While we’re recovering from jet lag, returning to the real world, and organizing memories and thoughts for a proper trip report, here’s an appetizer: a miniature version of the HostelBookers Seven Super Shots game. The game is played by showcasing seven of your best travel photos from a range of themes. Here are seven of my favorite photos from France:
- A photo that…takes my breath away

This category has to be the iconic Paris photo: the Eiffel Tower at night. On our first night in Paris, our tour guide, the indomitable and incomparable Angelique, led a sunset excursion to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, where we would have a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower’s night show. At 9:00 pm, “the lady puts on her evening dress”, created by ten thousand sparkling white lights. What a magical end to a long day of travel, and an inspiring beginning to our trip.
- A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

When Thing One visited Paris for the first time two years ago, he chose to take several photos of pigeons, and we expressed some regret that his camera contained so many pigeon photos, and so few monuments, or people, or … anything else besides pigeons, really. This year Thing One decided to take even more pigeon photos as a running joke. It should have been no surprise that while I was photographing gargoyles on Notre Dame, a pigeon photobombed my shoot. Mettez un oiseau sur ça!
- A photo that…makes me dream

The perched village of Les Baux in Provence is a windswept, rocky treasure trove: tiny jewelboxes of shops tucked away into the walls, sheltering cafes, and narrow, winding streets. Where do they lead to? And when can I return to explore them?
- A photo that…makes me think

We toured another perched village, Eze, on the French Riviera. After the steep climb to the top, we were rewarded by the spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Côte d’Azur. One of the students in our group was resting on the wall, taking in the scenery and enjoying some quiet meditative time.
- A photo that…makes my mouth water

On a trip to France, this category has to be a photograph of dessert, bien sûr! After a lovely dinner at our hotel in Nîmes, this raspberry-praline picture of perfection awaited us.
- A photo that…tells a story

We spent one morning on an overall drive around the major sights of Paris, and as our tour bus, along with many others, crept slowly through the Louvre courtyard, a group of rental bicycles rode past us. I leaned against the window and snapped this shot of an older couple, still full of vitality and romance, as their shared journey takes them through this beautiful city.
- A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

This eagle’s nest view of Eze on the French Riviera captures for me the dizzying heights, twists and turns of the coastline, the color palette and overall beauty of the region.
Those are my seven super shots from this trip! A full report to follow …
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