Posted in Architecture, Cruise, Trips at 20:21 on 15 June 2017
Honfleur is in many ways a quaint old town. I liked the contrast with this old (and, to me, Spanish looking) building at the corner of the harbour and the yellow motor bike:-

We found this fantastic iron gate (one of a pair obviously) at a side alley:-

The side alley:-

A typical narrow street:-

But there were some open spaces:-

And it wouldn’t have been complete without a touch of old France. A Clochemerle style outside toilet. (The grey hut behind is an inside toilet):-

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Posted in Bridges, Cruise, Trips at 20:26 on 13 June 2017
I didn’t look behind us as we strolled fom the SS Black Watch to Honfleur. When we got to town I saw a sign to Pont du Normandie but I hadn’t realised how close it was.
I soon found out when we walked a bit west from Honfleur harbour:-

The bridge was very obvious when we were walking back to the ship but the best view was from the deck once we were back on board:-

Later in the afternoon the lighting conditions had changed. The rain clouds had gone away.

Over the other side of the River Seine near to Le Havre I could see this road bridge. Morning aspect:-

The same bridge in the afternoon’s lighting conditions:-

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Posted in Cruise, Music, Trips at 12:00 on 8 June 2017
We discovered that Honfleur was the birthplace of composer Erik Satie.
It was his 150th anniversary so the house had been bedecked accordingly:-

Birthplace plaque:-

The local music school is named in his honour though I see from the lettering above the central windows that it was (once) a Nursery School:-

There’s almost an Art Deco feel to this building. Canopy, long windows beside it, “jazzy” iron work on the gates:-

Satie’s Gymnopédie No.1 is a lovely piece of music. I also like the animation which accompanies it here.
Erik Satie – Gymnopédie No.1
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Posted in Cruise, Trips, War Memorials at 12:00 on 5 June 2017
From over the street:-

Honfleur is a relatively small town. Just look at all those names. “To her children of the armies of the land and sea killed for the homeland 1914-1918.” A measure of what France lost between 1914 and 1918:-

World War 2 names are at the base of memorial. In front is a stone poilu’s helmet above crossed swords with the inscription, “Gloire au Soldats Francaise”.

Off to one side was this plaque to Albert Manuel, “heros de la résistance, croix de guerre”:-

This plaque commemorates “The veterans of Indo-China in Normandy. To their lost and disappeared 1945-54.”

Another notes “19th March 1962. End of the war in Algeria.”

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Posted in Architecture, Cruise, Modern Architecture, Trips at 19:47 on 1 June 2017
The final stop on our cruise trip last year was the fishing village of Honfleur in Normandy, France; across the River Seine from Le Havre.
This is a panorama from the ship’s berth on the River Seine.
At the extreme right above is one of those modern buildings we seemed to encounter at nearly every port. View from dock:-

View from town side of tower:-

Honfleur itself is a delightful village in the old style. Panorama of harbour from the direction of the River Seine:-

Honfleur harbour from the town:-

Harbour buildings:-


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Posted in Architecture, Art Deco, Cruise, Trips at 12:00 on 13 May 2017
We had a serendipitous metro stop opposite this lovely stylish building in Matosinhos. Pity the metro car’s windows intrude on the clarity:-

I have no idea of the building’s purpose but it’s another striking one:-


Rule of three in the extension’s windows:-

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Posted in Architecture, Art Deco, Cruise, Trips at 12:00 on 10 May 2017
This stunning Art Deco building featuring a green peacock motif below the Novidade lettering is Armazéns Cunhas, a department store.

The shop’s motto is apparently “novelties, we sell cheaper.”

Next door was the mundane by comparison, Era Porto Baixa:-

Gail Edwin Aguiar has some more stunning Deco from Porto on Flickr.
Coliseu at https://flic.kr/p/sWsaUi, Garagem Passos Manuel at https://flic.kr/p/tAJp5S.
And on Gail at Large, Serralves:-


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Posted in Architecture, Art Deco, Cruise, Modern Architecture, Trips at 12:00 on 6 May 2017
The Wine Box, Porto, on the northern road approaches to Dom Luís I Bridge has Art Deco styling:-

Another tall Deco building. Note cartouche below roofline:,-

This one’s yellow paintwork emphasises the strong horizontals:-

Terrace of Deco:-

Zoom to lower down the terrace:-

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Posted in Architecture, Art Deco, Cruise, Modern Architecture, Trips at 12:00 on 3 May 2017
Hotel Vincci, Porto, is a modern Deco style hotel by the banks of the River Douro. Helitours landing pad is in the foreground.

More of Hotel Vincci fron River Douro- plus heritage tram to left:-

Close-up. I like the clock:-

There’s a different view of the hotel here.
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Posted in Architecture, Art Deco, Cruise, Trips at 12:00 on 29 April 2017
Almost Deco. Note Aragem sign on building in left foreground::-

We’d just walked past Aragem which had a very unusual appearance by its side door. The wall looked a sif it had part melted!:-

“Melted” wall upper portion:-

Aragem from a distance:-

Another canopied corner building:-

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