tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10162020483948836142024-03-19T10:59:41.996-07:00Gramma's Great AdventuresGramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016202048394883614.post-35233668927726800812012-03-22T16:48:00.003-07:002012-03-22T16:49:18.148-07:00Blunders, Bloopers and Blatant Stupidity<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 2cm }
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm }
-->
</style><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blunders,
Bloopers and Blatant Stupidity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">As
I reveal to you some of our more ludicrous moments, I'll </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">randomly </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">insert photographs we took as we toodled around the country.
Where possible I'll identify the location of the site. If some of you
are familiar with the area, and feel I've erred in identifying the
location, I apologize. The rest of you won't have any idea
whether I'm right or not ;-) so just enjoy the photos.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimdYqeTXXIwAG46f1WB87shD8wDo6scrR5VWmXfKZy4VxvQUQte0i2_CK2XANS9XHQg5nhrZVFR9Sa7xPrs2hQBnimHcTAOAFUVokgqF7ymiwAlb4Y1z8CI4P_s7L5jlbkUhTGvEck17Y/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zxLQ0wz70kL7wpol-XrjRsVeVPP_4dS7LdbWZQDs86wRlvlqsg1TeBct9px_s9ERm9FfjwtL05PXXEsyhAQoC6HPWsAVUCWiKc8PeuZSt7dNEoQ5rS3MmBBCqcApBQWHRSFdYXmdkKhM/s1600/IMG_0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zxLQ0wz70kL7wpol-XrjRsVeVPP_4dS7LdbWZQDs86wRlvlqsg1TeBct9px_s9ERm9FfjwtL05PXXEsyhAQoC6HPWsAVUCWiKc8PeuZSt7dNEoQ5rS3MmBBCqcApBQWHRSFdYXmdkKhM/s640/IMG_0143.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">This street is very typical of those found in the </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">medieval towns and villages we visited. The streets are narrow, not much more than alleys in some cases, the buildings attached to the adjoining houses on either side. Often the back sides of the houses are without doors or windows, built almost like fortress walls (in fact many of them are fortress walls) for protection in a region that experienced recurring invasions, religious and secular wars.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The instructions for entering our
little French abode, Libellule, in Neffies, were to open a lock box with a secret code, and
extract the key. With that key we were supposed to then open the mail
box for the key to the house.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'd forgotten the second step of the instructions, so we
stood with a 21<sup>st</sup> century key in our hands trying to find
a hole in an 18<sup>th</sup> century door into which we could insert
the key. Nothing seemed to fit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A very nice gentleman offered his
assistance and we tried to explain with gestures and shrugs, not
immediately able to remember out how to say in our halting, not yet
well-practiced French that <i>nous ne pouvons pas trouver le trou</i>
into which <i>le clef</i> would fit.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually we realized that the only
<i>trou</i> into which <i>le clef </i>would fit belonged to<span lang="fr-FR">
</span><span lang="fr-FR"><i>le boite aux lettres.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Upon opening the
latter we found two keys, one about 6” long and another about 4.5”
long, each weighing a pound apiece I'm sure, one for the lower door
and one for the upper door to the house (see my first entry on the blog for a photo of these keys).
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Finally,
</span><i>nous sommes arriver!!!</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i> * * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtfCHb1vJRCaYY1gJf1WN1_IVTeNHwjVHRXCGttXk58HuaX24EutfAcUucMAtR-71wgTaNEPa7fF1-aysk7hasRPhV8Pc9LTwmelZbzQ5L0oLrKs52Z7Gn9mB0N1kVz_h7K1kQA_drPaI/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtfCHb1vJRCaYY1gJf1WN1_IVTeNHwjVHRXCGttXk58HuaX24EutfAcUucMAtR-71wgTaNEPa7fF1-aysk7hasRPhV8Pc9LTwmelZbzQ5L0oLrKs52Z7Gn9mB0N1kVz_h7K1kQA_drPaI/s640/IMG_0138.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Situated on the edge of a river and nestled between two hills, Roquebrun is one of the more picturesque villages we've encountered. That said, the cluster of tile-roofed houses rising up the side of a hill is very typical of most of the medieval towns in the south of France.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
* * * * *</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
As civilized human beings and as
parents, both Gill and I have done our fair share of laundry in our days. In the process we've been introduced to a variety of methods of
doing so – hand-washing or machine washing, primarily, since
neither of us is old enough to have beaten clothing against a rock.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
However we met our match with the small
washing equipment in our Libellule home in France.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We were faced with one piece of
equipment new to us. Lifting the top lid of the machine we saw a
steel drum that appeared to have no opening through which to place
our clothing. With clever deduction and a pushing on the drum, we
managed to turn it and reveal a latched opening.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Into that opening we tossed some
laundry detergent followed by our clothing, and turned on the
machine. It made a turning noise, but there was not the customary
gush of water we all anticipate when using a clothes washer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To our shock, we realized we'd put
everything into the CLOTHES DRYER.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Quickly we turned off the machine,
scooped out whatever we could of the detergent (luckily of the dry
variety) and counted on the filter to remove the rest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There appears to be no harm done to the
machine, but this will go down in our individual personal histories
as one of the stupidest things we've every done.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxjalq10I-1nEA4kti2AuiTYh91MN4hsarIPuHeRU2twG-WYXO2N_BtK7XGiwZoZl65GXzVh_o8J7I6-OvpO3El1Utaf3tK0QsCRRIwxbHpyf4Dow8XEhBnCDeVioujdh1SpBabjZ6kf9/s1600/DSCN0299.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxjalq10I-1nEA4kti2AuiTYh91MN4hsarIPuHeRU2twG-WYXO2N_BtK7XGiwZoZl65GXzVh_o8J7I6-OvpO3El1Utaf3tK0QsCRRIwxbHpyf4Dow8XEhBnCDeVioujdh1SpBabjZ6kf9/s640/DSCN0299.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">This area, with the weirdly eroded rock formations, is called Cirque de Moureze. This photo just doesn't do justice to how strange these formations are. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWZOS939_U1fvd07o0WEifxP4AqoKSboUSI0w_UnNQibMVhYSU-iiqtx8NeSQWAizBOSBhZ_7AhjJtEHy6LNQJ4hrWGZmfYgqS6jb98Gy1KtdpueOAN1oxlQQBuoSKmqBf50rWqxrUQfk/s1600/DSCN0295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWZOS939_U1fvd07o0WEifxP4AqoKSboUSI0w_UnNQibMVhYSU-iiqtx8NeSQWAizBOSBhZ_7AhjJtEHy6LNQJ4hrWGZmfYgqS6jb98Gy1KtdpueOAN1oxlQQBuoSKmqBf50rWqxrUQfk/s640/DSCN0295.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">Same area, different view. Perhaps this photo more clearly shows the extent of the erosion.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><br /></span></span></div>
* * * * *</div>
<div lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Shopping
and Dining France</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimdYqeTXXIwAG46f1WB87shD8wDo6scrR5VWmXfKZy4VxvQUQte0i2_CK2XANS9XHQg5nhrZVFR9Sa7xPrs2hQBnimHcTAOAFUVokgqF7ymiwAlb4Y1z8CI4P_s7L5jlbkUhTGvEck17Y/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimdYqeTXXIwAG46f1WB87shD8wDo6scrR5VWmXfKZy4VxvQUQte0i2_CK2XANS9XHQg5nhrZVFR9Sa7xPrs2hQBnimHcTAOAFUVokgqF7ymiwAlb4Y1z8CI4P_s7L5jlbkUhTGvEck17Y/s640/IMG_0260.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">The three best meals we had in France were at Les Goutailles in Neffies. Their crown roast of lamb was amazing; I ordered it on two separate occasions. Delicious.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"> </span></span>* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Store hours are problematic; in fact, the hours of operation of
complete towns are problematic. It's been three weeks and we're
still confused.<br />
<br />
Neffies schedule is this: the epicerie is open from 7:30 to 11:30
and then 4:00 to 7:30.
<br />
<br />
The bistro is open from 12:30 to 2:00, then it closes to reopen at
7:00 p.m.
<br />
<br />
So if you're hungry in the afternoon you're S-O-L between the
hours of 11:30 and 12:30 because NOBODY is open, and if you're hungry between 2:00 and 4:00 you're S-O-L because the bistro is closed until 7:00 and the epicerie
isn't open for another two hours.<br />
<br />
You could die from hunger ;-) <br />
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * * * *</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1_4HlOo9P6Hb7pRMSBz6hiUjsyeEENIvDQW-jriQYHBHzWWj5YlhsUKNpTwy3Y2P_zVVhdPQCIWRLZOmB_OL69zHOlN-drFIIvPAUUKNqXXT8CTExY0N5RhdVhs54oXJ95rx_EmDbiY9/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1_4HlOo9P6Hb7pRMSBz6hiUjsyeEENIvDQW-jriQYHBHzWWj5YlhsUKNpTwy3Y2P_zVVhdPQCIWRLZOmB_OL69zHOlN-drFIIvPAUUKNqXXT8CTExY0N5RhdVhs54oXJ95rx_EmDbiY9/s640/IMG_0182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">View of the cemetary in Neffies; most of the graves here date back hundreds of years.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One day went to Pezanas to do some shopping, totally forgetting
that the stores there are open from 7:30 to 12:00 and then 3:00 to
7:00 or something like that - lazy sods - and it seems the
restaurants don't open until 12:30.<br />
<br />
So we arrived in the shopping area around noon – duuhhhh! There
were only a couple of shops open - mainly the chocolate factory, and
no restaurants.<br />
<br />
The next time we went to Pezanas it was Monday and the whole town
was closed.<br />
<br />
Each town appears to have different opening and closing hours but
I think you have to live here a long time to sort it all out. Peter
Tanner, our landlord, tells me restaurants in Montpellier don't open
until 8:00 p.m. How is a poor foreigner supposed to work this all
out. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnZkIaLwoaKugvo23Y9KBebofWq6lrBhuHdsZj7-jSQ6-J5gF1zqgq2JjBCwg8dnbfWFDz2_Ilkm65K4OyxAm0B8voPmpT3qi8mkkRHspseF2FG594ezkGPXklhzl0-T4N_NpYACWygW6/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnZkIaLwoaKugvo23Y9KBebofWq6lrBhuHdsZj7-jSQ6-J5gF1zqgq2JjBCwg8dnbfWFDz2_Ilkm65K4OyxAm0B8voPmpT3qi8mkkRHspseF2FG594ezkGPXklhzl0-T4N_NpYACWygW6/s640/IMG_0175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">In Nimes we found this old/new reproduction of a Roman building. It was very convincing and fooled us until we read the small print.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * * * *</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673236"></a>Again, in Pezanas,
though almost everything in town was closed, we found a
Spanish/French restaurant (or French/Spanish) restaurant.<br />
<br />
We ordered each a plate of assorted stuff thinking we could share,
and a baked Camembert appetizer. We got Gill's plate and the
appetizer together (I thought the server believed I'd ordered the
cheese as an entre).<br />
<br />
The brie was delicious, but the cold cuts on the plate Gill
ordered took a lot of chewing and the options were either
salty-rubbery or more-salty-rubbery.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673262"></a>After we'd finished
that stuff the server arrives with my plate - two eggs barely cooked,
I mean so sunny side up they were blinding, some blood sausage that
was a little too clotty for my liking, a piece of chipotle sausage
the colour of a cirrhotic liver and bacon so unbelievably tough you
couldn't chew it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673288"></a>We asked them to flip
the eggs over and cook them on the other side; this created a major
problem that we just couldn't figure out - something about the eggs
being cooked on a plank and they couldn't turn them over.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I guess they dug a frying pan out of the closet because
they managed to cook the suckers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673302"></a>We were both pretty
stuffed by this time and Gill couldn't do the egg, so I got rid of
them, cut up the sausages and spread them around and attempted to
chew up parts of the bacon; didn't want to offend the cook.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673324"></a>It was the most
disastrous meal (by a very long shot) of the whole trip.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aBP1liRo7vNAJXSyKbKVB0wKCg9Xz0oOgoHfCnSgXNJWP9rA7m1bR7Wc4ZmVjLOsc5N_fVTHRHK1IYmnKmrouWmWNJugTiUp5GqgH6RWNsNjhHEbp2aqSM5popUBXza1DnKNHH-Of7gH/s1600/DSCN0334.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aBP1liRo7vNAJXSyKbKVB0wKCg9Xz0oOgoHfCnSgXNJWP9rA7m1bR7Wc4ZmVjLOsc5N_fVTHRHK1IYmnKmrouWmWNJugTiUp5GqgH6RWNsNjhHEbp2aqSM5popUBXza1DnKNHH-Of7gH/s640/DSCN0334.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">View of the Canal de Midi </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">built during Louis 14th's reign by Pierre Paul Riquet to connect the Atlantic </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> on the west coast of France,</span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> to </span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Sete
on the Mediterranean, allowing French traders to avoid sailing around
hostile Spain, the Barbary pirates and the English. In return for
funding the construction, Riquet's family was granted the right to
collect tolls in perpetuity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
We arrived in Sete on the Mediterranean, looking for a
good seafood meal. It was around noon and we were starving. The whole
wharf of restaurants was closed.</div>
<div align="LEFT">
We started up a side street and found a Tapas, i.e.
