I was entrenched in France! The peaceful countryside and the land had bewitched me. My days were filled with magical walks through historical villages & legendary forests, the dark shadowy statuesque trees alluring and cool.
The undergrowth of ferns softening the scene and the climbing ivy, twisting up those grand trunks. I walked past fields, endless fields of corn growing taller by the week; fields of wheat, now long cut down and the earth lying fallow, regaining it's strength for next Spring. I borrowed a wheel barrow and spent a day collecting kindling for my open fire place. I can't wait to sit with my Becky in front of it, warm and cosy munching on her favourite 'bits and pieces'! 
And the berries..........wild big fat luscious plump black berries filling my tummy for either breakfast or lunch. I know all the spots now, some secretive and hidden, others nondescript but laden with the delicious fruit on the country roadside. I drove my little old Renault around Brittany, visiting coastal towns and nearby chateaus and forests filled with legends of King Arthur. I visited Vannes, an ancient wonderful port full of character.
In the summertime some chateaus host open air plays full of life and fascination. The audience sat on the earth and laughed at the artists at work. Their make-up was superb! I visited Merlin's tomb and stood by the fountain of youth. 
My camera took endless photos of french scenery. I am full of wonder for this great land. France is magnificent. J'adore living here! There is something VERY special about France. The whole lifestyle here is different from anywhere I have been to.I also spent a week in Paris! August is a good time to go, Parisians leave the city for their summer holidays and the hotels are dirt cheap. You CAN travel cheaply if you don't need 5 Star - I don't! Especially alone, you can be very frugal!
I took the Metro all over town, to ancient cemeteries and visited the graves of Chopin, Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Sartre & Jim Morrison. I went underground through the Paris sewers. Now that is an amazing adventure. My dear friend Amanda told me about that one. Churches and gardens were in abundance, breathtaking, and one night I sat in the Eglise Madeleine to listen to Vivaldi's "Quartro Saisons". The violins echoed throughout the church.
The soaring ceilings perfect architecture for the acoustics. Sitting there I felt blessed to be able to experience such culture and my eyes filled with the emotion of it all. I looked at the empty seat beside me and wished someone special was there to share it with me!I was also lucky enough to visit the "Life of Yves St Laurent" exhibition literally in its last 2 days. People actually lined up for over 3 hours at the Petit Palais to view the story and costumes of this amazing man. Over 300 mannequins displayed his designs and his life story was fascinating.
I climbed the 207 steps up to the top of the Pantheon, an awesome building that is a "must" to visit. I visiting the home of Victor Hugo and admired his talent of decoration and artwork. It was almost an overload of culture and sights.
I did walk down the Champs Elysee's again, I sat and had coffee, as one does, but this visit mainly consisted of the "out of the way" places. Not the usual tourist haunts - I knew them from previous years. I remembered St Michel across from Notre Dame and its quaint narrow streets bulging with cheap eats and wonderful restaurants. Memories of previous visits flooded my heart - of being there with Becky. I wandered along the Seine and sat on the grass under the Tour de Eiffel and still wondered at its incredible architecture. With each visit I feel I know Paris more intimately; feel its magic in my bones and will always be enthralled by this city of lights. There is NO doubt in my mind you could spend a lifetime in Paris and never see it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment