A tour of Europe (Part 3)

[Note: This is Part 3 of Mini-Europe. It includes UK and France.]

First let me copy from Part 1 the icons of these two countries:

UK: Big Ben and Westminster Palace

France: Eiffel Tower

As for why they were in Part 1, check out that post :P

Then let us move on to other places.

I'm not sure what this is...maybe an English village? It might be Stratford-upon-Avon...

Same here...if I had to guess I would say that it's Bibury, because the guidebook says that there is a row of brick houses (Arlington Row) there. Anyone care to tell me whether that's right?

UK: Bath
According to the guidebook, this is The Circus, built to emulate the Roman amphitheatre, and the Royal Crescent, a swung, parabolic row of 30 houses. And these two communicate via Brook Street. I'm not sure which is which...you decide. (or let me know if you're better-informed than I am :P )

a closer view

an even closer view (I think this was one of the really well-made miniatures in the park)

There are even some cars.

UK: Jumbo-Ferry
The Pride of Dover links Calais (France) to Dover (UK) every day.
Trivia: This ship measures 169.6m in length and would not fit into the Brussels Grand Place!

UK: Dover Castle

The Eiffel Tower seen from Dover lol

The Channel Tunnel connecting Great Britain to the Continent. There are three 50km tunnels, two for rail traffic and one for maintenance. The crossing under the channel takes 27 minutes by shuttle and 20 minutes by Eurostar.

France: Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris (this must be a new one...it's not even in the guidebook!)

My parents with the Arc de Triomphe (France, obviously...)

France: The Sacré-Coeur basilica in Montmartre, Paris
Trivia: The white colour of the basilica is because of the natural Château-Landon stone, which turns lighter and becomes harder as it is exposed to the air. (Hey I never knew that! Isn't it great? Auto-cleaning and auto-reinforcement! lol)

close-up of the basilica

airport (France, probably Roissy)
The plane on the bottom left drives along the track...

France: The chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamp. An example of modern church architecture in reinforced concrete.

France: The Clos Vougeot Castle. Produces 200,000 bottles of Burgundy wine each year.

Check out the tractor!

inside

France: Castle of Chenonceaux, front view (this is the first French castle I visited, a visit organised by our teachers when we went to Tours)

Chenonceaux from the side

France: La Saline Royale, the complex of the former Royal Salt Works of Arc-et-Senans (the town) I've never heard of this :P

And it ain't over yet! Wait for Part 4...