Greek/French, or French/Greek. We had little fried fishes about 2”
long, shrimp with tiny strands of spaghetti-looking stuff, but
actually mashed potato strands (very good, by the way), and some
dreadful fried calamari.</div>
<div align="LEFT">
Probably the second worst meal we had in France.</div>
<div align="LEFT">
After dinner we returned to the wharf and faced about
25 seafood restaurants open for business and bustling with activity.</div>
<div align="LEFT">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1016202048394883614" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673370"></a>We returned
a week later at the right time, in the right place, and satisfied our
urge for seafood.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Driving
in France</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Bm5KAXkzLT_LfJQW5xhqMsOOwvf91owVL18pSCfYzA49uKZcmvEacDOnyZ0SJQGxzPRcKQkpjSsOt3l81aS6URRVtA_bBrvaQVJ4bQWUe5xGtkKKy4NTNSy_buKnEdS0tnGKqsZthCt/s1600/IMG_0191.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8Bm5KAXkzLT_LfJQW5xhqMsOOwvf91owVL18pSCfYzA49uKZcmvEacDOnyZ0SJQGxzPRcKQkpjSsOt3l81aS6URRVtA_bBrvaQVJ4bQWUe5xGtkKKy4NTNSy_buKnEdS0tnGKqsZthCt/s640/IMG_0191.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">This is not intended as a warning about driving in France, but situated in front of the Church of St. Vincent du Thongues in Pouzolles is probably the most spectacular crucifix I've ever seen. The figure is blood red.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
French drivers, while in
general are courteous, do share one characteristic that drives Gill
and I nuts – a tendency to drive right up your ass no matter how
fast your going, or how slow, whether you're driving the speed limit
or exceeding it.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We do all the normal things
to encourage them to pass us, i.e. slow down or move to the right,
but just like puppies they're right on our heels.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When we turn off the road to
get free of them, darned if they don't follow us around the corner.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The exception is the large
highways (I'd say 'interstates' but I'm not sure that applies here)
where they whiz past, well exceeding the speed limits and making your
hair fly backwards like you're on a roller coaster.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * * * *</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuYNyvAUbQpmNEO-P93ENkhUxfV492As5gmsZfYvyoq8rWFttYf_s863kr3Cba3mWnx5-y9Nb7gNp8NCXq7gQndTCVbrloCtpRdua5dxGdSfybbmwaBphuVNJe9sgcsxHqb3KM-FAVhIc/s1600/DSCN0358.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuYNyvAUbQpmNEO-P93ENkhUxfV492As5gmsZfYvyoq8rWFttYf_s863kr3Cba3mWnx5-y9Nb7gNp8NCXq7gQndTCVbrloCtpRdua5dxGdSfybbmwaBphuVNJe9sgcsxHqb3KM-FAVhIc/s640/DSCN0358.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">On the road to Beziers, a picturesque olive grove wit the refinery in the middle of the photo. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"> </span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * * </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"> </span></span>There are several traffic
signs we have yet to figure out, but we have mastered the roundabouts
(or carre-four) quite skillfully, have figured out the signage from
town to town, though we do find it somewhat lacking in explication
since you're almost in certain towns before you find the sign leading
to it.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They don't give you the next
town on the signs, but regularly give the one that's 50 km down the
road. When you get within 50km of the town, the name suddenly
disappears from the signs. We often go round and round the roundabout
looking for the missing name, knowing that its within a stone's throw
of where we are.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * * * *<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sic9C8b4a3Pbdi1znK2oEqv4DCsWTmmMF5Fc0bl-_gm__Ocw0zpEL_mwjZUK0ev1bfB38Uy_L8Fam1fT0XaWdxyc3jMtNWaFqZLm7U52B7NgHP7OinTmMbFoBUjrIxPq_KaaQ5jT-4g1/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sic9C8b4a3Pbdi1znK2oEqv4DCsWTmmMF5Fc0bl-_gm__Ocw0zpEL_mwjZUK0ev1bfB38Uy_L8Fam1fT0XaWdxyc3jMtNWaFqZLm7U52B7NgHP7OinTmMbFoBUjrIxPq_KaaQ5jT-4g1/s640/IMG_0216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">Another of the vineyards that border most of the highways in this area. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"> </span></span>* * * * * </div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We've made
several trips to Sete, on the Mediterranean; some of them were even
planned.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As it happens,
the off-ramp that goes to Pezenas which we must use to get to Neffies
when returning from many of our januts, is the last one before the
ramp to Sete which is 20K further.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The primary
problem is the HUGE trucks who appear to have to drive in the right
lane, unless passing.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This means if
you decide to pass the slower-moving trucks, the long caravans of
these vehicles can totally block out your view of signposts telling
you that the next off-ramp is yours.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Luckily, Sete
is a nice place to visit.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-3fB4_tCyztrxwMleGa7hiDsNn5oiWhJUgYz0oak99XUx10ysk7IJ4CewdjsRvKBstPBcqgtbMO5U81I6vjrp_MJw40ExBzwyzpMcv2vqyDOeLFVzu2j_oTXiyNNznwpPZayEETRfi6g/s1600/IMG_0188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-3fB4_tCyztrxwMleGa7hiDsNn5oiWhJUgYz0oak99XUx10ysk7IJ4CewdjsRvKBstPBcqgtbMO5U81I6vjrp_MJw40ExBzwyzpMcv2vqyDOeLFVzu2j_oTXiyNNznwpPZayEETRfi6g/s640/IMG_0188.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">The liberty tree planted in honour of the men who died in the revolution, planted in the courtyard in the town center in front of the Mairie, in Neffies.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
* * * * *</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
The number signs for the
secondary highways are rarely on the signposts on the carre-fours so
you must guess the highway and hope for confirmation when you get on
it, and the sign appears.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * *</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We got a
parking ticket!!!! We still haven't figured out why. We checked all
the area as we usually do for hidden signs. The French like to trick
us foreigners by making the signage as elusive as possible. But after
our lovely outing in Narbonne (see information in the Churches
section) we found the sucker attached to our windshield.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now we have to
find a way to pay it since we don't have a bank account in France and
we haven't figured out where else to pay.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We were going
to stop police officers on the street (they're few and far between
here, likewise police cars; this must be a law-abiding country) and
ask them how to go about paying, but were afraid our halting French
could possibly make them think we were trying to bribe them to make
it go away.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We decided to
give the money to Hertz Rental and let them pay the ticket. They
would have a bank account and, after all, the car does belong to
them.</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
* * * * *</div>
<div align="CENTER" lang="fr-FR" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Gas stations are
problematic. Many of them don't take VISA. Those that do don't always
have a simple system for using it.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As example: After a couple
of days of extensive driving around southern France we realized our
little Ford Fusion wonder car needed a drink.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We pulled into a gas
station, figured out which gaz was diesel and which was <i>sans
plomb.</i> I inserted my VISA card into the machine, which spun and
turned and displayed various instructions that gave me the impression
that my <i>carte</i> had been approved.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I cheerfully pumped gas
until the auto was <i>au plein (</i><span style="font-style: normal;">which
here apparently means pregnant</span><i>)</i>, screwed on the gas
cap, hopped into the car and proceeded towards the exit. I was rather
annoyed that the machine proved reluctant to give me a receipt for
our accounts.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As I was about to turn onto
the street, I noticed that the attendant in a glass kiosk at the edge
of the lot was waving frantically at me, screaming,<i> il faut
payer...ici...il faut payer. </i>I thought I'd already paid.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Turns out I'd been approved
to pump the gas but hadn't actually paid for it.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="fr-FR">We parted
