Monet's Garden

This watercolor painting is my impression of the gorgeous flowers in Monet's Garden situated in the quaint village of Giverny, France (near Paris). After enjoying the full April blooming of these luscious spring flowers, what else could I do but paint them! Monet said before he died that his greatest creative work was not in his paintings but in the creation of these beautiful gardens.

VIVA LA FRANCE

Here are some of my favorite stories, photos and watercolor sketches of La Belle France. What a wondrous country. I absolutely love it. We didn't meet one single French person we didn't like. You know how you keep hearing the French are rude and all that ... not to us. Everyone we met, and we encouraged conversations with the locals, showed themselves to be kind, helpful and SO French. Part of this likely happened because Jim and I wore our Australian holiday adventure hats much of the time and we surmised that the French tended to think of us as Aussies.

However, I think the main reason the locals were so kind to us was that all that French language we sweated to learn in the last year really paid off. We amazed ourselves at how much we could converse and especially in the hill towns of Provence, where most people spoke very little if any English. We could not have had nearly the fun we had if we couldn't speak the language a bit.

Scenes from Paris

Top Left: Notre Dame Cathedral
Top Right: River Seine with the Louvre Museum along far bank
Bottom Left: La Moulin Rouge
Bottom Right: Carousel and Sacred Coeur Church high in Montmatre, Paris

Noreen's Watercolor Sketch of Notre Dame Cathedral
at Cherry Blossom Time

GAY PARIS!

We enjoyed our first week in "Gay Paris," our apartment right in the Latin Quarter near the universities, Sorbonne, etc. where we could walk (indeed we did) to the Musee (museum) d'Orsy which housed most all of my favorite impressionist artist's works, displayed in all their splendor. They don't have guards in every room like in our Cincinnati Art Museum, and occasionally I would gently touch the paint on a Van Gogh I'd loved forever (like "The Midday Nap") to feel this intimate connection.

Little Sketch of Paris along the Seine
Jam Packed with Tiny Cars

The same day we walked across one of the many Seine River bridges and there right smack in front of us, in her majesty, stood the immensely long Louvre Museum. At random I chose to go in one of the many doors and just happened to land in their African section and next to it, the Egyptian. Two of my favorite choices. This place still looks like the palace it was (Louis 14th's digs) and I'm still in total awe of it.

FLOCK OF NUNS

Flock of Nuns Shopping at the Louvre Museum

We saw a funny scene at the entrance of the Louvre (that building that looks like a pyramid) -- a whole flock of nuns milling around in their French sandals, swinging their handbags, ready to spend money! This same day, we then decided to walk down the gardens from the Louvre to the Arc de Triumph and we had the Arc in sight but Nature had other plans. A furious thunder storm hit, drenching us to our underwear in a few minutes. Forget the Arc de Triumph and the Champs Elise. Instead, a mad soaking dash to the Metro (subway) for the ten minute ride back to 'our place' to get hot showers took precedence.

Even Rain in Paris Makes Me Happy!

MONET'S GARDEN

Another day, in late April, off we go by train for a trip to Monet's gorgeous gardens; spring flowers all at their zenith. Monet, truly one of my very favorite artists, tops the list along with Chagall, Van Gogh, Renoir and Gaugin. Anyway, being in this heaven of fragrant flowery beauty, time stood still. Monet's house is immense and still has furniture, hundreds of Japanese prints, plates, copper pots and pans in the humongous kitchen that have remained since Monet lived there. He must have had big bucks

JOYS OF FRENCH FOOD

I salivate still when I think about the delectable French cuisine. For this gastronomical delight alone, the trip was worth it. Even though we only spent about $150 each on food for the whole 3 weeks, we still ate out about 1/2 dozen times and had lots of picnics and cooked in the apartment. Little local fruit and veggie stores became our favorites along with Le Boulangerie (bread store).

