these walks. You should write a story about the whole thing when you've finished and see if one of the papers would publish it. That really is a nice looking cafe you found. As for the man asking questions, that is annoying. With everyone in the world carrying a camera (cell phone) with them wherever they go, asking such a question seems so silly. I was taking a holiday decorations photo at the mall a few weeks ago when some woman walked by me, looked me in the eye and said "that is so rude". I guess she thought I was taking a photo of her. I just ignored her as though I didn't even hear. Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645915869786296771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-29359535752477580112017-12-23T15:10:32.670+00:002017-12-23T15:10:32.670+00:00I got lost in the woods once when I was in my teen...I got lost in the woods once when I was in my teens, and I get a bit anxious around forks in the path now. Glad you found the right way. YP made me laugh out loud, and I really appreciate his ass-kicking sentiment!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-9862027691180079232017-12-23T14:35:30.378+00:002017-12-23T14:35:30.378+00:00the left looks just as woodsy to me and I even loo...the left looks just as woodsy to me and I even looked at the big picture.ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-15299542534700279842017-12-23T14:22:18.573+00:002017-12-23T14:22:18.573+00:00Some people have the hobby of being paranoid. I li...Some people have the hobby of being paranoid. I like your hobby better. Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-69883047179265694512017-12-23T10:32:17.842+00:002017-12-23T10:32:17.842+00:00The football looks like a symbol of Theresa May...The football looks like a symbol of Theresa May's Brexit progress. As for that fellow quizzing you - Who the hell does he think he is? You should have kicked his ass with your Merrill walking boots! Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-67778681101824814582017-12-23T09:30:49.498+00:002017-12-23T09:30:49.498+00:00Another interesting trek! It's a good thing yo...Another interesting trek! It's a good thing you were able to get away from Mr. Suspicious as quickly as you did. How's the pet sitting?ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376645220662546020noreply@blogger.com