on friendly terms, the attendant and I; he/she (I wasn't sure which)
with</span><span lang="fr-FR"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
l'argent </span></i></span><span lang="fr-FR">and </span><span lang="fr-FR"><i>moi
avec le recu</i></span><span lang="fr-FR">. We were both happy.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="fr-FR"> </span>* * * * *</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXQG-EH932imO0FXQTARAHsNNpw-xoGXXJo_uT6r4uPFCJhWQpXefLbqdOlOqYz1fC9eFjOZ-MGW3sleg4QrZTrzyyz06W1T5Jq2xs-aopkJ4FdSMJJ9N0mlyMsPuoZNA4LGCFR8Gvl1c/s1600/DSCN0377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXQG-EH932imO0FXQTARAHsNNpw-xoGXXJo_uT6r4uPFCJhWQpXefLbqdOlOqYz1fC9eFjOZ-MGW3sleg4QrZTrzyyz06W1T5Jq2xs-aopkJ4FdSMJJ9N0mlyMsPuoZNA4LGCFR8Gvl1c/s640/DSCN0377.JPG" width="480" /></a><span lang="fr-FR"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">My usual view of Gill, 10-15 paces ahead of me just itching for the next sight ahead on our journey. </span></span><br />
<br />
I hope you found my little blog interesting.<br />
<br />
We're leaving Neffies tomorrow, Thursday the 22nd of March. We'll stop in Carcassone on the way to Toulouse, spend overnight in Toulouse then fly out of here on Saturday at 6:45 in the morning. Hope we don't sleep in and miss the flight.<br />
<br />
Love Mom/Gramma/Awnty/Gramma Num Num <br />
<br />
<br /></div>Gramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016202048394883614.post-80374829995247404142012-03-21T16:25:00.001-07:002012-03-21T16:25:32.021-07:00Churches and Cathedrals<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 2cm }
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm }
-->
</style><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Churches and Cathedrals</b></i></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">n silence listen to my stones; they are telling you something about the story of my life, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">they are speaking to you.</span></span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></i></span></span></div>
<br />
The statement above appears on the brochure describing the Cathedral of
St. Nazaire, Bezier, France. This call could be applied to each of the churches
described below.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
As most of you know I am not a
religious person. I am however frequently awed by the representations
of religious beliefs through art, craftsmanship and architecture,
created and sustained by the common man in worship of a simple
carpenter.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And while I may believe that the
cathedrals and churches that appear in all parts of the world were
built more to glorify the institutions of religion and their
idolators than the faith itself, it is impossible to enter one and
not be touched by the presence, over the centuries, of common people who sat
and continue to sit within its sanctuary in quiet prayer and simple
contemplation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oKgKVocUiHXZyVrRepx1yAN4BkZer4ZhF6jXk5U8SqsSJxzSnynEt8zrv0Jr2npf11NyyUZlBP13bANq0l4YVRB18tOKiDiSsIBYqxpqtFXSkvRKi4M_YMjNilY2fW_0Own6d3CFiRub/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
I am also touched by the people who have given their hands and their hearts to sustain
these buildings through simple acts of maintenance, placing alter
flowers and other embellishments, cleaning up wax drippings, ironing altar cloths and the unending other daily acts required to keep
the buildings in good repair and reverent appearance, and the
financial contributions from everyman that sustain this maintenance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I recently experienced several examples
of what I'm so clumsily trying to explain.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;">The
Gothic Church, Neffies, France</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4L6ZXfNm_WnXG8LLxqL0-Cm7tQ9V_tHsnYOTCtP6xlpks93QMIHjh_147zV8R3ElgfNpy22lmtJ8LUqD12NS59gZS8kFcfQ8P2Pfak-fX10CVJLgnB2QYIwTKEgQJQSC6e8vjVwlWf9w/s1600/DSCN0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4L6ZXfNm_WnXG8LLxqL0-Cm7tQ9V_tHsnYOTCtP6xlpks93QMIHjh_147zV8R3ElgfNpy22lmtJ8LUqD12NS59gZS8kFcfQ8P2Pfak-fX10CVJLgnB2QYIwTKEgQJQSC6e8vjVwlWf9w/s640/DSCN0329.JPG" width="408" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
small Gothic church is adjacent to the house we've been staying in during
our visit to France. Compared to many others we've visited, this is an unassuming little church, built in the 13th century. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8GJoRVHQgyEMBdqIgn-qEEdLYsZMZoQgLENGc52MiHrn4Qw6yVRwf8sWGeWT9KU4-E9M1uejcH5ogNY2mupPFZDqbX8nPTiqlSWTMLve_DYRFq4czuia8qde0lSOHr5LtUBM5vrF-frV/s1600/DSCN0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8GJoRVHQgyEMBdqIgn-qEEdLYsZMZoQgLENGc52MiHrn4Qw6yVRwf8sWGeWT9KU4-E9M1uejcH5ogNY2mupPFZDqbX8nPTiqlSWTMLve_DYRFq4czuia8qde0lSOHr5LtUBM5vrF-frV/s640/DSCN0333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The church is not open to viewing as other churches in the region are, but one day as I was walking past it, a workman was bringing supplies inside in order to make repairs. I grabbed the opportunity to take a photo of the interior.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The church appears also to be the source of local information. Periodically, our day is interrupted with "Allo, Allo," followed by an announcement of some kind coming from the speakers in the church bellfry.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Neither Gill's nor my French is strong enough to catch the sense of the announcements, other than the one that informed us of the recent Craft and Artisan's fair that was held on the church grounds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /><br />
The bells in the tower ring out the hours, around the clock, and
announce the services. It's become a comforting sound in our daily
lives, and I will miss that sound when I return home.<br />
<br />
I am still trying to locate information on the church, and will add it to the blog if when it is available.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;">The
Cathedral of St. Just and St. Pasteur, Ville de Narboonne, France </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIgjlBquvAVCMQOtOfbAYvuc6tEHORBmOkxqV45LoVk4Wlfehq3xTw0yrRYFOrhW7ve4VJ07dg6ZV9Xqs-hsbGW4l3yDv17mIeq9HPyb6klmCF73Ak0k76I2Z7ZD7E4M2o1rOqDEjaUC-/s1600/DSCN0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIgjlBquvAVCMQOtOfbAYvuc6tEHORBmOkxqV45LoVk4Wlfehq3xTw0yrRYFOrhW7ve4VJ07dg6ZV9Xqs-hsbGW4l3yDv17mIeq9HPyb6klmCF73Ak0k76I2Z7ZD7E4M2o1rOqDEjaUC-/s640/DSCN0394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">View of the church from the cloisters behind us. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">onstruction
began on this church in 1272 on a site that was the location of three
previous churches – a basilica dating from </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Constantine
the Great, Roman Emperor from AD 306-337, another Roman basilica
about which I have no information, and a cathedral dating from the
reign of Charlemagne, i.e. AD 780-900. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The cathedral was consecrated
in 1587.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oKgKVocUiHXZyVrRepx1yAN4BkZer4ZhF6jXk5U8SqsSJxzSnynEt8zrv0Jr2npf11NyyUZlBP13bANq0l4YVRB18tOKiDiSsIBYqxpqtFXSkvRKi4M_YMjNilY2fW_0Own6d3CFiRub/s1600/DSCN0390.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oKgKVocUiHXZyVrRepx1yAN4BkZer4ZhF6jXk5U8SqsSJxzSnynEt8zrv0Jr2npf11NyyUZlBP13bANq0l4YVRB18tOKiDiSsIBYqxpqtFXSkvRKi4M_YMjNilY2fW_0Own6d3CFiRub/s640/DSCN0390.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">The cloisters, built between 1349 and 1417 have four vaulted galleries and flying buttresses decorated with gargoyles. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCA1OJMWkgtqfl5APSYn__ew_G52IPaeOhapAI3R0rkb23x51zm4HrRKnD2VjCkQcugdLU1sr_viMYe_2CWBw6zTojMPXD1MSZJPlJBv2HYg_2GG4fktWWFSqfbnvLHGYtq9pEzRAGtsF/s1600/DSCN0393.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCA1OJMWkgtqfl5APSYn__ew_G52IPaeOhapAI3R0rkb23x51zm4HrRKnD2VjCkQcugdLU1sr_viMYe_2CWBw6zTojMPXD1MSZJPlJBv2HYg_2GG4fktWWFSqfbnvLHGYtq9pEzRAGtsF/s640/DSCN0393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Four of the gargoyles in the cloisters.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8u-8cQGANqpiEz3jgWOCHhpbevdIqvcQSO4mXBECvucaRYAHmUfX92yhoi2oc6x6xRRi3Y93NTtH_BZFDyt79q1DkWc-sqOYHo4gLwGyz3qHAaO5dnS79jE0yrOLrzf3V1EDFTKOAGpo/s1600/DSCN0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8u-8cQGANqpiEz3jgWOCHhpbevdIqvcQSO4mXBECvucaRYAHmUfX92yhoi2oc6x6xRRi3Y93NTtH_BZFDyt79q1DkWc-sqOYHo4gLwGyz3qHAaO5dnS79jE0yrOLrzf3V1EDFTKOAGpo/s640/DSCN0388.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">View of the altar and the vaulted ceilings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What
immediately strikes you as you enter the cathedral is the
extraordinary vaulted ceilings with arches that rise to 40m high.
