Looking out our bedroom windows, dawn in Gerberoy, France. Deeply peaceful and utterly silent. Except for the birds. (which, of course, I recorded at 5:00 am – here they are:)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqm0lmdJIfs?version=3]
Early walk through the village before breakfast, incredible details, colors deep and saturated in the shadowy light. A mosaic of D’s and my photos, different styles but together a more complete view.
We stayed at Le Logis de Gerberoy, one of only two hotels in the village.
We both fell in love with our landlady, Cecile, for her welcoming charm, delicious homemade jams and the best freshly made croissants, bread and pain au chocolat ever. (all photos above by D.)
Some of my favorite images.
The village sits on a small hill with views over the surrounding farmland.
Travel notes: Village of Gerberoy, Picardy, France. I believe it is still there, unless it was a figment of my imagination.
For those of you who are great fans of the early Victoria magazines, as I am, it was in the February 1994 issue that I first read about Gerberoy and have dreamed about visiting ever since. In fact, Victoria’s French issues were a vital source of inspiration for a number of our locations on this trip, which I’ll share as we go along. I am so grateful that the village is still unspoiled. May it remain so always.
Happy Canada Day to my Canadian friends.
And Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone in the States! D, being English, feels the Brits should celebrate for getting rid of us pesky Colonists. :)
Whether it’s a holiday or not, winter or summer, we wish you a wonderful weekend of love and memories.
xo – g
Dearest sweet g, such a beautiful place and i just adore everything you show us here! The photos are goergeous and so dreamy! Oh and i adore that photo of beautiful you! Have a lovely merry happy friday and a wonderful weekend! Love to you!
That IS a fairy tail!!! So wonderful! There is much to fell in love with! And it's a rare opportunity tosee you! And you are so sweeet!!! xo~o
Oh wow. Truly inspirational. The photos are incredible. Let me look up the dictionary for more adjectives to adequately describe how stunning these images are! I'm adding this village to my list now. I am sad that we missed each other by only days in Paris, but I am sure a chance will present itself again soon. We came back home to Australia a couple of days ago from our month of adventures and the photo sorting has begun. So many! You look beautiful by the way. (Not so bad for a photographer who has to lug around equipment, huh?) ;)
Oh, this is so lovely. And listening to your recording of the birds while reading and viewing was a treat! Thank you for that … :-)
It looks like a magical village and I can imagine the sparkle in your eyes and the smile on your face as you wandered around exploring. Especially love that photo of you in the window. :-)
Happy 4th of July to you both! xo
So lovely dear Georgianna!!
Thanks for this..!
Have a great WE!
Monica
Salut Georgianna, those pictures are so beautiful and they make me want to pack my bags and move back to France…if only it wasn't for all the commitments here – sigh…
Thanks for your comment, I have posted a lot less this week, enjoyed doing other things instead and feel more rested now :-)
Have a lovely weekend and happy 4th July. Love from London xo
Deep breath intake…S….I…G….H!
My hubby and I both share the love of photography. As the years have gone by, I think my love has grown and his has waned…but, nevertheless, it is a wonderful commonality. D's images are beautiful. I love the juxtaposition of lines in the architectural details on your mosaic. You always know just how to present your images! x&o;, Annette
How lovely of you to share your morning's serenade with us! I love how there are climbing plants and flowers everywhere, it's just magical!
xo,
abby
Love this photos. Looks like a beautiful place.
Hi G
I'm playing the entire recording of the birds as I peruse the beautiful photos and for me, this is music to my ears.
What is it about doors that fascinates people? Doors, and gates are my thing and I love it when you capture some new ones to share.
Nice photos of you and D, enjoy your weekend.
Judith
Simply breathtaking, thanks for sharing such lovely images this morning…..
I only been to France once, and that was Paris, the next time, I am not going to miss this beautiful village!!!!
It is good to be back at last catching up with your blogging activities, these wonderful posts I missed while I was in the UK are just what I needed this afternoon as I sit quietly catching up on blog reading. Delightful places and photos and birds wake us early here in Italy as well Georgianna. Have a lovely weekend.
Oh darn- when I came to the comments page, the birds stopped chirping! :)) I could listen to that all day. Thank You both for sharing this fairy tale world with us!! Who knew such a place existed? Someday- someday I will stay in a place like that! My favorite captures are of the street views. You really get a sense of the peace and the small town feeling.
It surely looks like a peaceful place! And those birds – I love them! I could wake up to that French chatter any day. ::Jill
Yes, everything about Victoria Magazine had me swooning. I can see why you wanted to visit France. How lovely your birds sounded. Swooning over all your photos!! xo Theresa
You transport. I am in debt to you for that. I would like to put the top pic on my sidebar linked to you, if you don't mind. Let me know if that would be o.k. Thanks and oh, have the most blessed time you wondrous spirit. I am with joy just seeing this.
before i go to bed i must to look here…oh, gosh…my dear…wow…what a magical place and you looks so lovley…wonderful impressions of a special moment in your life…right…and i´m glad i could disover a little part of it…thanks always for being here and now…and give so much input and so much passion to life and dreams…merci beaucoup…;)…have a wonderful hopefully sunny long weekend…and take care…cheers…warmly…i…
Such a treat here. Wow. I turned up the birds while I read. Such a pleasure.
One word – BREATHTAKING!!!! Have a wonderful holiday – and I believe David may have a point – heehee!! hugs to you both – t.
Oh Georgianna, I just don't have words… This is beyond gorgeous! I could look and listen all day… :)
Hope you and David have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
What a wonderful treat Georgianna – I have been away travelling in the country and now I return to this most beautiful post – just so adorable & pretty with the rambling roses – I love it!!
Keep safe xx
This place is so lovely…those cobblestone streets…love them!
