Today is a time to visit old friends, literally and figuratively.
Our task for today is to shoot for ourselves and make sure Gertude has the information at hand. It is a fun day. We travel along back roads, and find the “old” places from the last time we were here. It feels both good and totally familiar.
We do start out, however, in a village that we have not visited before. It is full of textures and shapes that please us.
It is a sophisticated village, and they are undergoing major renovations. There is new pavement almost throughout. Tiles of granite that are smooth. We find out later that the cobbles that we had encountered the last visit were not the original ones.
In an effort to replicate what was originally there, the town found out that it would have been prohibitively expensive to replicate the original tones. They settled for a very attractive, slightly smoother version that will wear well. We are told that already, since last October, the stones have taken on a more attractive patina.
We wander about and find different things to photograph. A sign here, an old lady talking to a middle-aged one there. Doors and windows. Textures.
Children after school sharing time together as pre-teens do.
We go to another small village where we met a charming couple last visit. Both photographers, they had an atélier (gallery/studio), Arnie had seen it but had gone by, as the proprietor was chatting away with a prospective client. I came by a few minutes later to see the prospective client leave. The proprietor and I chatted away in French about photography, the state of the fine-art world, and life in general only to find when Arnie returned, that we were both American. Neither of us could tell by our French accents that we were not French.
It turned out that he was also an American, but married to a French woman. He called his wife, also a photographer, and Arnie and I ended up at their flat for wine and cheese and several hours of conversation.
This trip, Arnie and I separately, and unbeknownst to each other, in our own way seek out the couple. I make inquiries with a local artist, and he points me down the steep, cobbled hill with directions. It turns out not to be the same couple, but when I talk to another gentleman, he knows exactly who they are. In fact, they live just around the corner. He offers to take me there and knocks on their familar door. She answers, looking at me with recognition, but unable to place me. After all, it has been four or five years since last we met with them.
I thank the gentleman, then introduce myself, telling her how we had met. She instantly understands and calls to her American husband. He is delighted to see me and invites me in. I say Arnie is just around the corner, and I need to get him first.
We sit in their living room, much renovated since our last visit, and chat about photography, the arts, politics, and life in general. She is now taking care of their six-month-old, adorable son; he has closed the atélier and is writing and doing his art. He has a book coming out. We are very excited for him. He has also been commissioned to do a stamp for the US. Also very exciting.
The visit is good and we are glad we made the effort to find them.
It is time to move on, make a few more photographs, and return to Mas les Capelans for yet another wonderful dinner.
Tonight, Françoise prepares a saumon (salmon) with a very light, velouté sauce and a mixture of various rices. We have already started with a lovely salad. It is delectable, as always. Paired with one of the wines around the corner, it is delicious. Actually even without the wine, it is excellent!
We are quite happy. Tomorrow is an easier day for us. Our scouting is done, and, while we have to work, we can also take time for ourselves. It is good!
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