My poor little camera wasn't able to capture the grandeur of this in one frame. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While the arches themselves are breathtaking, to try and imagine the
methods used to build these amazing arches, and the risks taken by the artisans, is absolutely
mind-boggling.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP1QYoUQ4wRY_gZbufuAEBxkOrRW-dXy5Yox5yndG0nVVmKZGS6D5faWs0znd14zwvLeXcK9gvPE38mFLm5ddlGCw5BuG41H5tVMe0ESoaHCaJjh3pK0W8TCu1uaqJmhkpbLHG-KV-xD-/s1600/DSCN0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP1QYoUQ4wRY_gZbufuAEBxkOrRW-dXy5Yox5yndG0nVVmKZGS6D5faWs0znd14zwvLeXcK9gvPE38mFLm5ddlGCw5BuG41H5tVMe0ESoaHCaJjh3pK0W8TCu1uaqJmhkpbLHG-KV-xD-/s640/DSCN0383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">This is a crappy photo because the carved figures were eroded and damaged, but they must have been spectacular when they were new; they are still impressive in spite of the deterioration.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d8IOWO_g3OpClYlklVdbSi7h8dZKbQhWODltGvymx5iienVNdOs4YCWI6Ku4cvgkx-3GUvApAEu8fGgu42GR0DDvPPEPtb4w9T7_JbH2w9mkUWMRvF6dwIKoTeJNgiGiVoIjYo-OxB7I/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7d8IOWO_g3OpClYlklVdbSi7h8dZKbQhWODltGvymx5iienVNdOs4YCWI6Ku4cvgkx-3GUvApAEu8fGgu42GR0DDvPPEPtb4w9T7_JbH2w9mkUWMRvF6dwIKoTeJNgiGiVoIjYo-OxB7I/s640/DSCN0387.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;">Enclosed by a wrought iron screen is Notre Dame du Pont, a white marble statue of the Virgin with child dating from the 1500s. The statue used to stand on the St. Catherine bridge but was moved to the cathedral when the bridge was demolished in 1889.</span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdop4YjUKWhWMylO8t6YYN3kZE4rlRj0oaC1IRor0d8eaXYspCDB7LoOkFyJfxCR7JVZIkYNyuorZPN9_6LOMhau4Fa12H7CZoU7O3x5y1R3tnX2Z1D_McQJf9AXdfJ2Z-CEnBZcrU1m/s1600/DSCN0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdop4YjUKWhWMylO8t6YYN3kZE4rlRj0oaC1IRor0d8eaXYspCDB7LoOkFyJfxCR7JVZIkYNyuorZPN9_6LOMhau4Fa12H7CZoU7O3x5y1R3tnX2Z1D_McQJf9AXdfJ2Z-CEnBZcrU1m/s1600/DSCN0389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdop4YjUKWhWMylO8t6YYN3kZE4rlRj0oaC1IRor0d8eaXYspCDB7LoOkFyJfxCR7JVZIkYNyuorZPN9_6LOMhau4Fa12H7CZoU7O3x5y1R3tnX2Z1D_McQJf9AXdfJ2Z-CEnBZcrU1m/s640/DSCN0389.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">In one of the niches was this small statue called the African Madonna.</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4Y3vzA_wpeSY3r-vOlMHeCT_j_1FPqXjUpCW9rPg7BPCRgMcOh39OyLSRTnwIZ8T6JRqwX5yQtoUHn0B3mTWIWAT3IrzGgwqLp-7U_2cbfbjE0Au9HM4UTDOuQGZo0Fp3ff0DRRUi4Qb/s1600/DSCN0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4Y3vzA_wpeSY3r-vOlMHeCT_j_1FPqXjUpCW9rPg7BPCRgMcOh39OyLSRTnwIZ8T6JRqwX5yQtoUHn0B3mTWIWAT3IrzGgwqLp-7U_2cbfbjE0Au9HM4UTDOuQGZo0Fp3ff0DRRUi4Qb/s640/DSCN0386.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">The main alter, supported by six Corinthian columns of pink marble, was constructed in 1694. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONu_xZSM4uBCYCglRfTHHNSDF7lOguEX_cg7mfXfXayWZc4XtS-cWxf0KyCt9twrC-mtTdMYJUzVvTHOb75OHEyCf3SORcXv5GWove_5PwCqtb9XgXsPBhPvjGetlM8-CjUaAG_eOwYlv/s1600/DSCN0385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONu_xZSM4uBCYCglRfTHHNSDF7lOguEX_cg7mfXfXayWZc4XtS-cWxf0KyCt9twrC-mtTdMYJUzVvTHOb75OHEyCf3SORcXv5GWove_5PwCqtb9XgXsPBhPvjGetlM8-CjUaAG_eOwYlv/s640/DSCN0385.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">The original organ, dating from the end of the 14th century, was destroyed by fire in 1721; the <b>new</b> and present organ was completed in 1741. </span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of
the churches we visited here in the south of France, this cathedral was certainly the most architecturally impressive.</div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlsJEQR85asyZl56Xig2qU6tnN5STOoMiwO5Pp3elPBli7x5FgXJixptQhX5L5k2325fHaOW6lot-dinQ1MO72dWToyG98tbeYwnDKX-gvFvZA1Gcw7uhhf9_SPPKxW28sPPj1WeDAiFf/s1600/DSCN0375.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlsJEQR85asyZl56Xig2qU6tnN5STOoMiwO5Pp3elPBli7x5FgXJixptQhX5L5k2325fHaOW6lot-dinQ1MO72dWToyG98tbeYwnDKX-gvFvZA1Gcw7uhhf9_SPPKxW28sPPj1WeDAiFf/s640/DSCN0375.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As a bit of whimsy, t</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
early influence of Rome in this area is aptly depicted by this
sculpture of </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Romulus and Remus on an </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">archway entering the square where the church is situated. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Twin brothers </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who, as legend has it, founded the
city of Rome, R & R were abandoned by their parents as babies, put into a
basket and sent afloat in the River Tiber. The basket ran
aground on the shore where a wolf found them and nursed the babies. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;">The
Madeleine Church, Beziers, France</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EdBxJ9JuDsWzgsakKkWVDUXkUfifHQeLQ45lhclwcSZhf_MPqo2_7Y6zjZDzw4x-kPKOBzjy4BwxjDgswnyfCx5gSR2pwjFU4cUYdVGYoVxfIYoqAVngBlLgTWc7cN4IyBGHrAxYB3Nf/s1600/DSCN0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkhF_nvKNBj4JsKlBKnXl0hNNNFVtz_eh3IkStYU0NEFJLSR56oXzMBOkELWJ6UkrHmLH6QNa2d-B1CzsZVW3OB06mXuISviTatyzK7zW0IbZpm_L9jsfnrFpXWNZ5CEKukrLH92lP9ye/s640/DSCN0348.JPG" width="550" /></a><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The apse of the
church showing two of the beautiful stained glass windows.
Unfortunately, my camera doesn't do justice to these brilliant windows.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The story is that Jesus manifested himself to Saint Madeleine, the converted sinner, who is believed to have evangelized in the Bezier region. This church is dedicated to her.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_x4Etgl4-oiliHZR9eFay8C-wetpdctsdlteC1IaqXA7rj6qPX3hS-jPx3IESxpcfwEwAeCcF5gBDL6ru18MVaQb9eWrztdamcP8SOmDaNbcRngjceCYEttbnyiWmqge01AKxRmpaIDb/s1600/DSCN0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_x4Etgl4-oiliHZR9eFay8C-wetpdctsdlteC1IaqXA7rj6qPX3hS-jPx3IESxpcfwEwAeCcF5gBDL6ru18MVaQb9eWrztdamcP8SOmDaNbcRngjceCYEttbnyiWmqge01AKxRmpaIDb/s640/DSCN0350.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">This serene little church was built in the 11th century. The amazing stained glass windows date from the 19th century and are absolutely spectacular. The statue is of St Peter.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IhD7SMpFBqQ1iPN6QMHoxVft2oUUR_YaQ6MjvRjoe5_bgPvJgR5xIrrASS8eUkcDtQo2Jj7k4Vcw147HNYhYr8ZXN8QTKzE3oOryjXVMYDcXWWhn1i6XQkB1pN0jZEYPipMNKGbSrVoP/s1600/DSCN0352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IhD7SMpFBqQ1iPN6QMHoxVft2oUUR_YaQ6MjvRjoe5_bgPvJgR5xIrrASS8eUkcDtQo2Jj7k4Vcw147HNYhYr8ZXN8QTKzE3oOryjXVMYDcXWWhn1i6XQkB1pN0jZEYPipMNKGbSrVoP/s640/DSCN0352.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Painting by Jean-Noel Sylvestre depicting the assassination of Viscount of Trencaval in 1167. This painting is about 6' high by 8-10' wide. Extraordinary</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In 1209, the Crusaders under the leadership of Simon de Montfort burned the churches and the people of Beziers who sought sanctuary in the churches of St. Nazaire and Madeleine. The citizens were suspected of protecting the Cathars, a religious group reported to tolerate and live amicably with those in their community who professed a different faith (imagine!!!) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Pope at the time, when questioned about killing everyone, which would include Catholics as well as the Cathars was reported to have responded "Burn them all and let God sort them out."</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: x-large;">The
Cathedral of St. Nazaire, Beziers, France</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ICjw_rZNDVNt5C-w_FbQ-h9YapURgYyLXr1ma9i7ElyBcP0GzW4SUc1lDfWzamYYQop4d5QxaCqSroTEfN0MWgOcBOz8E_bvyYMPzaH33OBd9_WXiKsjvhAf-zwBFpruzGAXRB2BEe8I/s1600/IMG_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ICjw_rZNDVNt5C-w_FbQ-h9YapURgYyLXr1ma9i7ElyBcP0GzW4SUc1lDfWzamYYQop4d5QxaCqSroTEfN0MWgOcBOz8E_bvyYMPzaH33OBd9_WXiKsjvhAf-zwBFpruzGAXRB2BEe8I/s640/IMG_0212.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">View of the fortified western facade of the cathedral, dating from the 14th century.</span><br />
This was the other church burned during the Crusades in 1209 by Simon de Montfort. During he blaze, the vault exploded. Reconstruction began in 1215 and the vaulted ceilings were raised.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsXxAKeu6Z5A6FlJxc8RUdDwuSVyHyF2DTP6SQdLLQaJf8lp-XOgcSMGjnvcQ1GrvnU1VdMFIgeS0HKXYMsgB56CnP7S4q2UIcPFKPZ-JaiCZdYomLgfuFKyw-fXVZB6EcgtIQkVAKLXI/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQxVc5XrinjV6csH6_sxIHLu5uxE-_2mY_Hw8FkeLckr9vxBW67-_t7-9jcjKCIDsMHIC3LN_nPs_hyAKJbUO7s_wVV44LqnubJVhRrg6U_Eu-I0FnY7sDPNQK8hzZLcQVhlv9RJLkVMn/s640/IMG_0198.jpg" width="478" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The nave of the church with an extraordinary Baroque statues the reaches past the first level and well up into the stained glass level of the church. It was truly stunning. Gill particularly liked the head of the bull on the left side of the altar</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsCIOQkCJc1MkT4WnH5vbuKXbL-rwONcwy7rzT2uy3RyHfV8b-3xynMzEsGmvB-vvudejcrcBcN-JeSn1sbKGOt1xUnKL2J4xwXWafpqkgkv0pNVshz8jpmFx5fTMOdm3KFvNuXtaQRw_/s1600/IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRC7BtRoFgrnrjMCojmoHEQnktfhGtCPyjtQ8BU2gpfqo96N3zstU7ABI6RRfACGsHmYwb-2Dpxr64KWU_scNx088vjhd9foavzrJ0KWPNBwlIbr7TRq-SNP2sKFjLQITLy8VUKBPDSPD/s1600/IMG_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRC7BtRoFgrnrjMCojmoHEQnktfhGtCPyjtQ8BU2gpfqo96N3zstU7ABI6RRfACGsHmYwb-2Dpxr64KWU_scNx088vjhd9foavzrJ0KWPNBwlIbr7TRq-SNP2sKFjLQITLy8VUKBPDSPD/s640/IMG_0196.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">The organ with walnut buffets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;"></span>The Rose window above the organ is 10 meters in diameter and faces the sunset, in contrast to the windows below which are illuminated by the sunrise, symbolic of the Resurrection.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EbsTLkMmZRnjD2dg0z2HRzadkwueVnrloVARVb7G7ZyuCdlVR9zr70sKb4PlFz1APxjPl1drVKrclqdvWIXn0Jy1f34R2fFoQlyu1Cq1-b1nvNR_jubQlwSPTWXm6C28xSQyqmGuooGB/s1600/IMG_0209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EbsTLkMmZRnjD2dg0z2HRzadkwueVnrloVARVb7G7ZyuCdlVR9zr70sKb4PlFz1APxjPl1drVKrclqdvWIXn0Jy1f34R2fFoQlyu1Cq1-b1nvNR_jubQlwSPTWXm6C28xSQyqmGuooGB/s640/IMG_0209.jpg" width="547" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Another example of the fine stained glass windows in this church. They were wonderful, but hard to capture by camera as the light coming through them was so strong.</span><br />
