THE NOT SO FUN STUFF

I haven't mentioned yet some of the not so fun stuff that happened on this trip. It's an adventure after all! It started in Pittsburgh waiting for our flight over to Paris. We knew we had a 6 hour wait, however it turned into a 13 hour delay. Exhausted, we finally boarded our plane at 1:30 am. Our original plane got hit by lightening so they had to get us another plane! Then in the Paris airport I promptly lost my reading glasses, never to be seen again. This event really upset me for about half a day then I realized that Jim was quite eager to take over all the money handling, maps, directions ... all that! Of course, I couldn't read, or journal, however, I ended up doing much more art, free from all the hassles of money and directions which never did much for me anyway. Thankfully, I could drive -- an enjoyable experience in France, (unlike Spain and Portugal where they drive like demon maniacs).

Then during the 2nd week I got laryngitis (from that miserable drenching near the Arc de Triumph) and couldn't speak for 2 days. Then the 3rd week I managed to get clogged ears and couldn't hear well. Luckily all this did not happen at once. After bouts of being very irritated by this, I got the message that probably I was being asked by my inner self or something ... to put more energy and awareness on 'inner things.' Once I understood this and relaxed into it all, I had a great time.

PASTORAL PROVENCE

Quaint Hill town in Provence with Lavender Field

The second week was totally different from the adrenal rush of hurry and scurry in Paris. We were now in the quaint, pastoral hill town area of Provence, considered the most beautiful part of France. We lived in a lovely home rented out by Denise, a sculptress, who spoke about 6 words of English. In this environ, our French study really paid off. We rented our little Fiat by this time and tootled around, deliriously happy, exploring wonderful cobble stoned old towns, eating ice cream, strawberries, raspberries, oodles of French bread, cheeses and drinking wine. Oh Joy!

BAD, BAD, MARQUIS DE SADE

Noreen's Self Portrait as French Waif

We found chateaux after chateaux and hiked all over them. One day a castle appeared on the horizon quite in ruins and very dramatic. We drove there, of course. As it turned out, the notorious Marquis de Sade lived his morbid life there. I tell you, eerie, unsettling vibes emanated from that place. We did not tarry! Even so, that evening I felt drawn to render in watercolors the inkling that I may have been a French Waif living in the time and surroundings of the notorious Marquis. I felt better after creating this image. Better out than in!

ARLES, AMPHITHEATER AND GLADIATORS

The third week ... off to Arles, that spectacular city where the great Roman amphitheater resides; where the gladiators used to get together to kill each other! While sitting on the steps one day, a whole bunch of teenagers sat down nearby. I loved to listen to the ambience of their collective voices. That's when I realized they were Italian, not French, and that Italy was so close we could be there in a few hours on the Rapid Train. But, that's for our next trip!