Life Is Full of Sweet Spots

“I must have flowers,

always,

and always.”

— Claude Monet

“Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you.” — Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

As if Annecy’s Vieille Ville, or old town, isn’t charming enough with its “Venice of France” river and canals meandering between historic buildings and a crisscross of bridges, the town and its residents add beauty on top of beauty with artwork and flowers wherever they can. We found the city decorated with floral sculptures and carvings, such as this eye-catching pink beauty with petals that moved slowly upward as if an opening blossom on the town’s center plaza.

The Palais de l’ile, situated on an islet right in the middle of the Thiou River canal, was decorated with its own plant sculpture. Once a residence of the Lords of Annecy, the 17^th century palace later became a prison and then, among other functions, a home for veterans. It serves today as a museum, showcasing Annecy heritage and architecture exhibitions.

“The magic of the street is the mingling of the errand and the epiphany.”
― Rebecca Solnit

“People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.” — Iris Murdoch

“If you know the art of finding some things in a quite empty street, then you know the art of happiness!” — Mehmet Murat ildan

“In a simple street you can find the whole world: You can find joy and sorrow; you can find good and evil, silence and noise; you can find all the comedies and all the tragedies! An ordinary simple street is the mirror of the whole world!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

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Next post, a cruise around the picturesque Lac d’Annecy before departure for home.

Photo credits: Images 1, 2, 5 by Mary O’Connor; 3, 4, 6 by Jan Logozzo