Visiting Strasbourg, France

On our Rhine River Cruise, one of our ports to visit was Strasbourg, France, which is the capital city of the Grand Est region, formerly Alsace, in northeastern France. 

We walked along the cobblestone streets and canals in Petite France, Strasbourg. We saw the timbered homes like the Tanners' House built in 1572. I loved the reflection of the home in the water.

As you stroll along the cobblestone streets, our tour guide pointed out the stork nests high on the houses. They say the storks return to the same nests year after year for their entire lives. The male returns first to reclaim and tidy up the nest before the female arrives. You can see replicas of the stork on the balcony in the pic below. 

We walked to the Strasbourg Cathedral or Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. It is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture in Europe. 

Not far from the cathedral is the Place Gutenberg area of Strasbourg.  You can see the historic carousel below.

Next to the carousel stands a statute of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type printing press.

Strasbourg has eleven Christmas markets spread across the center of Strasbourg during the Christmas season. Although we missed the Christmas market, a few shops were getting their shore windows ready. My pics aren't great of the windows (reflections and glare).

Thanks for stopping by for a short visit to Strasbourg, France - Judy.

Linking to:

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Sundays

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings 
Creative Mondays @ Claire Justine
MET Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Tuesday's At Our House @ Our Home Away From Home
Reader Tip Tuesday with this week's Craft & Recipe Party @ Jodie Fitz
Tutorials & Tips @ Home Stories A-Z

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Beautifully Made Link Party @ My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies on Tuesday at 6am

Inspiration Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Talk of the Town @ Kick of Time on Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop @ Claire Justine

Share Your Style Link Party @ White Arrows Home 

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Thursday Favorite Things @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate & Decorate on Sunday
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sunday

The Normandy American Cemetery, Memorial and Beaches

We visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France near Normandy. This World War II cemetery honors American troops who died in Europe during the war. 

The cemetery has 9386 soldiers from WWII and 1 from WWI buried. 

The temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery was established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944, as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The present day cemetery is located just a short distance to the east of the original site.

The Memorial was dedicated in 2007. I have pics of it on my other camera that aren't downloaded so had to borrow a pic cited below. 

this pic from here

The cemetery is located on the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. Omaha Beach was one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion. You can see Omaha Beach in the background of the picture. 

Omaha beach was the bloodiest beach of the D-Day Beaches with approximately 2,500 American solders loosing their lives. 

  

Invasions were made along the Normandy coast which was divided into five sections: Utah, Omaha, Gold, June, and Sword. Here are a few pics from three of the beaches.

My husband on the beaches.

Such a moving experience to visit this National Cemetery and walk on the Normandy Beaches - Judy.

Note: Stop back by for more of our visit to Paris, Amsterdam and cruising on the Rhine River.

Swans on the Rhine

Linking to:

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Sharon's Souvenirs @ Sharon Wagner on Monday

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Biltmore Estate - The Winter Garden

As you enter the Biltmore Mansion, the largest home in the United States, located in Asheville, NC, you quickly approach the octagonal sunken Winter Garden on the right of the entrance hall. 

You see the stone archways with a ceiling of architecturally sculptured wood and multifaceted glass.

We visited Biltmore in late June and were able to see the costume exhibition of wedding dresses and attire from major motion pictures. The Winter Garden was decorated for wedding style to celebrate the exhibition. (Biltmore.com)

Just outside the Winter Garden, a wedding cake was on display. 

Below is wedding gown and wedding attire from the motion picture Daniel Deronda in 2003 on display in the Tapestry Gallery Room which is close to the Winter Garden in the mansion. 

It was difficult to take photos because of lighting issues in many of the rooms but at least photos were allowed. I understand only in the last few years has picture taking been permitted. 

The Winter Garden was beautiful, and I am so honored that I was able to tour the mansion.

If you missed my other posts on the mansion click below.

 

Thanks for stopping in - Judy. 

