Hello Everyone
Well I have been here for 2 weeks and am loving it. If there is a complaint it is this keyboard. It seems the French have decided that it needed rearranging so that typing is a long labour intensive exercise with searching for the A, E, W, Q, M, all symbols, etc. To do an apostrophy one must use three keys and the priod is a shift character as are all the numbers. Every symbol is on a different key too. It is aggravating so please ignore any typos.
My first week here was quite nice. I relaxed a lot and slept in every morning. The house is common to this area but quite unique to my past experience. It is 4 stories high, narrow (about 5 or 6 metres wide) and each level is a different depth, getting deeper the higher you go. This is because the house is actually built right into the mountain side. The ground/first level is mainly storage and quite small... mostly cavern-like. The second level is large with a living/dining area. The dining area is in a cave and you step up to the kitchen which is further into the cave. Most of the walls and ceilings have been plastered over but the accoustics and the vaulted ceilings are just 2 clues to the cave's identity and location. In the far back end of the kitchen the cave is fully visible with lichens growing in a few nooks in the rock and a floor drain for the rain run-off. The rock walls are quite pretty when the 'star' lights are on or candles are in there. The angles of the rocks make perfect wine storage. The livingroom has a fireplace that works a charm and the most charming Victorian leather setee I've seen in a long time. There are ancient nooks from the past everywhere and speculating as to their original uses is fun. The house is entirely built of rock and mortor including the first two staircases and the interior walls. The third floor has two bedrooms and a full bathroom. Each room is unique in it's design. There is one window on each of the second and third floors facing the street. The fourth level is a loft over the back bedroom of the third level which is accessed by a new pine staircase. Off this is the roof top terrace.
The terrace is where I spend most of my time when at home. The clotheslines are up there, I sit there to read, write, etc and that is my dining table and napping lounge. The view is stunningly gorgeous. It looks down upon the village and out over the valley, Vis gorge and mountains. The terrace faces south with the mountains up behind to the north and the sun shining on the terrace all day as it traverses the sky.
There has been on dreary day and one rainy day since I've been here: Bart's first and second day here. I was tempted to send him home but his company is too good.
Bart arrived late in the evening last Saturday. It was a complete surprise to me as I had not yet been to an internet access point for e-mail. He had written to say he was coming but I had not seen the message. I was so excited to see him... what a wonderful treat. He has been great company and he was my first contact with english in a week. Oh, except a 10 minute conversation on the street with the housekeeper who is married to a Scotsman.
We spent a day in Ganges together (mostly) doing errands, shopping and eating. We were able to easily hitch a ride back to St. Laurent le Minier (took the Tuesday bus in) with all our grocery bags. There were no cars available to hire and the price was 58? per day. Very expensive.
Yesterday we hitched 2 rides to Le Circque de Navacelle. This, we thought, would be a nice thing to visit and then go to the grotte Desmoiselles after. Did we get a shock. It was huge, monstrous. Much more than expected and we had lunch at the restaurant (5star) overlooking it from the plateau. Bart leaves tomorrow to spend a couple of days in Montpellier before returning to Ottawa.
I am here for another 2 weeks. I have found an art supply shop in Ganges and will start painting after Bart departs. I have several sketches and photos ready for the purpose.
Got to run or I'll miss my bus back to St Laurent le Minier.
Well, this is it. I am about to leave Ottawa heading for France. More specifically, the small French Alps village of St-Laurent le Minier. It is about 5Km from the town of Ganges which is about 45 minutes northwest of Montpellier. The house is called Cevenole and I will try to find a computer with internet access to give you updates in this blog.
This day is starting well. Friends called to invite Tom out for lunch (I've been staying at Tom's this week) but he is out of town so they invited me. Surprised to find me still in town, they offered to drive me to Dorval to catch my flight. YEAH!!! I don't have to take a bus to the bus terminal to get the bus to Dorval. Wondering if I can get a refund for the ticket. Gotta run. They'll be here in an hour or so and I have much to do.
The summer is nearing its end and so I near my next departure date. Here is my plan without details. If you check my website (www.gailene.com) itinerary page you'll find links for most of this.
September 13 - October 11: France. The south of France. Have rented a house in the village of Saint Laurent le Minier near Montpellier in the province of Lanquedoc-Roussillon. It looks like a marvelous place and is called Cevenole. It is a 4-storey 13th century house built into the side of a mountain. The town is in the French Alps and is surrounded by some of the most artistically inspirational scenery in the world.
October 11 - October 20: Back in Ottawa, preparing for the next trip. During my stay I will visit with friends and family.
October 20 - October 29: Churchill, Manitoba for 4 days. Travelling with a friend, my journey will start with a train trip from Ottawa to Toronto to Winnipeg then onto Churchill and the International Wildlife Adventure tour of the Polar Bear Migration. I am looking forward to seeing the polar bears. This is one of the worlds most fascinating natural events. During the tour we spend a day out dog-sledding too. I am getting so excited about this trip. This is a 20 year old dream come true. For more about the polar bears visit the PBI website.
November 2003 and beyond: Sailing in the Bahamas. A friend that I met this past January in the Bahamas has a boat (Pearson 30 sloop) and we will spend most of the winter sailing the Bahamas and beyond.
Next Spring and Summer: Right now the plan is to return to Ottawa. My financial situation is demanding my attention so it seems I may have to rejoin the land of the "working for a living". Of course there is always hope for the elusive lottery winning. HA! Better start thinking about getting a job.
For the photos from my last trip to the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland), Brussels, the south of England and South Ireland please click on the link (NEW! Europe Travel Photo Gallery) at the bottom of this page.