</div>
<br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dh2YNvLHWPrzK8tXZ6xSbZ_TTWOHsA4ph1yDm4KB0Q-O2rPaCokoP_6wory_LXYP7hUWBl1vZS828DkA1e06qsXC_qAgJlnFyJsbJjNWW7ZdZTM6L8gvfo_3TXaaMFozUx-fVKMRW1jL/s1600/IMG_0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dh2YNvLHWPrzK8tXZ6xSbZ_TTWOHsA4ph1yDm4KB0Q-O2rPaCokoP_6wory_LXYP7hUWBl1vZS828DkA1e06qsXC_qAgJlnFyJsbJjNWW7ZdZTM6L8gvfo_3TXaaMFozUx-fVKMRW1jL/s640/IMG_0204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Cherubs looking down from the balcony.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">N</span>ote the wonderful vaulted ceiling. I was completely impressed with the ceilings in this cathedral until I witnessed those at Narbonne.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsCIOQkCJc1MkT4WnH5vbuKXbL-rwONcwy7rzT2uy3RyHfV8b-3xynMzEsGmvB-vvudejcrcBcN-JeSn1sbKGOt1xUnKL2J4xwXWafpqkgkv0pNVshz8jpmFx5fTMOdm3KFvNuXtaQRw_/s1600/IMG_0201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsCIOQkCJc1MkT4WnH5vbuKXbL-rwONcwy7rzT2uy3RyHfV8b-3xynMzEsGmvB-vvudejcrcBcN-JeSn1sbKGOt1xUnKL2J4xwXWafpqkgkv0pNVshz8jpmFx5fTMOdm3KFvNuXtaQRw_/s640/IMG_0201.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive; font-size: small;">Figure of a knight with a laurel crown. </span><br />
Note the depiction in his lower right chest of the wound that killed him. Below is a photo of the location of his bier, in front of the vault in which we believe he was buried.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wK61vOlFsyr5PQHR85B4lkIArdok3afbedpSvkOjELVip0P9DD7v-OjsLQ6IZ5u6e_b_nvoQYXazWnKn2U0UQJqrRjzM3qL9lZdtR737jObdYFSmHj99uxQ5G9GN-iKmN7g73d8l15Rd/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wK61vOlFsyr5PQHR85B4lkIArdok3afbedpSvkOjELVip0P9DD7v-OjsLQ6IZ5u6e_b_nvoQYXazWnKn2U0UQJqrRjzM3qL9lZdtR737jObdYFSmHj99uxQ5G9GN-iKmN7g73d8l15Rd/s640/IMG_0200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And so ends our tale of churches. We visited several others but I wanted to show the most interesting parts of what we've seen.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoyed the tour.<br />
<br />
Mom/Gramma Num Num/Sharyn</div>Gramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016202048394883614.post-19761097981631690432012-03-17T09:41:00.001-07:002012-03-17T09:41:43.974-07:00<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Chalkduster; font-size: large;">Olargues</span></i></div>
<br />
Olargues is a beautiful example of a French Medieval (i.e. 12<sup>th</sup>
century) town. In fact, it is an example of an ancient town RESTORED
in medieval times.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK2xo989xgdlcLEOL5denmttRWLtjuafe7Mapg8y4v2Fr2yc5f6QSBFL_ZIzYXWBBcR3t7NiH9-z_GKg-KSTbWyTHMcxddQHZvrnQsVGhmo6UxTjvch-jWkcRhlqRE0b-L9cO8DJeazxj/s1600/450px-Devil%2527s_Bridge_%2526_tower_at_Olargues.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK2xo989xgdlcLEOL5denmttRWLtjuafe7Mapg8y4v2Fr2yc5f6QSBFL_ZIzYXWBBcR3t7NiH9-z_GKg-KSTbWyTHMcxddQHZvrnQsVGhmo6UxTjvch-jWkcRhlqRE0b-L9cO8DJeazxj/s400/450px-Devil%2527s_Bridge_%2526_tower_at_Olargues.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Town
shown to the left – thanks to Wikipedia; we neglected to take a distance
photo.</span></span><br />
<br />
At the top of the hill is the bell tower. This is a remnant of the
ancient (11th century) main tower of the medieval castle (Romanesque
construction), converted in the 15th century to a church. The old village is
clustered around the bell tower.<br />
<br />
The Orb-Jaur valley where the town was sited has been inhabited
since prehistory; neolithic traces have been found here.<br />
<br />
The Ligurians (never heard of them before) arrived around 1000 BC;
then came the Iberians, the Volcae Tectosages (also never heard of
them), then the Celts.<br />
<br />
In 118 BC the Romans arrived. With the
ultimate demise of their empire, they were replaced by the Goths. The
area was further invaded by the Moors, the Arabs, the Vandals,
the Visigoths, and the Vikings (who knew that group came so far
south) and so on.<br />
<br />
The Devil's Bridge, the three arched bridge to the left in the
photo above, is said to date back to 1202 and is reputed to be the
scene of transactions between the people of Olargues and the devil,
to protect them from further raids.<br />
<br />
The transaction seemed to have worked...eventually...as Olargues became reestablished in the 18th century based on the prosperity of local farmers and artisans.<br />
<br />
The town is entered through a medieval stone arched
gateway.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2zDcr__Wl2-TFJwksGGCX8Jbq4_fA451U8dnOwxONDXdHp8QWZypA3fa9AzoE-BpyN5UvWEMXIe-o-3E-qwxeZSq05xTgdH2qNbnLlEI4WC6_rhyW_NvNMB0l5iuS6C8WEB_pvcJusvH/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2zDcr__Wl2-TFJwksGGCX8Jbq4_fA451U8dnOwxONDXdHp8QWZypA3fa9AzoE-BpyN5UvWEMXIe-o-3E-qwxeZSq05xTgdH2qNbnLlEI4WC6_rhyW_NvNMB0l5iuS6C8WEB_pvcJusvH/s640/DSCN0300.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sorry this is so dark; I've been having camera problems.</span></span><br />
<br />
Walking through the village and the castle remains you're always going
uphill or downhill.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1XUgnHtrXqp9NW81roqKLOg34RK1quYfSHJlv8IuNfmFETmr6Bujpk5xnqsR8AhxfcKvuKnq4a8oQOq3t7lCHWAlWfQtThkjb6dqSmpbTJdJi2Z-R8EfMxm1zp6Q-giCJep4rAnCzITG/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1XUgnHtrXqp9NW81roqKLOg34RK1quYfSHJlv8IuNfmFETmr6Bujpk5xnqsR8AhxfcKvuKnq4a8oQOq3t7lCHWAlWfQtThkjb6dqSmpbTJdJi2Z-R8EfMxm1zp6Q-giCJep4rAnCzITG/s400/DSCN0301.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a staircase/alley leading from one level of the town to another. </span></span><br /><br />
<br />
<a href="" name="yui_3_2_0_15_1331223919673370"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3DwM3vJrMFbmq-hSO4yqixa-uJpmlA1PW4qpvJKKpVRU_Djd1Oc_W7WvrJnjmmkbC9_a5OS8GJfVHrxEnhU-Zncw_S9d6Y-6KbC3ICjO9NURzAnzjbziPehmhPKkg0jgtOc-TTkPThLH/s1600/DSCN0303.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3DwM3vJrMFbmq-hSO4yqixa-uJpmlA1PW4qpvJKKpVRU_Djd1Oc_W7WvrJnjmmkbC9_a5OS8GJfVHrxEnhU-Zncw_S9d6Y-6KbC3ICjO9NURzAnzjbziPehmhPKkg0jgtOc-TTkPThLH/s640/DSCN0303.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This part of the village is like a rabbit warren with stairs leading to different levels. It appears to be part of a complex built within the castle walls.</span></span><br />
<br />
This staircase adjacent to the church led to a large complex of a living quarters. In some areas the apartments or homes appeared vacant and neglected. But we were surprised to
find that some apartments within the castle walls still seem to be
inhabited.<br />
<br />
There were new doors that appeared to indicate inhabited quarters; we saw one woman sweeping the area outside her door.<br />
<br />
Imagine living in a place that was built in the 5th or 6th
century or even the 12th century. Talk about walking through history. <br />
<br />
Various remnants of the past fortifications can be seen, such as
parts of the original ramparts. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfg6uEPhMhHnlRCvuRF4jsPjC83dGtCZHGO58G5x9-v4Q1-Hxa83rx3LVw49rsJo291Ep2tyIXBBqfNwSO0SoNSljsHWkOt_AFac8idYx_1Z2igi_t0FTvS5BcppjNLHnIBSNyonDHrs7/s1600/DSCN0310.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfg6uEPhMhHnlRCvuRF4jsPjC83dGtCZHGO58G5x9-v4Q1-Hxa83rx3LVw49rsJo291Ep2tyIXBBqfNwSO0SoNSljsHWkOt_AFac8idYx_1Z2igi_t0FTvS5BcppjNLHnIBSNyonDHrs7/s640/DSCN0310.JPG" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There seems to be major reconstruction going on in the ramparts of the castle. Note the exposed rock here. It seems like the whole village was built into and around the existing rock of the hill. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH3qzVRNKAGYqmFNd-5_AB1t7xzU8-ZgspFjR3RN0juxKuH3dRyVPTIBncz_Hqct-GVKuILa_Vzfsfcxh_DRtRXr2YzpZzNHZazISBxCPpSinCSmf4HwO1kFZ5GXxjvxxXU7nR3DcLQhy/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH3qzVRNKAGYqmFNd-5_AB1t7xzU8-ZgspFjR3RN0juxKuH3dRyVPTIBncz_Hqct-GVKuILa_Vzfsfcxh_DRtRXr2YzpZzNHZazISBxCPpSinCSmf4HwO1kFZ5GXxjvxxXU7nR3DcLQhy/s640/DSCN0309.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
The above doorway bore a sign saying, "Place forte du Languedoc de 12 au 17 seicle. Distruction sur ordre de Louis XIII a la demande de Richelieu. Sur la route Vieille Toulouse de Nimes a Toulouse. The story of the stronghold's demise.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWdCOxYeq0fZydivA4OSc_LhddQslH0UEMVoZ792t76547oKIlg-iLFY27tUsIv4Y6itHFZcdZ5BB207YiXIC_4ZsZmQ3-C-aGPRdD4trOX_xz5MfJpgr3Ci6ACgVxReisoVhyphenhyphenwD9ldvn/s1600/DSCN0304.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWdCOxYeq0fZydivA4OSc_LhddQslH0UEMVoZ792t76547oKIlg-iLFY27tUsIv4Y6itHFZcdZ5BB207YiXIC_4ZsZmQ3-C-aGPRdD4trOX_xz5MfJpgr3Ci6ACgVxReisoVhyphenhyphenwD9ldvn/s640/DSCN0304.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The Church of Saint-Laurent was built
in the 17th century using stone from the ramparts.<br />
<br />
At the bottom of the old town there's a new section. There we discovered a wonderful restaurant, Restaurant Laissac, in what would, here in France, be a new part of town, but in Canada would be considered historical.<br />
<br />
We had one of the best meals in France at this location: an appetizer of smoked trout gelee and
some smoked salmon with incredible French bread. For the entre we both had braised duck with delicious
small chunks of potatoes.<br />
<br />
For dessert, Gill had a lemon torte that she almost
melted over; only prudence prevented her from having a second
helping. I had creme brule. It was very good.