Linking to these great parties:

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

OMHG Wonderful Wednesday

All About Home @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home and Common Ground on Monday at 6 pm

Through My Lens on Monday

Pictorial Potpourri Tuesday @ Peabea

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesdays With A Twist @ God's Growing Garden 

Tuesday Turn About @ My Wee Abode, Thistle Key Lane, Blue Sky at Home on Tuesday at 6 pm

Wonderful Wednesday @ Ducks in a Row on Tuesday evening

My Corner of the World @ Photographing New Zealand on Wednesday

Karins Kottage Link Party @ Karins Kottage

Share Your Style @ French Ethereal on Wednesday at 6 pm

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Funtastic Link Party @ Two Chicks and A Mom on Thursday 9pm

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

FLORAL FRIDAY FOTOS on Thursday

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home on Thursday 

Fabulous Link Party @ Peacock Ridge Farm, Living Large in a Small House, South House Designs, & Vintage Home Designs on Friday

Friendship Friday Blog Hop @ Create With Joy

Floral Bliss on Friday

A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market on Friday

Farm House Friday @ County Road 407

Friday With Friends @ My Hubbard Home

Saturday Sparks @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Garden Affair @ Jaipur Garden 

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Sunday

Love Your Creativity Link Party @ Life and Linda on Sunday at 2pm

Sundays on Silverado @ The House on Silverado

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy on Sunday

Busy Monday @ A Pinch of Joy on Sundays at 5pm

Biltmore Estate - The Banquet Room

In late June, I visited the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina. Today, I am sharing my visit to the Banquet Hall. This room is the largest room in the house and is 42 feet wide and 72 feet long. The table sits in front of a triple fireplace. (Biltmore.com) Take a look:

I am sure you noticed the two huge chandeliers over the banquet table. Aren't they just stunning!

The table is just grand! Can you imagine the parties, celebrations and family meals in this room?

The 16th century tapestries in the room are beautiful. The china is stored in the Butler's Pantry in glass cupboards. 

The flowers are all fresh and grown on the Biltmore Estate grounds and in the conservatory. 

The organ loft overlooking the Banquet Hall. 

The chateauesque-styled mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States.  (Wikipedia)

Since the month of June is regarded as the most popular month for weddings, the estate hosted "Fashionable Romance: Wedding Gowns in Film." 

Below is the wedding attire displayed in the Banquet Room. 

From the motion picture "The Duchess."

Costumes were displayed throughout the house. I'll show you more in another post.

Other posts I have shared on the Biltmore Estate:

  

Thanks for stopping by - Judy. 

Linking to these wonderful parties.

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

OMHG Wonderful Wednesday

All About Home @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home and Common Ground on Monday at 6 pm

Through My Lens on Monday

Pictorial Potpourri Tuesday @ Peabea

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesdays With A Twist @ God's Growing Garden 

Tuesday Turn About @ My Wee Abode, Thistle Key Lane, Blue Sky at Home on Tuesday at 6 pm

Wonderful Wednesday @ Ducks in a Row on Tuesday evening

My Corner of the World @ Photographing New Zealand on Wednesday

Karins Kottage Link Party @ Karins Kottage

Share Your Style @ French Ethereal on Wednesday at 6 pm

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Funtastic Link Party @ Two Chicks and A Mom on Thursday 9pm

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

FLORAL FRIDAY FOTOS on Thursday

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home on Thursday 

Fabulous Link Party @ Peacock Ridge Farm, Living Large in a Small House, South House Designs, & Vintage Home Designs on Friday

Friendship Friday Blog Hop @ Create With Joy

Floral Bliss on Friday

A Morning Cup of Joe @ The Cottage Market on Friday

Farm House Friday @ County Road 407

Friday With Friends @ My Hubbard Home

Saturday Sparks @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Garden Affair @ Jaipur Garden 

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf on Sunday

Love Your Creativity Link Party @ Life and Linda on Sunday at 2pm

Sundays on Silverado @ The House on Silverado

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy on Sunday

Busy Monday @ A Pinch of Joy on Sundays at 5pm