Tophe Adventures

A French institution: "le tour de France", and this Year (2026) it is going nearby my family house. Vichy is actually a starting point for the xxth stage.  The caravan

Visiting the beach of Eileen Gray  famous villa Found under View E-1027  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-1027

 Website: https://www.nicecarnaval.com/en/

  Website: https://musee.oceano.org/en/

  beautiful city Website: https://www.fete-du-citron.com/  

 My wife organised a lovely trip to Disneyland this year (2025). In front of Sleeping beauty Castle Alice in Wonderland Getting lost in the labyrinth Robinson Family tree Flaming dragon in the parade Hook Lego Store break The princesses Mickey Remi preparing dessert for chip (or dale ) Break to see the Eiffel Tower Being a photographer Night Show Grumpy man in front of the night show Adventure Isle the penguin from Mary poppins Gunching on Mickey Bye I have to say Disney knows how to do things, so you get fully immerse in the atmosphere, and it is also perfectly design to extract any money of you at each corner (so many shops).

An honmage to Redwall (Brian Jacques), back in my CPGE days - circa 1997 ? - in Clermont-Ferrand, for the infamous "inversion".   Redwall monk

  26 years after at the top of the Puy de Dome Back in the days, we drove our car all the way to the summit, now a train is the only way to access it ( or walking).

  Inside Vulcania

Another world cup is upon us, this time taking place in Brazil, and I have seen myself dragged (on my own will), into watching the opening ceremony and the first game of this competition. I think the last time, I watched the opening game of a World Cup, was 20 years ago. 1994, the World Cup was held in USA, the opening ceremony was memorable with a Diana Ross singing, then kicking a ball in high heels, a wide shot, missing the goal ... which still opened split. France was not part of that world cup, due to 2 losses against Israel and Bulgaria... The commentators at the time, before going those games, were adamant France would qualify, since it only needed a draw out of those... a draw not 2 losses - and yes both games were played on home turf. The defeat to Bulgaria was the last time I saw Eric Cantona scoring a goal with the French jersey. I was still interested in football, still under the influence of my childhood with the Michel Platini era, with its highlights: The win ov...

I have been neglected this blog, since a couple months now, just realise this post was in my draft since the first of January 2014, so with a bit of delay here it is.... Looking back at 2013: January: Starting the year with walks in charming company on Dun Laoghaire pier. St Patrick in Düsseldorf -  My first steps as a contractor. Tea parties. H-cup final ASM defeat in Dublin. DIY and shelves. Bourkes Pub. One of my favourite in Limerick, excellent provider of gigs. Summer in Cambridge. Airport, airport and more planes. Between fortnight trip to Germany, then UK, and France, 2013 have been dominated by airflight to the point of sickness. Not good for my carbon footprint. Trip to London: Science Museum Electric Picnic 2013 Back to the Electric Picnic, to celebrate a special anniversary The Dubliners in Whelans. Depeche Mode in O2. Heatwave in Ireland. Snorkel in Clare. Forbidden Fruit Jerry Fish. Somehow I miss hi...

Almost forgot that post this year, so lets go for another spin of reeling the years. I actually think since i've been round the 5 year cycle, I will not do the post next year. The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was I 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ? Previous post were: 2011 ,   2010 , 2009 and 2008 . 2007: Limerick, Ireland Limerick Third year in Ireland, and still living in  Dooradoyle but soon i moved to live in the city centre. This is also the first time I am seeing the ASM playing in Thomond park against Munster... Le Renard in Thomond Park. Note: on the following pictures, there might be some imprecision with the year it was taken ( it was around that, but it's grand) 2002: Grenoble, France: Third year in Grenoble, working full steam in analog layout. And I have starting scuba-diving in Marseille with that crazy guy: The Master showing off ...  1997: Clermont-Ferrand, France In CPGE... eating mathematics...