Today, as I listen to the Bruce Springsteen ‘River’ album, I am wondering what it is that shapes our love of music and particularly a genre that we seem to stay with for life. To be fair I did come to Springsteen a little later in life although the seeds were already there for him to step into my collection. My reason for starting this journey through my past, to paraphrase Neil Young, was my father’s vinyl collection. My father died recently, and he left a vast collection of vinyl including 78’s which I suppose are technically shellac. His CD collection was even more extensive, but it was the vinyl that fascinated me.
Author Archives: Neal Atherton French Travel Book Writer
Carole King – Tapestry
Carole King – Tapestry 1971
I was not one for spending money, of which I had little, on music. Music came in and out of my life, but sport was my main interest. I do recall though cycling around the whole town, visiting every newsagent, to try to buy a copy of a music magazine that was offering full lyrics of the latest hits. A girl I adored as a ten-year-old loved the Walker Brothers and I thought she would be truly impressed if I knew the lyrics. I failed to get a copy as all were sold out – so back to football instead.
Hôtel Restaurant les Templiers and photography of Collioure France
On this mild clear evening the sun is going down, the scene is enlightened by the lights of the harbour front cafés and bars and the spot lights focused on Collioure’s church, Notre-Dame-des-Anges, a former converted lighthouse. Behind the church is the small Chapelle Saint Vincent on a rocky outcrop. There is of course inContinue reading “Hôtel Restaurant les Templiers and photography of Collioure France”
Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer
Travellers have their own favourite areas of Provence where they appreciate the vast fields of lavender. For me the finest spot is close to Banon. In fact anywhere around that village whether you head towards Forqualquier, as in this shot, or north of the village back across towards the famous area around Sault, you willContinue reading “Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer”
A NEW French Journey by Photography – Take a tour
All the photography was taken by myself on our visits to Paris and the French regions. I hope you enjoy them and please look up my stories of our travels on Amazon. My new book is a tour around France starting in Normandy. I hope you will come with me and be inspired to travelContinue reading “A NEW French Journey by Photography – Take a tour”
Hôtel Restaurant les Templiers Collioure France
On this mild clear evening the sun is going down, the scene is enlightened by the lights of the harbour front cafés and bars and the spot lights focused on Collioure’s church, Notre-Dame-des-Anges, a former converted lighthouse. There is of course in this gorgeous setting the natural moonlight sparkling on the sea and reflected onContinue reading “Hôtel Restaurant les Templiers Collioure France”
Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy
Taken from my NEW book released on July 7th Chocolat This destination is one of our favourites – Northern Burgundy. It is a much neglected part of France from a tourist standpoint. To the north is Champagne with its landscape of gently rolling vine covered hillsides. The towns of Champagne are steeped in wine makingContinue reading “Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy”
NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK OUT NOW – D-Day and the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach
Please enjoy this excerpt from my New Book – these are my thoughts from a poignant visit to the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. It is poignant especially because of being situated where these young men fell. I hope you enjoy this recollection but sadly we still today are filling places like this as youngContinue reading “NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK OUT NOW – D-Day and the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach”
Tommy Simpson and our Ascent of Mont Ventoux
From early on in my life I have always had a fascination about the career and death of the British cyclist Tommy Simpson. In my youth I was a keen cyclist, but I never cycled competitively. I had one of those ‘Can you remember where you were when JFK was shot?’ moments in 1967 when Simpson died that July day during the Tour de France on his ascent of Mt Ventoux. I do remember exactly where I was when Kennedy died. I was in a fish and chip shop in Darwen, Lancashire – my hometown. I clearly remember my parents and everyone around being very shocked.
A Tempting Paris lunch spot St Andre Bistro restaurant
Bistro St Andre on the left bank in Paris, France. The stroll from St Michel across towards St Germain takes you down Rue St Andre and it is a very interesting quarter of Paris. Enjoy some narrow side streets and covered arcades. For architecture lovers there is plenty of interest and don’t forget to lookContinue reading “A Tempting Paris lunch spot St Andre Bistro restaurant”
French Travel Books - France, Paris, Provence & French Food & Wine 