Winchester, Normandy
& Paris

First came Winchester, England, with Roxie in a Madame Hooch outfit
(the lady who taught Harry Potter to ride a broomstick), here with Sarah Towle, interviewing dozens of writers and illustrators for KidLit TV during  the SCBWI British Isles Annual Conference (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators).

Meanwhile, I was out photographing  -  Winchester Cathedral...

a dog with sunglasses...

                          High Street...                                                            a kite...

                         a soldier statue...                         a Guild Hall, all dressed for Christmas...

and a house built in the 15th century by a wealthy merchant, who gave it to his daughter Mary, better known as Mary Tudor.

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Then came Normandy, where we stayed with newfound friends, Martine and  Roger,
in their home in Carrefour Rouge.

Martine making us a delectable mushroom Risotto, followed by a delicious
Baba au Rhum with Creme Chantilly.

Lunch next day prepared us well for some sightseeing.

Here we are in Deauville...

with Maurice Chevalier on the beach, posing for a picture.

Next Honfleur, with its historic harbor.

Martine is at it again, preparing rack of lamb on the day before we're off to Paris.
Meanwhile, I explore the immediate neighborhood.

Paris was much as I remembered it:

the Eiffel Tower...

tiny elevators...

long aprons.

As on earlier occasions, we went to Les Deux Magots,
this time for cappuchino and croissant.

Close to our hotel, and next to Blvd. St. Germain, Marché Maubert was in full swing, despite the grayness and chill of a late November day.

On a long walk we passed the Pompidou.

Then in the Tuileries Garden, it became obvious that the  holidays were fast approaching,

which reminded us that it was time to get back to NYC.