Vaux is hard to reach, but worth the effort. Designed and decorated by those later responsible for building Versailles, it is a comparable gem, filled with beautiful treasures and adorned by magnificent gardens. Ironically, my favourite shot, was the one taken in the dank, dark cellars of the château, where the wine casks have been aging for four hundred years.

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Dubrovnik was, not so long ago, deep in the horrors of war. The physical wounds have mostly been healed, but you can still spot artillery scars in the brickwork of buildings throughout the town.  Peace prevails now, happily.  This serene park was in the shadow of the mountains that surround Dubrovnik, and had a view straight across the harbour to the old city.

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This sleepy costal town experiences a tsunami of tourists each time a cruise ship docks in its harbour. While I pressed on to the train station, bound for Monaco, most of my shipmates had washed up into the bars and cafes that line the harbour.  When I returned late that night, they were still there, facing out in the French style, enjoying the food and the wine, and not having ventured out beyond the table. Given the view they had of the beautiful horseshoe-shaped port, I can’t say I blame them!

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Barcelona’s harbour changed significantly from my first trip, in 1998, to my second, nine years later.  What was a peaceful, sleepy port has become a buzzing, neon-glitzed marina. Luckily, there are still some moments of beauty to be spotted amidst the crowds and boutiques. This sailing ship was creaking quietly as the tide’s swell breathed it up and down.

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Glasgow’s a tough city – “Glasgow Kisses” and “Glasgow Smiles” are nowhere near as friendly as they sound – but there are moments of beauty to be spotted amidst the economic and meterological depressions, like the wholly unexpected Botanic Gardens, nestled in a huge green park.  A complex of connected greenhouses replicate rainforests and other ecosystems, nurturing exotic trees and flowers. The highlight is a huge glass house ringed with classicist statues like this one.

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The grand and imposing façade of the Parthenon has been impressing and intimidating visitors for millennia, but the other temples on the Acropolis have been getting short shrift for just as long.  This ruined colonnade stood behind the Old Temple of Athena, whose enclosed portico was supported by statues of the goddess. I spent more time admiring these buildings than I did the Parthenon itself.

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This trip represented the heaven and hell of package tours: Yes, I got to see some of the greatest sights of the ancient world, but those sights were often seen on the hoof, amidst the herd of tourists being shepherded by barking tour guides.  I escaped from my babbling group back to the bus parking zone, and was rewarded with a terrific view as well as some peace and quiet.

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Even though they inspired my website name, the Tuileries are one of my least favourite spots in Paris – the gardens are too neat, the crowded paths are strewn with gravel, and almost all the lawns feature a “keep off the grass” sign.  If anyone asks to see Tuileries photos, I show them this one instead. The stormy sky over the Louvre’s Arc is infinitely more interesting than the fussily-kept gardens.

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There’s a reason Paris is known as the City of Lights! Buildings the entire length of the River Seine are floodlit, and the bridges are lined with lamps. With the moon adding its light to this scene, and all reflecting off the water, it’s not hard to see why Paris has a reputation for being the most romantic city on Earth.

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The area around Notre Dame cathedral is one of my favourite spots in Paris. There’s a busy square in front of the church, a peaceful garden behind it, and a lovely view across the River Seine to the Latin Quarter.  Paris’ bridges are the best place from which to observe sunsets over the city, but on this stormy day, the best view was of the pink-tinged clouds over the buildings in the 5th district.

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