FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

That's what I like about the French countryside: the people are friendly and nice, and willing to help a stranger. Plus these small villages are so much fun to visit, especially on market day when everybody is out shopping.

You find beauty everywhere, Kristin. Today's story reminds me of Picasso's, "Je ne chereche pas, je trouve."

Your photo of the blue/pink facacde is as pretty, soft, and full of character as I imagine this lovely woman was. It is a pity that beauty is so often equated with youth and just-so hair, make-up,wrintkle-free skin, etc. Women notoriously do not want themselves photographed, but you have provided a clear image of her with your words. Merci, Kristin, from a rainy Roanoke.

A touching story ... both beautiful for the images and poignant because of the history. It reminds me that when we are traveling through a new place we often don't know the history, the hidden tragic moments that have occurred where we are standing. This happened to me this summer when entering a door from a busy street in Bruges that led onto a passageway planted with flowers which was the route to an apartment we had rented. As it turns out, it was also a passageway for residents who fled during the Reformation and again when flying the Nazis in WWII. Thanks to our landlord we learned this history of that passageway and that Brugges is filled with them.

And just recently when staying in Vaison, we spent an afternoon in Nyons where we discovered streets dedicated to resistance fighters on our way to the Roman Bridge and a part of village where Jews were rounded up and deported during WWII. When we take the time to look around we not only see the beauty of a place but also learn its history.

I would never take someone's picture without asking (which Kristin did), and have honored the request of people NOT to take a photo of them. On the other hand, I've offered to take pictures of people when I had a camera and they didn't: a family at Disney World, a fisherman with a large catch, etc. I get their address and mail them the photo when it's developed. I don't usually ever see them again, but I think it's a nice thing to do.

Kristi,
Alot of your mom has definitely "rubbed off on you". You are just as sympa as she is with your ability to make friends wherever you go. Wish I'd been there with you on this adventure. Thanks for sharing the little things that most people take for granted!

C'est dommage! I want to see this exquis! I loved this vignette as well as the one about your mom and the men "sans domicile fixe". My own mom had a ball reading your story about the Twilight Zone. Merci pour the entertainment!
from rainy south carolina

"It's a nest! A veritable nest!"

C'est un nid. Un nid sout véritable!

Wonderful story. What luck to have so many little villages to ramble through and have the language ability to engage with people you come across.

I wonder... Should J'aime ses coeurs be, rather, J'aime ces coeurs? (My college French is calling me!) Or is that some idiom I don't know about?

Kristin - thanks, I added two new words to my vocab today - exquis and denrées!

Your pics are truly exquis; however I would have l;iked to see the tall treille avec la marquise; ou the pannier de crysanthèmes.
I agree with you - tant pis that the woman would not let you take her picture - yopur description made her sound très belle.

Hi Walt, I did get a picture of the grape treille and the placette... and then my computer (on which I'd uploaded the photos) went down. Everything should be okay... just need to take it in (!!!)

Cyndy, Canadienne, and Newforest, thank you for the correction for "ses" (to "ces"). Other "fix its" included "marquise" (which needed an "e" in the vocab section. Also: "... des belles photos "à" (accent) avoir..." Still waiting for the English corrections which should be in soon :-)

Ann: "bonjour" à votre maman.

Dear Kristen, today's story is another one of your gems!Exquise! With your wonderfully descriptive words you have painted a perfect picture of Madame,and her pal Mary-Jo... we don't need a photograph to imagine what these two charming characters look like ! Or,for that matter,such a perfect setting for everything to unfold!
THANK YOU for such enjoyment!
Bon journee!!!!

Kristin, Thank you for taking us on your walk through Valreas. I must put this village on my "to do" list. There is something special about wandering with a photographers eye and also being alone. Provence is such a wonderful place for these adventures. There is something quite remarkable about the gems hidden by the centuries old fortifications that still protect the secret life beyond the walls - a life of color and surprise. Your story was a delight to read and reminded me of encounters I have had. Long ago I was kneeling down to photograph a lone flower coming through a crack in the sidewalk. When I stood up, there stood a woman who patiently waited for me. I thought her concern was to not walk into the picture. In fact, she was waiting to guide me around the corner to view a lovely garden hidden from the street. I stopped and took a deep breath. When I looked back, she had slipped through the door of the house that belonged to the garden. I never had the chance to thank her for sharing her secret. More recently, we had wonderful encounters in Faucon and Puymeras. I thank Jean Marc for recommending that we visit these villages. In Faucon, I looked up from my camera and spotted a women at the window of her kitchen two or three floors about the street. For some reason, I decided to wave to her. She returned the greeting with an enthusiastic wave as though I were a friend who had returned after a long absence. It made me feel very welcome. Our next stop was Puymeras. I was busy photographing the vistas while Suzanne followed the winding road to the church. I rounded the bend in the road to the church and spotted Suzanne talking to a woman who was leaning out the window and giving Suzanne a key to the church. Gems around every corner. Margaret

If I had my "druthers" my eye would be a camera to take the beautiful lady's photo. Then I'd go home and paint her picture in watercolor.
You've done it in words -- a wonderful portrait.