Jen would approve of this place.<br />
<br />
Some of the meals we've had here have been incredible. I'm starting to take photos of them to send to you. <br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3DwM3vJrMFbmq-hSO4yqixa-uJpmlA1PW4qpvJKKpVRU_Djd1Oc_W7WvrJnjmmkbC9_a5OS8GJfVHrxEnhU-Zncw_S9d6Y-6KbC3ICjO9NURzAnzjbziPehmhPKkg0jgtOc-TTkPThLH/s1600/DSCN0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2zDcr__Wl2-TFJwksGGCX8Jbq4_fA451U8dnOwxONDXdHp8QWZypA3fa9AzoE-BpyN5UvWEMXIe-o-3E-qwxeZSq05xTgdH2qNbnLlEI4WC6_rhyW_NvNMB0l5iuS6C8WEB_pvcJusvH/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWdCOxYeq0fZydivA4OSc_LhddQslH0UEMVoZ792t76547oKIlg-iLFY27tUsIv4Y6itHFZcdZ5BB207YiXIC_4ZsZmQ3-C-aGPRdD4trOX_xz5MfJpgr3Ci6ACgVxReisoVhyphenhyphenwD9ldvn/s1600/DSCN0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfg6uEPhMhHnlRCvuRF4jsPjC83dGtCZHGO58G5x9-v4Q1-Hxa83rx3LVw49rsJo291Ep2tyIXBBqfNwSO0SoNSljsHWkOt_AFac8idYx_1Z2igi_t0FTvS5BcppjNLHnIBSNyonDHrs7/s1600/DSCN0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH3qzVRNKAGYqmFNd-5_AB1t7xzU8-ZgspFjR3RN0juxKuH3dRyVPTIBncz_Hqct-GVKuILa_Vzfsfcxh_DRtRXr2YzpZzNHZazISBxCPpSinCSmf4HwO1kFZ5GXxjvxxXU7nR3DcLQhy/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1XUgnHtrXqp9NW81roqKLOg34RK1quYfSHJlv8IuNfmFETmr6Bujpk5xnqsR8AhxfcKvuKnq4a8oQOq3t7lCHWAlWfQtThkjb6dqSmpbTJdJi2Z-R8EfMxm1zp6Q-giCJep4rAnCzITG/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Gramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016202048394883614.post-91172253244626610152012-03-14T18:15:00.000-07:002012-03-14T18:15:16.571-07:00Libellule - our French abode <style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 2cm }
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm }
-->
</style><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">Libellule
(</span></span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Dragonfly</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Apple Chancery,cursive;"><span style="font-size: large;">),
#7 Rue du Prince, Neffies - our French abode</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is an amazing house; the
foundation dates from the 12<sup>th</sup> century. (Sorry, I forgot to take a photo of the house. It will come later)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
According to a local historian, the row
of houses in which #7 forms but one part were the first to be built
in the area. The seigneur provided the housing for his workers some
time in or following the 12<sup>th</sup> century. There are
interesting remnants from many of the previous centuries still
visible in the house.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjg5hxjZ4swr3rndG1KxEaRLvK9ycQT82yWfaFaXrXFKVmcDBJMDlUktFR8M84hz2VD-wXcHhPIM4EMBO8vBDm1vuhqxQkJtbJz8CZwATE28g8wlZq7UnJmVQJtSynWL6K26w77UPH_Yk/s1600/DSCN0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjg5hxjZ4swr3rndG1KxEaRLvK9ycQT82yWfaFaXrXFKVmcDBJMDlUktFR8M84hz2VD-wXcHhPIM4EMBO8vBDm1vuhqxQkJtbJz8CZwATE28g8wlZq7UnJmVQJtSynWL6K26w77UPH_Yk/s320/DSCN0286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA2vau5l9bFcYZkJcy2QHaEYtLXP9I9NOSeob1y5FtbsTeOOJGNi96NsUkFdRLDn7DtQFG-ffi8gU2BKJHOM2sma6adW-CdldWx3VQO_gLwiLAxBoc40PvAwpK-1FBgKRyWOwoZLgLjcA/s1600/DSCN0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA2vau5l9bFcYZkJcy2QHaEYtLXP9I9NOSeob1y5FtbsTeOOJGNi96NsUkFdRLDn7DtQFG-ffi8gU2BKJHOM2sma6adW-CdldWx3VQO_gLwiLAxBoc40PvAwpK-1FBgKRyWOwoZLgLjcA/s320/DSCN0325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoEk8M50LBTV4vh4nAgmcuS5GoWlQzYCyuuXRCixYAv645RKFl241ZPfKmwpzhBYbzICBOfQ8tjNpswL1v5B8N_8Poqk_b-aaL5BmIHq6yWFqWxnq2IG_ujYc9hMFjdkvsAsvgT-kgwCn/s1600/DSCN0287.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoEk8M50LBTV4vh4nAgmcuS5GoWlQzYCyuuXRCixYAv645RKFl241ZPfKmwpzhBYbzICBOfQ8tjNpswL1v5B8N_8Poqk_b-aaL5BmIHq6yWFqWxnq2IG_ujYc9hMFjdkvsAsvgT-kgwCn/s320/DSCN0287.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some
the of the charming old houses in Neffies.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At street level in Libellule there is a
series of rooms. At some point in history the first section was used to house
animals – possibly a horse. The room behind this contained a
wine-making area (this is wine country after all). The third
room contained rubble from when the roof collapsed many years ago;
the current owner dug out truckloads of this rubble and cemented the
floor to make it usable</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Currently the front section contains a
tidy daybed and is reported to be a great place to sleep when the
weather gets hot, as I'm sure it will here in the south of France. Not this month though.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Houses in this area certain display
extreme adaptability in their use over the centuries.<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When you enter the street-level door to Libellule's living quarters you face a staircase comprised of logs, tiled,
and well worn through use. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDrLFl2b5rLoJUit_ZSKgBilBgAz2xs5-31VA87sk_r7ZHm7KuWFhEkjJMTlhkTmR7DeXtV-R2Lg9C14gb1K6sYsSNeVeo8HWA9LcYIAth6Nppi_o9M6Lbe3nLTDkRv5cCWAVP-VWbEDG/s1600/IMG_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDrLFl2b5rLoJUit_ZSKgBilBgAz2xs5-31VA87sk_r7ZHm7KuWFhEkjJMTlhkTmR7DeXtV-R2Lg9C14gb1K6sYsSNeVeo8HWA9LcYIAth6Nppi_o9M6Lbe3nLTDkRv5cCWAVP-VWbEDG/s320/IMG_0156.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
entrance staircase to the living quarters.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tF2LLnb9XxmhZt2I5xQZcLagbS8cgZ2ObvbO_tGTTgXH6yqdT16KCgAQ1IggcKllwNzoIi1olg5aiJuDdc3Fy-cmXVa5Cbqoa1roKpipLrH-htFhLobMlwPUDPtm0xzovPigaqk-w1rb/s1600/DSCN0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tF2LLnb9XxmhZt2I5xQZcLagbS8cgZ2ObvbO_tGTTgXH6yqdT16KCgAQ1IggcKllwNzoIi1olg5aiJuDdc3Fy-cmXVa5Cbqoa1roKpipLrH-htFhLobMlwPUDPtm0xzovPigaqk-w1rb/s320/DSCN0277.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The door at the top of the
stairs, dating from the 1700s </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8Y55rIbqymnzL8AN6GBJLuz8leEi9g-MBK-HvQFSBzDHvRacCF64MMIakF8cGM4YpRcqHObFA7aJv2BcF0ZTtZhFqO-im4WHBH5i6ZDlSYuX2FIPLEc4vVCTkqBLWTpwWITHFK6QX17Q/s1600/DSCN0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8Y55rIbqymnzL8AN6GBJLuz8leEi9g-MBK-HvQFSBzDHvRacCF64MMIakF8cGM4YpRcqHObFA7aJv2BcF0ZTtZhFqO-im4WHBH5i6ZDlSYuX2FIPLEc4vVCTkqBLWTpwWITHFK6QX17Q/s320/DSCN0278.JPG" width="229" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Same
door as shown above – from the interior. Note the old hinges near
the top and the bottom of the door. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We need to lock the above
door when we're home because it's so old it maintains the right to do
as it pleases, in this instance to hang ajar, allowing a draft.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCRx_mNWryYLJM0fdNH-u2BHB7tiy6PW4CVvYJKZmMfkNY28gxn2WjxZXU8xRm3pcmQmGFbHWd0tZaT1hdXHoX3u9IKN9Q03Y7lfpW9z8VBiValgbr1Spp3w7HvzEM-5uiFZfe29V1xBu/s1600/DSCN0284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCRx_mNWryYLJM0fdNH-u2BHB7tiy6PW4CVvYJKZmMfkNY28gxn2WjxZXU8xRm3pcmQmGFbHWd0tZaT1hdXHoX3u9IKN9Q03Y7lfpW9z8VBiValgbr1Spp3w7HvzEM-5uiFZfe29V1xBu/s320/DSCN0284.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This
is the key to the interior door; it's about 6” long. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There is evidence of the
history of this house at every turn, lovingly retained over the years
by successive owners.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKvF3hyqmWV-pbh8Wb6vRo5y3mBNPJHwnJ0DL-o7UurHGdlctMXmePv3xi5XPg4WVOARVz2Z_dB_ZDr109ZKdUbYlovjwke6FaR0sTtcKg27KtizpZBHgfS4_q_A30cI59h_hJgCdSpa2/s1600/DSCN0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKvF3hyqmWV-pbh8Wb6vRo5y3mBNPJHwnJ0DL-o7UurHGdlctMXmePv3xi5XPg4WVOARVz2Z_dB_ZDr109ZKdUbYlovjwke6FaR0sTtcKg27KtizpZBHgfS4_q_A30cI59h_hJgCdSpa2/s320/DSCN0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKTPupeGmTDc4iliOzhayp8GKjAtiuNNbAz-n2I2DACMSjfhKMSKAa-ab6QOsftAyt-Auxr1LqykplnmQ7EOEHQthDhKhwKNg4v2nKUR0YwilpkT8yGQZ0KzetUoE5bc0ihC3k2eegXQ0/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKTPupeGmTDc4iliOzhayp8GKjAtiuNNbAz-n2I2DACMSjfhKMSKAa-ab6QOsftAyt-Auxr1LqykplnmQ7EOEHQthDhKhwKNg4v2nKUR0YwilpkT8yGQZ0KzetUoE5bc0ihC3k2eegXQ0/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Two views of the dining area with th<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">e
plastered walls and portions of the original stone construction left
exposed.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Note the heavy old beams in the ceiling
and the remains of the original fireplace, no longer in use, on the
right. At the back is the old dry sink. The window in the centre of
the photo looks out onto the rue/alley. When you open the door
there's a teeny balcony, about 18” deep and three feet wide with a
wrought iron railing, very Mediterranean.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxgayAgSoP3E7QeRAPmqlzOLlVYPz68RIhiW981q5yOexRCBVUR8BrKoXhN4zrlY1METXUobNrBmg9SKJ6jz2jsYLrP30jsbdAYNfxxafwQmawmljO5LJD0Se02Xxyh4TcmNFBb5Q5TQu/s1600/DSCN0279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxgayAgSoP3E7QeRAPmqlzOLlVYPz68RIhiW981q5yOexRCBVUR8BrKoXhN4zrlY1METXUobNrBmg9SKJ6jz2jsYLrP30jsbdAYNfxxafwQmawmljO5LJD0Se02Xxyh4TcmNFBb5Q5TQu/s320/DSCN0279.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This
is an old dry sink on the front wall of the dining area. That small
dot on the right side appears to be a drain hole, no longer in
use...like the sink itself. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GeT4D0Y-O8CTf-czGHPrK4LEn5VixeEuUrhUVuwMAF7EG8BwlHhBBTwXZcYzZ04eUXd8H2BgLadO37n02SmqXtaOPgBAI0jpFbNVp8OlzPYzmiKfI66iEG5nV3ykev9dOMb0FpnKTR_G/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GeT4D0Y-O8CTf-czGHPrK4LEn5VixeEuUrhUVuwMAF7EG8BwlHhBBTwXZcYzZ04eUXd8H2BgLadO37n02SmqXtaOPgBAI0jpFbNVp8OlzPYzmiKfI66iEG5nV3ykev9dOMb0FpnKTR_G/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View
of the kitchen area </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The stove is gas and
cooks with the speed of light; there's a washer and dryer and the
bathrooms are well-appointed and modern, the frig is modern and
electric with more than adequate space for all the cheese, tartine,
pate and moutard dijon than you can store;</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There's an epicerie a three-minute walk
away with everything you need including fresh meat, vegetables and
fruit, and the all-important baguette, so food is readily available.
