The mosque in Cordoba, Spain.

Instruments of war, Romans v. Gauls 52 BC.

We visited the battlefield and museum where Julius Caesar defeated the Gauls, near Dijon, France.

My last morning in Paris I strolled down this charming street.

Abbey Fountenay, near Dijon, France.

A Cistercian monastery where 200 monks would have lived and worked, being totally self- sufficient.

The bread oven.

We came, we saw, we conquered.

Recreation of a Roman camp. The big, last battle was fought here in 52 BC, with Julius Ceasar defeating the local Gallic tribes. We came, we saw, we conquered!

The leader gave us an explanation while the soldiers acted out the maneuvers.

The Roman solider, on the left, had cheek protectors on his helmet.

But basically, they had all the same equipment. This soldier wears a coat of mail. Each solider had to furnish his own equipment.

The Romans dug ditches, made ramparts, made three moats around the perimeter, and were professional soldiers. The Gauls were peasants, in separate tribes, disorganized and quarreled with each other. Even their great numbers could not defeat the Romans.

It was all  fascinating, especially as we were on the battlefield itself.

Dijon and Flavigny, France.

Poached egg in a wine and vegetable sauce, with bread.

Taking a tea and dessert break in Flavigny, the town where the little Anis candies are made. And the movie Chocolate was filmed.

Gingerbread layered with black currant sorbet. With whipped cream.

Relaxing in Darcy park, Dijon.

Having dinner with my French friend, Herve. 

View of the countryside from the walls of the hilltop, medieval village of Flavigny.on the far hill is the ruins of a Roman town.

Paris is fun!

Statutes sprout like dandelions in Paris.

This gorgeous one is atop the original Opera house.

Outside the Orsay museum.

The weather is a pleasant low seventies.

Wish you all were here.

Touring Paris. My group arrived from Eugene and we lunched at a side walk cafe and saw lots of monuments.

Paris pests meet their demise. This is truly great advertising!

Stuffed  victims adorn the shop windows.

The owner wrote a book about his success.

Chateau Veaux de Vicomte makes a quiet break from the city of Paris.