From the air

Lourdes, France

Every Summer, during the Tour de France or Giro D’Italia or even La Vuelta from Spain, TV coverage has become quite spectacular, with scenes taken from the helicopter following the cyclists. When they arrive in a big city or a landmark town, they always show an aerial view of what lies below. Often I am quick enough to take a few photos, and that is what you see in this post today. Since they are taken from a TV screen, they are not very sharp, but clear nonetheless. The first one shows Lourdes in France with the basilica towering above the esplanade. 

Schwerin, Germany

The second one is in the town of Schwerin in Germany, with a beautiful castle on a peninsula surrounded by the water. The third one shows the finish of the Vuelta in Santiago de Compostela in Northwest Spain, with its massive Cathedral dedicated to St. James. The last one shows Avignon, the historic palace where the Popes found refuge in the 14th century, away from Rome.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The Papal Palace in Avignon, France