Vézelay burial place of the relics of Mary Magdalene

All photographs on this blog by James Derheim, founder of European Focus Vézelay’s hilltop location has made it an obvious site for a town since ancient times. According to legend, not long before the end of the first millennium a monk named Baudillon brought relics (bones) of Mary Magdalene to Vézelay from Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. In 1058 […]

Pont du Gard, France

The Pont du Gard is a notable ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gard River in southern France. It is part of a 50 km (31 mi) long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes in the South of France. It is located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins, in the Gard département. The aqueduct was […]

Les-Baux-de-Provence

We made a scenic drive from our home base in Gordes through the valley of the Luberon yesterday, making stops for picture taking in Oppede and in Menerbes before continuing on to St. Remy for a lovely lunch where Jenean’s birthday was celebrated with a glass of Cremant and a sparkler presented in a slice […]

Today in Isle sur la Sorge, France

We visited the market in this small town today, a colorful event, crowded even in this early part of the tourist season. Finding a place to park is an exercise in extreme patience and perseverance. This town, and other market towns, would be smart to initiate a park and ride service. Oh well. You can’t […]

European Focus Private Tours Advantage #62

Bus tours race you through the country at a breakneck pace because they’re on a schedule. Bags out in front of your hotel room door at 6:30. Breakfast at 7. Departure at 8. Rush-rush-rush through the day, being led around like sheep with walkie talkies jammed into your ears. Exhaustion. No time for taking photographs […]

Postcard from Burgundy

On the road from Beaune to Vezeley I saw this charming old farm and I just had to make a U-turn and go back. When we parked in the farmyard and got out, this charming farmer (his name must be Pierre) came out and I was fast enough with the camera to catch this shot. […]