Bayeux is a picturesque town in northwest France, situated about four miles (seven kilometers) from the English Channel. During our visit, we stayed in a beautiful hotel, Château de Bellefontaine, situated very near the town center. It was a perfect location from which to walk to the town as well as venture out for a day trip to World War II sites. Bayeux suffered very little damage during World War II, so much of its architecture is many hundreds of years old. Its beautiful Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux dates to the fifteenth century, four hundred years after its consecration, having been rebuilt at that time after suffering damage in the twelfth century. Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, a remarkable artwork measuring about 230 feet (about 70 meters). The Tapestry is an embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman conquest of England. It's magnificent, and is on display in a museum in the town.

The day we spent the most time in the town was somewhat overcast, a fortunate circumstance to capture the vibrance of scenes dotted with flower boxes, displays in front of places of business, and the interesting architecture. After making an image of the Cathédrale, I reminded myself that using a lens set at a bit of a wide angle on a large structure from a close distance makes the structure look terribly distorted and strange. There weren't a lot of people out and about, but some of those who were generously allowed me to photograph them. It was a typical day for me, attempting to capture the scene I was viewing and its interesting aspects to share with others. As I review the mixed results, I'm remind myself that my pursuit of photography is a journey, one on which I'm very happy to be even with its ups and downs.

A corner café and market with window boxes adorned with brightly colored flowers was typical of scenes in Bayeux.