Cavalry of Republican Guard (Paris, France)

The main plot takes place in the Paris Métro, where for the first time in France I'm trying to make a sense of all the signs and symbols of the lines leading to who knows which way... Except that everything on written in French, but the worst of all is that my phone battery died and from all the guidelines I had, I remained only with a peace of paper with the address of my friend written on it. After trying trying to communicate with some people who I meet on the station, one girl heard my question and with a smile told me that she lives just in the street next to the one I needed and that she will bring me there since she anyway going back! Desperate situation has now become pure luck, and thanks her I came without a problems to the house where my friend lived in Paris city center.

(Cavalry of Republican Guard, Paris)

Photo taken by Igor L.

The next day I was rested and ready for a tour in the most important parts of the city with a possible stop for coup of a coffee. On the busy streets of Paris that day ruled some specially good atmosphere and I was not exactly sure what was happening on that time, but I presumed that this is probably some very important French national holiday. Suddenly from the middle of nowhere, from the opposite street side appeared Cavalry of Republican Guard and the local public greeted them with a huge applause before they started to perform military marches. Sound of trumpets really seemed unbelievable and every tone was on its place which just show how many practice those people needed to have to be able in making performances without mistake.

(Eiffel Tower With the Clouds, Paris)

Photo taken by Igor L.

Eiffel Tower is without any doubt the main symbol of Paris and France. I had some more extra time after I watched performances of the Republican Guard to go around the city center and to see all of those amazing things like Louvre, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Sainte Chapelle, Sorbonne and many others but on the very first place for me was of course the Eiffel Tower. It was really cloudy situation and windy day so I waited for the perfect moment and took the best photography which I can get. Around Eiffel Tower, there were many different people sitting on the grass, selling toys, souvenirs, rings, taking selfies and of course some lovely couples which enjoyed in their romantic walk.

(Bridge of Alexandre III, Paris)

Photo taken by Igor L.

 

Bridges over river Seine are surely just one more thing that I was particularly interested to check while I was already located in Paris since each of them bears the name of another ruler but also each of them is unique on its own artistic way. Bridge which I will especially like to mention here is the bridge of Alexandre III right across the Grand Palais dominated by four bronze/golden "Fames" statues that appearing totally bizarre while you passing by them. Perhaps even the Churchill's statue found a good place for itself in this weird sculpture and abstract art area. Among the other bridges I also liked and Pont Royal because of his simplicity and maybe Pont des Arts that is stacked with a tons of a funny different love padlocks...

Road To Nevşehir (Uçhisar, Turkey)

In the past you probably had the opportunity to meet with the postcard pictures or posters of flying multicolored balloons which are usually right above the some unusually strange shaped desert landscapes. In 90% of cases on those pictures you probably saw the Cappadocia, Turkish region in Anatolia famous for its caves, old medieval monasteries from Byzantine times and old artistic pottery. Actually to arrive in today's central Anatolia is not such a difficult task and you only need direct bus from Istanbul or any major city. Alternative there is direct train from Ankara to Kayseri and then from Kayseri you should catch the bus.

(Desert Pottery Tree, Cappadocia)

Photo taken by Igor L.

I can now freely say that Göreme is the capital village of central Anatolian region which serves as a good starting base for trip to whole Cappadocia area and its surrounding historical villages. Besides being a well connected with the bus transport and its offering of a multitude cheap accommodation, Göreme is also relatively very close to the rose, red, pigeon and love valleys where you can go for long walks by the foot passing right next to the caves and ex Orthodox monastic cells. Since I was not trained in hiking for me it was extraordinary challenging to walk the whole day from morning to the night through the sometime confusing roads but the scenes of natural rocks at the sunset is something which will be remembered all my life.

(Endless Valleys, Cappadocia)

Photo taken by Igor L.

When night falls and the lights are lit, the whole village gets a totally new magical look. Because in the meantime, during the day while I walking I met many new people from a different parts of the world, our deal was to during the night we all go together up the hill above Göreme and from there to enjoy in the night view. I brought my tourist map which I had with me during the whole trip, and I was stunned when we reached near the top! Just like a star constellations only on the earth from here you can clearly recognize which is which village in the night lights and even some of the cities if you observe horizon carefully. The evening ended with talk and drink of a black tea in local bar that was fortunately at that time still opened.

(Road To Nevşehir, Cappadocia)

Photo taken by Igor L.

Next morning I headed to the local bus stop from where I chose my new destination. Small road on the picture leads directly to Nevşehir which is the main town of Cappadocia region, however, at slightly less than a half way to my final goal I noticed a little place called Uçhisar and I decided to get out of the bus on this stop just to visit it. Except the long walking paths uphill that I needed to take again, and classical view on old caves with frescoes inside of the rocks which can be seen throughout the whole Cappadocia, there is and one thing that I really liked about this village and that is a small manufacturing shops where you can find great souvenirs for smaller prices if you know how to negotiate with a local Turkish sellers.