A moment captured

Did you know that Rome wasn't always the home of the popes?

From 1309 to 1378, the papal seat was located in Avignon, France.

The Palais des Papes is the first thing you see when you arrive in Avignon.

Standing solid and proud over the city and the river.

I walked through the palace discovering the history of Avignon and the catholic church.

From room to room, I wandered.  Marveling at the amazing architecture.

Reading about the men and the popes who left their mark here.

Moved by the impressive expanse of the great rooms.

Straining my neck to look up at the grand ceilings.

I walked through a set of ornate, grand doors into a small vestibule.
Large open windows led out onto the courtyard with a grand staircase to one side.
In the fourteenth century, popes would climb the wide staircase with great ceremony,
stand in the windows and greet the people below.

As I looked up towards the tall windows everything went a bit soft and hazy.
Maybe it was the way the sun was hitting the stone.

Two young catholic priests in long black robes
stood framed perfectly in the open windows.

I caught my breath and everything went still for a moment.
It felt as if I was seeing into the past.
They stood casually, completely separate from the throngs of tourists.

Time stood still for a moment and I wondered what they were thinking,
standing is this grand place where popes once stood.
A place so very heavy with history.

As they turned, I noticed that they each had an audioguide pressed to their ear.
Just that quickly, the moment passed and I was again among the tourists.



I'm linking up with Emma, Rebecca and Kelly for their monthly Travel Link Up.

The prompt for July is your favorite travel photo.

This is probably not my best but it is certainly my recent favorite.

There were people milling all around us.
When I saw them my camera instantly went to my face
and I willed everyone to stand still.
One click and it was gone.
I'm so happy that I captured it.

 I just think they are beautiful standing in that window.
So young and full of promise in a place that is old and lost in the past.


Be sure to link up.  I can't wait to see your photos.

Have you captured a moment when time stood still?

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