This trip is an excursion, a transition, a celebration. A time and a place far from normalcy. No expectations. Despite the intent I find I’m learning some interesting things, seeing some amazing sights and enjoying the rather loose agenda.
Poppy is pretty hassle-free and seems up for the ride. She has her daschund-moments, but overall is easy to accommodate.
The plan was to spend about two months in the south of France. I like France. I like French — enthusiasm, genuineness, friendliness, art, attitude toward life, history, food, wine. The language is exquisite. The whole atmosphere is wonderful to me.
May was based in Albi, in the Tarn département (an interesting wikipedia read). My apartment was in the Episcopal City right across from the covered market. It was so handy that my daily visit there put me on a first name basis with a few of the vendors. Not many tourists this month and quite a bit of unexpected rain.
June is in Provence, the city of Isle sur-la-Sorgue. Friends of friends found the place for me. And my luck: It has just been totally renovated! My special thanks to Marc Pasturel (a native of Alban, near Albi, now living with his wife Ragni in the SF Bay area) for his untiring efforts in getting me set up for this trip — without whom the trip would not be even close to this successful.
You’ll find very little (accurate) information here. The internet will be more reliable for you. Some commentary. Some pictures. Just what happens to be happening.
Browse as you like.
– Mary
Congratulations for the blog, something I considered for myself but rejected for lack of time, preference to direct e-mailing to a list of friends (some 300 in my case). Maintaining such a list is a task in itself….
While your pictures are good, I advise more personalized shots to create even more interest. The best one for me is the one of Poppy with the cathedral in the background: excellent !
I crave for more people shots, familiar and unfamiliar ones, market and street scenes for instance. You may be shy about taking people shots, but I’ve found that most people, while objecting, enjoy being photographed. Down deep we all crave the attention… Don’t ask permission, it destroys the scene as people take an artificial pose. Show them the pic after you’ve taken it. Offer them a copy if they have an e-mail address (an opportunity to start a relationship). For the very rare who object, offer to erase the photo on the spot.
How’bout views from your apartment windows ?
Thanks for the acknowledgement. Some work but also a deep sense of satisfaction for me, knowing that it carries value for you.
Fraternellement sur La route,
Marc