What a wonderful trip this must have been!!
That looks so unreal, more like from some movie set up, so amazing…too perfect:) Thank you for showing and sharing this beauty with us.
I know that my English is not very good, but I will try.
A place full of magic, fantasy and dreams to dream!
Beautiful details, beautiful colors, great beauty!
It is always a great pleasure to come and see.
Kisses!!
That village is so beautiful and dreamy. It is really picture perfect. The photo of you in the window is so pretty, Georgianna.
I loved the old Victoria magazines too…the photography was so stunning. The new ones just aren't quite the same. Have a wonderful weekend :)
xo Tricia
Absolutely stunning photos! My favorites are of the brightly painted doors framed by the climbing roses. Sounds like you had a beautiful trip.
Truly an absolute dream Georgianna!
Your (and D's!) photographs are just gorgeous.
What a wonderful time this must have been for you!
Happy 4th of July dear friend.
Hi Geogianna! Sorry for the absence; another busy fortnight… No holidays… ;)
Lovely place, wonderful pictures, gorgeous post!!
Blogtrotter Two is touring Cap Corse… Enjoy and have a wonderful week ahead!!
That French village is absolutely breathtaking! I'm in love with every part of it, and all of your photos. So dreamlike, really. :) The photos are more than amazing, so so beautiful! Everything about the village looks so pleasant and welcoming. Glad you had an incredible time, G!
Happy weekend to you too. :) x
Oh Georgianna what a romantic and beautiful little village. Absolutely delightful with all the old houses and beautiful roses. I'm sure you had the best of stays there. So nice to see you there as well! Have a lovely week ahead and 4th July! xx
Makes me want to hop on a plane. What a charming village I saved every issue of Victoria and have used the French issues as travel help as you have done. Where shall we go next? ha
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Dear Georgianna, Wow your photos are absolutely amazing!! Such beautiful architecture and pretty flowers in abundance! How lucky you are to travel to France! Thank you for taking us with you.
It almost looks like a fariytale. So so gorgeous. And your pictures are fabulous; it's wonderful to see how you captured the beauty this village in your stunning pictures. So lovely to look at. Yes; I want to live there :)
Amazingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories and photos. :) Ada
So much beauty in one place. Each window, each door and each petal tell a story. I adore each .
To visit such a place has to be amazing.
Gorgeous.
Hi Georgianna, thank you for these lovely glimpses of Gerberoy! It looks as though it has retained all of its old world charm. So delightful – I'll have to put it on my wish list of places to visit!!!
Such a serene, romantic setting – and rose lover's paradise!! Sounds like you're having (or had?) a marvelous time… Hugs, xJanine
Magical photos! very beautiful!
it is truly a beautiful area of france…..there is so much magic before breakfast isn't there? you could not have picked a better week to go as the roses are perfectly in bloom….how wonderful it would be to live in that fairytale!!!
hugs, cindy
Lovely approach and breathtaking images, you are on my favorite blogs list. Kisses.
I love your bird song recording!! Mind you, it's 8 pm … I may have felt differently at 5 am! :) Once again, just fabulous photos! xo
What can I say, your photographs captured so beautifully the spirit of Gerberoy ! I just keep drooling on those charming facades and romantic shades of blue…Thank you for all this beauty! :-)
Lala
Georgianna!
These shots are AMAZING. Just wow. I've been feeling a pull toward the country lately, and your photos just sealed the deal.
Instant zen over here on your blog. ;)
Oh G- I can hear them ! I am thinking of you As you travel back to glorious Paris. Today I have my blast night in Seville and then it is homeward bound. I am ready though – the journey so far has been amazing. I cannot believe the memories made and the people met. I am blessed,.
Hopefully one day our meanderings will unite xxxx
Oh my gosh! this is so magical! I gotta go there one day! i suppose you can't go by train??
What a beautiful place! I hope I can travel to France soon!
Hugs
Yvonne
Such beautiful photos … I love France and will love following this trip and reading your previous posts … new follower here!
Goodness gracious me – came to you from Kate of Chronicles of a Country Girl. These images are DIVINE!!!! A million years ago I was in France, but never really saw the countryside.
*Le sigh*
Adding to the bucket list now.
:-)
BB
Beautiful photos! I had to check out what Kate of Chronicles of a Country Girl was sighing over! I really like your photography style!
I have been to Paris a couple of times but this part of France is lovely!
Such a beautiful part of France, and your images are beautiful! I would love to know how the French manage to get roses to grow up the sides of their houses without anything to hold them?!
Kat :)
Georgianna,
That place looks magical. A place I could only dream of visiting one day. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
G, that is the most beautiful French b&b; ever!
And the images evoke your stay there beautifully.
I'm not sure I have ever asked, is D a professional photographer as well?
Does he specialise in different fields to you or do you work together?
It's been lovely to see you in your posts
Much love
Kat x
These are really gorgeous and what a gorgeous blog you have. What's it like being a stock photographer?
Look forward to following your blog!
Blessings,
This Good Life
bonjour, lovely to see you :)this is so pretty ! i did not know of this village and now would love to go there, excepts for the french shutters, it reminds me of an english village …
Okay…hold on I have to catch my breath…these images simply made me weak in the knees! Absolutely stunning! I wish I was there!!! You are so lucky to be there and of course you have captured it perfectly! Gotta go lie down…xo!
…continuing to virtually trailing your wonderful journey, but backwards ;))
So picturesque, peaceful places! I like also a lovely corner on the 1-st picture with light pink roses against turquoise panel and hanging purple roses above!
I love that you finally made your Victoria dream come true. Some day I'll make my own Victoria dream come true. It involves tea at The Empress in Victoria BC. Some day…