"I'd like this to be my kingdom," a thirty-year resident told me several years ago as we stood on his second-floor étage-nobile balcony ... The square seems to breed such undemocratic sentiments, inspired, perhaps, by the dramatic views from on high. It's as if the architects had drawn their plans with condescension in mind. - David Downie

Even though I well know that this is prime Paris real estate, I feel very much at home in the Marais and in the Place des Vosges in particular. It seems that everyone does. Or at least in contrast to the colder and grandiose four-sided spectacles like Place Vendôme.

I learned a lot today about my beloved Place des Vosges on David Downie's historical tour but one bit did cause me to gasp a little [or, okay - a lot] - the realization that, "the weathered 'brickwork' on closer inspection turns out to be cheap trompe-l'oeil plaster applied to wood." Say it ain't so! But that said, it's clearly no less lovely than if it weren't a facade.

Location: Paris, France ★

Oh, delight! Looking for photos of Nice, I somehow stumbled upon hein1234's delicious stream of images taken with a Hasselblad 500c and Kodak Portra 400 film. I'm so glad there are still folks out there shooting film. The resulting images are so wonderful in a way that is still different and special as compared to digital, though it's getting harder and harder to discern.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - hein1234 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Bangkok, Thailand ★
Photo courtesy of hien1234

What a bummer! A friend and I have been excitedly planning a trip to Santorini for next spring, and one of the many things that we were looking forward to was exploring the island by scooter. Neither of us has ever driven a scooter before, and in reading up on this mode of transpo for Santorini, it appears not to be the place for amateur-hour first-timers like my friend and I. It even sounds dangerous for the seasoned pro. Apparently the roads are quite perilous and locals drive them pretty hard and fast, resulting in a rather high incident of accidents for all. So thank you, but we'll stick to walking and the island's public bus system, or a taxi ride if we're really feeling rich and lazy.

But damn. When I see beautiful photos like this of adorable Vespas on cobbled Greek roads, I can't help but be tempted all over again, despite the danger.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - NewGirlonPost - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Fira, Santorini (Greece) ★
Photo courtesy of NewGirlonPost

"...take a guided tour. This can turn mystery into mere history, but it's the only way to get inside the sole townhouse whose interior is accessible to the public, the Hôtel de Lauzun." - David Downie

I think Mr. Downie has perfectly captured one central aspect of my aversion to guided tours. On a tour, mystery is nearly always transformed into a sterile or sobering dose of history.

For this reason, it was particularly refreshing to read about the Hôtel de Lauzun (or Lausun) long after I'd visited Paris and photographed its pretty portal, simply because it is pleasing to the eye. It has been much more enjoyable, I think, to have spent a great deal of time fantasizing about the building's past rather than knowing something of it outright. Though now that I do know a bit of its history, I am happier for it.

So perhaps on my next visit to Paris I'll take that guided tour and learn a little more.

Location: Paris, France ★

Looking forward to my visit to the French Riviera later this year, I got lost in Carson Ting's lovely stream of holiday snaps from Nice. This one in particular caught my eye as it's market day today in my neck of the woods. As nice as our farmers markets are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'd rather be at this one right now, in the South of France!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Carson Ting - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Nice, France ★
Photo courtesy of Carson Ting

Happy Bastille Day!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Holy Chic - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Holy Chic

I'm a sucker for wrought iron hearts. And shadows in bright sunlight.

Location: Portovenere, Italy ★