Oh, they have a canned duck (if you can believe it) that's to die
for.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When its windy the breezes
howl through the eaves of the house and there's no central heating.
The landl</span><span style="font-size: small;">ord has provided electric heaters for the rooms so in spite of the antiquity of our surroundings, we are quite
snug.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Evidence of the original stone
construction is still visible in the plastered overlay throughout the
house; whether the latter was to fill gaps in the stonework, or to
hold it together, I have no idea. The look is charming. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiqyaUAqHPCZpqIsRrR-ztXruZ4fRoA0qht3IOq3idjor6WHuqnv-W_X6t7Gnm_qDkh8P7qwMLomWm8jeoAF_3u26WtorzhqjTdZeyzTXJQTDW_gMwBM4A_2LQB6gRUAYIYd_92xZHtHb/s1600/DSCN0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiqyaUAqHPCZpqIsRrR-ztXruZ4fRoA0qht3IOq3idjor6WHuqnv-W_X6t7Gnm_qDkh8P7qwMLomWm8jeoAF_3u26WtorzhqjTdZeyzTXJQTDW_gMwBM4A_2LQB6gRUAYIYd_92xZHtHb/s320/DSCN0281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A
photo of the bedroom I'm using, a blend of the old and the new.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The current flooring is tiled in a
broad plank wood pattern, a modern update that retains the ambiance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZBlSGo6PMNDojlB2JW-nzYaeVQQuKEFQmoF9xFYFiwquvQDBqE7BrveU6rtCv7QOSV1wCerhY9m2bLyXdf3BT7e4xwlDc2L00qL7duBJduIiyPXY7QIyTwrXsst-j9-z3K0sqORZwETY/s1600/DSCN0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5ji3eQzKxk7mmnOGA0TAwTF9uXx_F44sKuRoi52-5iyvapMLyvZ_TFgeuoJEn_i9zfsRmslFmrv5I2AddInuv0X5FgrC0Kdwnv8UbYGIRRt86wZvaa_3X3NXFqR4rEqjZ_Sj1MpsHs_V/s320/DSCN0282.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A
view through my bedroom window. The walls are ancient; the puppy poo from the neighbouring dog
is from this century.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The current owner of the house believes
that the back part of what is currently his house was previously part
of another house, there being a step up from the kitchen/dining area
to my bedroom.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Since the above enclosed garden is the
only one I've yet seen in the area, I wonder if the space had
originally been part of the back of the house we're in. Otherwise, I
can't figure out how the residents would have accessed the space.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The steps in the house are a challenge;
each stair tread is a different height than the one before and the
one that follows, often catching your toes as you climb. Obviously
there were no building codes when they were built. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG62Wy_M8C0f0C6HnUXJ9SrxqMhKqLBjuakRYVlKr-a_Ntz8m0XnNOv5r5HafWSCXo3LN54J3I7C-kwM3PZAltMfPaZLIVOzf6C6N5iFxMaOSP3nFshnqaEij8okVVX9sOvkH8_ySYHVK/s1600/IMG_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG62Wy_M8C0f0C6HnUXJ9SrxqMhKqLBjuakRYVlKr-a_Ntz8m0XnNOv5r5HafWSCXo3LN54J3I7C-kwM3PZAltMfPaZLIVOzf6C6N5iFxMaOSP3nFshnqaEij8okVVX9sOvkH8_ySYHVK/s320/IMG_0160.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stairs
to the upstairs sitting area. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA7mlfjHugUIk1nyL5Rm9XcNO2rS2WYxDAJon5pptp0A_o0OiXQAkA7H4JCRYUkeG8EKwQOzl2Jm9BXcFubvn-8reqO379LIM0TQDt0MkKcc57ygVowAPaeONq1PE3oi3-o5mPJ_V5ndo/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA7mlfjHugUIk1nyL5Rm9XcNO2rS2WYxDAJon5pptp0A_o0OiXQAkA7H4JCRYUkeG8EKwQOzl2Jm9BXcFubvn-8reqO379LIM0TQDt0MkKcc57ygVowAPaeONq1PE3oi3-o5mPJ_V5ndo/s320/IMG_0233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
upstairs sitting area. The TV has 500 stations; I've only
managed a couple of movie channels, in English – what a cop-out,
eh!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Probably most important, the bathrooms
are airy and modern with hot water that arrives instantly.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi291Z53iLnPLQCDp_-SNOSu5fAJYXdAK4z3WLSkEC1hHlMozYqp4sqPPeLDFEGvETm47j_I7HR0ctc28UVzQd_v3wW_lLqMoBRI_V2KcljTLccREAD2yMz9Tt9v1e9lM5zWYhRCt0sI0P_/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi291Z53iLnPLQCDp_-SNOSu5fAJYXdAK4z3WLSkEC1hHlMozYqp4sqPPeLDFEGvETm47j_I7HR0ctc28UVzQd_v3wW_lLqMoBRI_V2KcljTLccREAD2yMz9Tt9v1e9lM5zWYhRCt0sI0P_/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My
bathroom with the ever-present Sudoku book for contemplative
relaxation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Libellule is surely the best of both
worlds.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For a little change of pace, I'll slip in here a photo of the banana and chocolate crepe we had a couple of days ago. Go ahead and drool ;-)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps-o77jOFU2I3sRimOCtILGA6iFZ15RGhKhWIbyTnLQ1BJ0UeNL7Ot_-boceudv1A8RDrAMlXqhJ8wVsGuu96vsXgtVimCSubg_VR6BcDfUt9e1ROdWFLCkvb3NkWsA8GSsBAzYMvMUif/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps-o77jOFU2I3sRimOCtILGA6iFZ15RGhKhWIbyTnLQ1BJ0UeNL7Ot_-boceudv1A8RDrAMlXqhJ8wVsGuu96vsXgtVimCSubg_VR6BcDfUt9e1ROdWFLCkvb3NkWsA8GSsBAzYMvMUif/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I could display many more photos, but I
think you get the picture – ha!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Coming up, I'll give you a taste of various
amazing locations we've visited, provide some commentary on
getting around by car in southern France and observations about the
French people, particularly relative to their driving habits!!!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There will be a special feature –
Blunders, Bloopers and Blatant Idiocy, being tales of two women
trying to make their way in a foreign land, speaking a foreign
language and driving a foreign car.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bye for now,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Love Mom/Awnty/Gramma Num Num/Sharyn</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>Gramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016202048394883614.post-76768348720120037642012-03-13T15:19:00.003-07:002012-03-22T05:41:57.549-07:00France 1<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 2cm }
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm }
-->
</style> Gramma Num Num's adventures in France.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Warning: </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>The
information in this blog, in some instances, may be supported by
research I have made or that has been provided by local residents
with long memories and longer histories; other may merely be the
opinion of the writer. Information correcting or updating the former
will be appreciated. Opinions differing from mine may reveal a
different viewpoint, but are also welcome to be shared here.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Updated
information may be added from time to time; such will be identifiable
in blue text.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Monday, March 4, 2012</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It's morning. I know that by the light
shining through the curtains and sounds of industry invading the open
window, disturbing my sleep.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I check my watch; though I had no idea
of local time, I was able to figure out that I'd slept about
fourteen hours - the most I've slept in one night since I was a
teenager.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first words I heard came from my
friend and travel companion, Gill, from the other side of our
miniscule hotel room: “Did you sleep well Fumbles?” This added to
my confusion since my name is not Fumbles.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The name belongs to Gill's soft, brown
teddy bear, a creature who has been with her for many years and has
supported her through many life crises. She was apologizing to him
for his having to travel in the suitcase.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Given space constraints in her luggage,
packed for our three-week stay in France, I'm astounded that Fumbles
was invited on the trip. I'd bypassed aspirin to make room for my
toothbrush.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Fumbles forgave Gill for his travel
accommodations; forgave but nonetheless pouted. He did report that he
had slept well during the night; Gill complained that he took up over
half her bed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Lest you think I have attached myself
to a delusional travel companion, and aside from her bringing an
extra guest on our vacation, I'm happy to report that Gill is proving
to be good company and competent in handling problems with calm and
lucidity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Initially, however, I feared she had
dubious navigation skills. Her job had been to direct us from the
airport to our hotel in Toulouse; mine was to drive us there.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Following her directions, we spent 2
1/2 hours driving in circles through the centre of Toulouse, trying
to find our hotel. While Toulouse fascinated us, given that it was
our first experience of a town in Southern France, we were both drunk
with travel fatigue and delirious with hunger.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eventually we returned to the airport
to ask at the Information booth for directions to our destination, or
to find a taxi to lead us there.<br />
<br />
The former worked and with
little confusion we found our temporary home <i>less than 10 minutes
from the airport</i>. Believe me, a small hotel room NEVER felt so
welcome.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8689Wa7IQVZejv8eQPrR3vfekxoGK8eH2RiMN2o-kmwntZNpQesDmvsN9JC70HeLRGIes8RBvwWYI5Ixj2Et-L0cYVSOF8TT7GFcen-ufxDy6c9eObjTXNsEYkd_AEB7stEUdnj1ibZ82/s1600/DSCN0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8689Wa7IQVZejv8eQPrR3vfekxoGK8eH2RiMN2o-kmwntZNpQesDmvsN9JC70HeLRGIes8RBvwWYI5Ixj2Et-L0cYVSOF8TT7GFcen-ufxDy6c9eObjTXNsEYkd_AEB7stEUdnj1ibZ82/s320/DSCN0274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View
A from the window of the Balladins Toulouse Hotel – the most modern
sight we've experienced thus far in southern France.</span></span><br />
<br />
There
was no restaurant in the area; the hotel dining room was closed when
we arrived at 7:00 p.m., so we ate snacks we had carried with us,
definitely not a balanced diet, and were dead asleep by 8:00 p.m.
