ST. REMY DE PROVENCE, VAN GOGH AND NOSTRADAMUS

Visits to the quaint town of St. Remy de Provence remain especially meaningful to us. We walked the same path in the woods where Van Gogh walked. We saw the views that he painted. Although Vince spent the last years of his life there, mostly in the Asylum (which we didn't visit), he painted about 100 of his very best pictures there. I loved walking in his footsteps, literally. In fact, I even had a vivid dream the next night in which Vincent and Nostradamus (who was actually born in St. Remy) both appeared. I proudly carried Vincent's paints for him in the dream! (To read the entire dream, go to my "Dreams" web page).

Top Left: Noreen does Tai Chi in Glanum's "Market Place" ruins
Top Right: Glanum splendor of 2000 years ago
Bottom: It is said that Van Gogh loved to walk these
paths unaware of the nearby ancient Roman town of Glanum
yet to be excavated

Right in this same area there can be found the excavation of a 2000 year old Roman city, Glanum. This fascinated us as we roamed around, picturing what it might have been like to live there. During a brief 200 year period back then, peaceful living prevailed in this small city built of white stone - a lovely place. I mused for a few moments that perhaps I had a past life there as an artisan, bread maker or high priestess! Anyway, it kind of blew my mind when I realized that Van Gogh walked on top of this city, totally unaware of it's existence, since the excavation happened after his death.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Top: Quaint Town of Sts. Marias de la Mer
Bottom: Nautical Door at Sts. Marias

Noreen's Watercolor of Sts. Marias de la Mer

I took lots of photos of doors and windows. Why! Because they intrigued me. And in Europe, such openings, portals, have great personalities. You know me ... I'll be soon putting together a book on, "Doors and Windows that Speak to Me." (Note: This project became a reality in early 2003, when Jim and I printed and matted 33 photos of our favorite doors and windows that we shot of various holidays. These were then mailed to Italy where our friend, Orietta, is setting up a show for us near Rome)

TAI CHI

We only did our Tai Chi form once but we had fun getting into individual poses for snapshots (in the hopes of impressing our students!) ... on mountains, in monasteries, crypts, gardens, ruined cities.

Well, I think I'm about out of steam and need to go meditate. I love France and want to return some day, yet I realize how incredibly fortunate I am to live just where I live, in the pine woods of Milford, Ohio, USA.

My Image of a Happy Day by the Mediterranean Sea