[FRANCE.PROVENCE 10748] ’Medieval atmosphere in Les Baux-de-Provence.’ During the summer, some medieval events are organized in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, for instance a 'medieval' market manned by 'medieval' shopkeepers. Sometimes people in ancient dress wander off into the picturesque streets, enlivening the medieval atmosphere. Les-Baux was once the seat of the noble Des Baux family who were Princes of Orange from 1181 till 1386. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11078] 'Chimney sweep Takeo Onozowa in Santa Maria Maggiore.' Chimney sweep Takeo Onozowa and his daughter, wife and friend get a thundering applause during the parade of chimney sweeps in the streets of Santa Maria Maggiore, here in front of the town hall. He is the only chimney sweep from Japan. The parade is part of the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[BURMA 24.786] ’Tree at Pindaya.’ The gnarled roots of an ancient tree catch the first sunlight at Pindaya, in the highlands north of Kalaw. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[FRANCE.ILEDEFRANCE 11028] 'Bastille Day in Versailles.' Bastille Day (french: La Fête Nationale), the 14th of July, as it is celebrated in the Gardens of Versailles during the "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe." In English it is known as the Picnic of Versailles, where thousands of people come together with their picnic baskets to have a festive meal on the banks of the famous Grand Canal. The dress code is: all in white. After the meal, of course, you dance, since it is the day of national celebration. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.BAYER 00699] 'Bodensee near Wasserburg'. Mother and child enjoying themselves at the shore of the Bodensee near Wasserburg. Photo Paul Smit.

[SWITZER.JURA 6358] 'It's great to be with my mom.' Tuesday is children's carnival during the Basler Fasnacht. Then the children rule and the parents obey. Photo Paul Smit.

Town hall of Aosta.

[ITALY.VALLEDAOSTA 28486] Woman with her todler strolling over Aosta's central square, Piazza Emile Chanoux, in front of the town hall. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.531] ’Market of Bac Hà.’ The Flower H’mong women of Lào Cai Provence, here seen on the Bac Hà market, are the most colourful of all branches of H’mong in Vietnam. Photo Mick Palarczyk

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.410] ’Red Dao family.’ At Ta Phin village near Sapa the Red Dao family of Zu-u-me (right) lives in a traditional house with few windows and a floor of stamped earth. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.352] ’Selling orchids.’ On the market of Tuân Giáo a Black Thái woman and her son are selling orchids. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.282] ’Morning toilet near an irrigation wheel.’ Near a bamboo made irrigation wheel, driven by the power of a tributary of the Nam La River, south of So’n La, a woman of the Black Thái mountain tribe is washing herself and her children. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 10997] 'Enjoying the Vanoise national park.’ One of the best ways to enjoy a hike high up in the Vanoise national park, without a long climb to begin with, is by first taking the car from Termignon, in the Haute Maurienne, to the Bellecombe parking. From there it is an easy walk to the Refuge du Plan du Lac. This mountain hut, overlooking the glaciers of the Vanoise, is a good starting point for day hikes or small walks. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11093] 'Parade in Varallo.' Child in the traditional dress of Valsesia (Sesia valley) during a rainy parade in Varallo. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.LOIRE 10831] ’Geometrical garden at Chaumont.’ At the International Garden Festival at the castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire a boy and his mother investigate a watery garden that is inspired by the curved hedges in the geometrical gardens of Villandry Castle. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.ILEDEFRANCE 11026] 'Bastille Day in Versailles.' Bastille Day (french: La Fête Nationale), the 14th of July, as it is celebrated in the Gardens of Versailles during the "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe." In English it is known as the Picnic of Versailles, where thousands of people come together with their picnic baskets to have a festive meal on the banks of the famous Grand Canal. The dress code is: all in white. After the meal, of course, you dance, since it is the day of national celebration. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.BAWU 00740] 'Lenkbrunnen.' Everybody seems to enjoy himself in and around the Lenkbrunnen, a fountain at the lakeside promenade of Überlingen. It's called after Peter Lenk, who sculpted it . Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.BAYER 00695] 'Little 'Lederhose'. Proudly stepping into the lake beside his mother, the little boy in his cute 'Lederhose' braves the early May water temperature of the Bodensee near Wasserburg. Photo Paul Smit.

[SWITZER.JURA 6359] 'Gesture of tenderness.' Tuesday is children's carnival during the Basler Fasnacht, the carnival of Basel. It's a day of colours, play and tenderness. Photo Paul Smit.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.533] ’It's about the baby.’ Like everywhere else in the world, the baby gets most of the attention, cradled on a basket in the market of Bac Hà. Being a Flower H’mong baby, he will grow up in a world of psychedelic colours, created in textile by his mother, aunts and sisters. Photo Mick Palarczyk

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.529] ’Market of Bac Hà.’ The Flower H’mong women of Lào Cai Provence, here seen on the Bac Hà market, are the most colourful of all branches of H’mong in Vietnam. Photo Mick Palarczyk

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.403] ’Black Dao women with hair frame.’ The hair of these Black Dao women in Tam Duòng is kept in place by a large silver frame and a thick black cord which is wrapped around the head. The coins on the cap of the child must protect it against evil spirits. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.336] ’Mother and child.’ Protected from the sun by an umbrella this mother carries her child on a country road near Thuân Châu, 30 km northwest of So'n La. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[NEPAL 27152] ‘Mother and child in Ghandrung.’ Mother and child in the village of Ghandrung in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Photo Paul Smit.

[FRANCE.ALPSNORTH 10995] 'Pure mountain water.’ Good drinking water can be found at the Refuge du Plan du Lac, a mountain hut in the Vanoise national park, north of Termignon. Photo Paul Smit.