local time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxSpqNETorT-Avng5NzKRoi8Cb1uXrb6KFZ_1urtNfngnQyh8HTTISTM0-Nusu_QWQqR22fb-vbWqdHBAOYsX-2AW57r66qbHejYUD5Zp3ETNUOQ-A5KZJ8cyzOYBxEBbm9M2bDEX6gF6/s1600/DSCN0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxSpqNETorT-Avng5NzKRoi8Cb1uXrb6KFZ_1urtNfngnQyh8HTTISTM0-Nusu_QWQqR22fb-vbWqdHBAOYsX-2AW57r66qbHejYUD5Zp3ETNUOQ-A5KZJ8cyzOYBxEBbm9M2bDEX6gF6/s320/DSCN0275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View
B from the window of the Balladins Toulouse Hotel</span></span><br />
<br />
The
next morning, repacked and preparing to leave the hotel, we began
thinking about breakfast. We'd slept through the free in-house
morning repas. Gill was convinced she'd seen the Golden Arches the
prior evening as we had approached the hotel; I was convinced she'd
been hallucinating from fatigue and hunger.<br />
<br />
Inquiries at the
desk, in French I'm proud to report, confirmed Gill's sanity - there
was a Macdonald's if one went "a la carrefour et a droit; puis a
la prochain carrefour et encore a droit." Comme magique, there
it was. (Forgive my unaccented French; this is a new computer and I
haven't yet figured out how to switch from language to language.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vzmtdn6v34J0a8YuZd3BmBWzhpozreu2hFHFQwr9H0WUShpEnFi_KQ6s6N7OvriMcguqE7HBM196-QiHJs0Eh-7zAJCdDVPnQoBT-iobgNIZ5j-ttJ3Y2pQRUCzfeQHcxyeAr9JP559v/s1600/DSCN0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vzmtdn6v34J0a8YuZd3BmBWzhpozreu2hFHFQwr9H0WUShpEnFi_KQ6s6N7OvriMcguqE7HBM196-QiHJs0Eh-7zAJCdDVPnQoBT-iobgNIZ5j-ttJ3Y2pQRUCzfeQHcxyeAr9JP559v/s640/DSCN0276.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Statue
in the centre of the first 'carrefour;' I can't decide whether this
is one lucky guy or whether the morose look on his face tells another
story.</span></span><br />
<br />
So, though it embarrasses me to report,
our first meal in France was taken at Macdonald's.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But I have to tell you that this French
Micky-dee hamburger was actually made out of real beef - Charolais to
be exact. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>(A white breed,
Charolais believed to originate in southern France; white cattle
first noticed there in 878 A.D.)</b></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Maybe it was starvation, but a
hamburger never tasted so good.<br />
<br />
With full bellies, we walked
back to the hotel, climbed into our little Ford Fusion, 5-gear wonder
and headed to Neffies, where we were to reside for the duration of
our adventures in France.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With a combination of our maps, and
Gill again as navigator, refreshed and now extraordinarily competent,
we found ourselves quite simply driving through beautiful French
countryside with manor houses, farm houses, acres upon thousands of
acres of vinyards and ubiquitous Catholic monasteries and churches
around each bend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zDx9zRr5s5bc32XCxSOl7tL3Vg6YnfGU7rcT6RyRSYAJDyc1FViRSTfDjj0-jtC3yito6wBhdFRq43K35lC9yhy-e6GFR25BIptV0_IbFQrrr7JGKxSP7kmv-d1SFoWMHTI96V2GWgpL/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zDx9zRr5s5bc32XCxSOl7tL3Vg6YnfGU7rcT6RyRSYAJDyc1FViRSTfDjj0-jtC3yito6wBhdFRq43K35lC9yhy-e6GFR25BIptV0_IbFQrrr7JGKxSP7kmv-d1SFoWMHTI96V2GWgpL/s640/IMG_0293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Just
one example of the thousands of acres of vineyards in the Languedoc
and Provence areas of southern France. (Courtesy of Gill)</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFL3SjevWztEDa-azil5ZUI7krCC-IPxMszTwPpkw1UlquMdaXppSt5cC9n5U3hG2sseSTKg68_7wzZHg6JTmu2hVWLZZY9Tu4WhBh-aSpNlxwGN6-jZHQ2H_ujR52L1KwEtPVTLLFl8A/s1600/DSCN0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFL3SjevWztEDa-azil5ZUI7krCC-IPxMszTwPpkw1UlquMdaXppSt5cC9n5U3hG2sseSTKg68_7wzZHg6JTmu2hVWLZZY9Tu4WhBh-aSpNlxwGN6-jZHQ2H_ujR52L1KwEtPVTLLFl8A/s640/DSCN0341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A closeup of a vineyard belonging to Domaine Morin-Langaran, where we stopped to 'deguster' some vin, which we didn't get but we did buy some superbe chutneys and apricots in madeira.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mtmv0EnevZ1JncB_tDWuqgvNEPKMj-y-83wk1bW9pNIbvd5a_TGIw2XgrMbiyHlqtqx01cDAjb-h0_wLVI8EhY1d111MLScuEKOv-eay-oBBOwkioJeDLM0sMzItk8zix0qcXcYaEoCO/s1600/DSCN0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mtmv0EnevZ1JncB_tDWuqgvNEPKMj-y-83wk1bW9pNIbvd5a_TGIw2XgrMbiyHlqtqx01cDAjb-h0_wLVI8EhY1d111MLScuEKOv-eay-oBBOwkioJeDLM0sMzItk8zix0qcXcYaEoCO/s640/DSCN0319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hwy
D15 on the way into Neffies, lined with the ubiquitous London Plane
or Sycamore trees. Many roads and private laneways throughout the
region are tree-lined like this.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Upon arrival in Neffies, an absolutely
charming medieval town, we again encountered confusion. I'd neglected
to copy off the landlord's <i>to-the-door</i> instructions, so we
spent about an hour driving up and down extremely steep hills and
narrow streets (we were entranced) trying to find Rue du Prince.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It turned out to be exactly where it
was supposed to be – at the top of the steepest of hills – the
road which we'd passed several times but overlooked because of the
<i>do not enter</i> sign which, it turned out belong to the adjacent
road to the left.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Once upon the hill we had no trouble
locating our destination.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Kjby5DMXlYGyKniB0oufZyZSRTOb2NxGPx0CnwwLtYuiUosyP40GEqYGXJUGaGHrUSgPDM71K9ER637pUshiNn-EcmBRqHMjDw-TTLPMUtaY4z8nrKLl61PdrbJhFHwZvv1ZqhZ8au_c/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Kjby5DMXlYGyKniB0oufZyZSRTOb2NxGPx0CnwwLtYuiUosyP40GEqYGXJUGaGHrUSgPDM71K9ER637pUshiNn-EcmBRqHMjDw-TTLPMUtaY4z8nrKLl61PdrbJhFHwZvv1ZqhZ8au_c/s640/IMG_0211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture of the town square, Neffies, with what we think is a remnant of the old fort, now a lovely restaurant; blue awning on the right, the epicerie, our salvation in a country with unfathomable restaurant hours of operation. (Courtesy of Gill)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJu4yCCHioDDPck3MUUWEfNWxpd0v6pS__4FFPGxxCdAeGU3Q9Z3zHenT3mtT1PASvziIg1xESI2_x8uJOySI1glHRo5KVaf7iHToAjX8S7b42mDmhfyRaJzGf5fSKe74psn5lgIubp3W/s1600/IMG_0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJu4yCCHioDDPck3MUUWEfNWxpd0v6pS__4FFPGxxCdAeGU3Q9Z3zHenT3mtT1PASvziIg1xESI2_x8uJOySI1glHRo5KVaf7iHToAjX8S7b42mDmhfyRaJzGf5fSKe74psn5lgIubp3W/s640/IMG_0129.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Fountain
and statue on the edge of the town square, Neffies.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The lane within which our little French
habitat is situated is too narrow for an auto, even one of the tiny
French version, so we had to park on the main square, less than a
1-minute walk from our door.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLmDQpcx8LROo0jrBhDNlGNouTbsA091G1OfQN7vpZrhD9zwUGE-uxlUzlefhq8JFfP2mtOzV4IrI9DmUV0tl_Hgfl7q5e51-PbwWkyc4kWWKcQbnWZ8q6w82H1nNn8_RiGM38sojbLR9/s1600/DSCN0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLmDQpcx8LROo0jrBhDNlGNouTbsA091G1OfQN7vpZrhD9zwUGE-uxlUzlefhq8JFfP2mtOzV4IrI9DmUV0tl_Hgfl7q5e51-PbwWkyc4kWWKcQbnWZ8q6w82H1nNn8_RiGM38sojbLR9/s640/DSCN0290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Chalkduster;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Straight
ahead, Rue de Prince, where our abode is situated - #7. Though called
a 'rue' it is no more than an alley. Neighbours are friendly, very
important when you're sharing the same breathing space.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We hauled our luggage up the slight
incline, unloaded it into the house, then went to the epicerie to
find dinner. We enjoyed a totally delightful meal that included a
baguette, two different but local pates – Jambon du Gogogne, et
Pate du Forestier, Tomme and Brie cheeses with tomatoes, and French
red wine left as a welcoming gift by our landlord. It was amazing.
We felt so habituated.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Exhausted, we watched a bit of English
TV, (OK that was a cop-out but all our overtaxed brains could
manage), then tumbled into our respective, rather chilly (no central
heating) bedrooms. I snuggled under the comfy quilt and read myself
to sleep per usual.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I awoke in the middle of the night
suddenly unnerved at the thought of the number of people who had
lived in this interesting house in its 1000 year history, and how
many of their souls still roamed its rooms. I decided that as long as
they respected my personal space I would happily share the remaining
space with them. And I wondered if <i>boo </i><span style="font-style: normal;">was
the accepted greeting</span><i>.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm going to post in small batches until I become more confident with the whole blogging thing, so here's the first post.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bye for now,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Love Mom/Awnty/Gramma Num Num/Sharyn</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8mNxmh2Dq-BKyTdZdfI7aXBFK4exHLliteYVyDOkEKXy3DDK6B6gritLxowkx9pOHL4OYxmYYsP_vbb-eInmOso4rm1N6RTPttYYij4EGA81JRWg41wMfsrIdKpkU9eAPv0aDNEmpcGI/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8mNxmh2Dq-BKyTdZdfI7aXBFK4exHLliteYVyDOkEKXy3DDK6B6gritLxowkx9pOHL4OYxmYYsP_vbb-eInmOso4rm1N6RTPttYYij4EGA81JRWg41wMfsrIdKpkU9eAPv0aDNEmpcGI/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8mNxmh2Dq-BKyTdZdfI7aXBFK4exHLliteYVyDOkEKXy3DDK6B6gritLxowkx9pOHL4OYxmYYsP_vbb-eInmOso4rm1N6RTPttYYij4EGA81JRWg41wMfsrIdKpkU9eAPv0aDNEmpcGI/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8mNxmh2Dq-BKyTdZdfI7aXBFK4exHLliteYVyDOkEKXy3DDK6B6gritLxowkx9pOHL4OYxmYYsP_vbb-eInmOso4rm1N6RTPttYYij4EGA81JRWg41wMfsrIdKpkU9eAPv0aDNEmpcGI/s1600/IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />Gramma Num Numhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962567707133158235noreply@blogger.com1