Le Boulangerie

The bread! ...'to die for.' That and the scrumptious strawberry tarts with real cream, quiches, all kinds of bakery delights ... and le vin rouge. Ooooh la la! I'm finally beginning to drink and appreciate wine. Les glaces (ice cream) eagerly looked forward to on a daily basis, sustained our sweet teeth, along with "les chocolats". Funny thing, right off I noticed that most people in France are fairly slim and I'm still trying to figure that one out because they sure seem to eat a rich diet of goodies.

THOSE SEXY ADS

Peach Douche Metro Ad

I shot 10 rolls of color film in France and Jim took 7 in black and white, plus we shot videos. Between us we have some great photos. The Metro displayed some hilarious ads, some quite sexy (you know those French!) but the ad that riveted my attention the most (I took a photo!) tried to entice one to buy peach douches, of all things. And the color poster depicted a butt shot of a person and a shot of half a peach, both looking remarkably similar. Between these two images rested a bottle of stuff you presumably douched with.

JAUNT TO THE CEMETERY

Top Left: The Eiffel Tower
Top Right: Noreen at Chopin's Grave in Paris
Bottom Left: In Monet's Garden
Bottom Right: Luxenbourg Gardens, Paris

On another memorable day trip, we explored the most famous cemetery in Paris (can't remember the name!) where lots of famous folk reside. It's a huge place, dramatically beautiful in some parts. Mostly rainy when we sloshed around, so we wore our 'plastic bubbles' while everyone else used civilized umbrellas.

Jim Morrison, of "The Doors" fame, lies buried there and still, after decades, some guard stays there at all times to protect Jim's grave. Amazing, isn't it! My favorite grave sights to hang out at include Chopin and Edith Piaf.

Famous French Singer Edith Piaf in her Prime

Jim became fascinated with the graves of Yves Montand and Simone Signore, Oscar Wilde (very baroque!) and the memorials to the victims of the Holocaust. Since I've been home, I've been playing my Chopin CD a lot. He was only in his 30's when he died.

Noreen's Watercolor of vibrant flowers in Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

WHERE'S THE JON?

The Squatter

On our day jaunts about Paris, one of my constant things became always to be on the lookout for 'les toilettes.' Often one had to pay a franc or two for this privilege, except when you found what I call, "The Squatter." I swear it took me 3 times to figure out how to do this right without peeing on my pants. Yeah, it's the hole in the floor thingy. One day, after I had it down pat, I stood in line behind this obviously American woman who, it soon became apparent, was entering a Squatter for the first time. I heard her explode verbally in disgust, "OH, MY GAWD!" I smiled knowingly.

MONTMATRE AND THE MOULIN ROUGE

Early one morning, eager to explore the famous Parisian Montmatre area, we ambled where so many of our favorite artists used to hang out in their hay day. Excitement abounded as around every corner there appeared more thrilling things to experience, till we, at my urging, walked down the hill to the famous Moulin Rouge (a moulin is actually a windmill ... I didn't know that before). Sure enough, there it stood, the bright red windmill nightclub type place that Toulouse Lautrec and Degas used to love to frequent ... to be with and paint the prostitutes and dancers.

It was fascinating to see this notable place but I must say the area that housed it reeked. For blocks and blocks in all directions, nothing but sex shops with their neon signs ... 'Sex', 'More Sex','Live Sex,' so much so that next I expected to see 'Dead Sex.! Pimps and hookers hung around every corner. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Talk about low vibrations!!! Update: Since seeing the superb movie, Moulin Rouge, my feeling about the actual Parisian Moulin Rouge has improved dramatically, but the area around it still reeks!

EIFFEL TOWER … WHERE ART THOU?

Jim and Noreen Find the Eiffel Tower at Last!

We didn't see the Eiffel Towel till our very last evening in France. We had just come back from Provence on the TGV Rapid Train (terrific ride at 120 mph) and just HAD to see Eiffel. So, tired as we were, and with Jim starting to get a sore throat from roaming incessantly in ancient Medieval ruins near St. Remy, we took the metro (about an hour trip this time) to the Eiffel exit. Out we got. I said, "Well, where IS the Eiffel Tower?" I can't see it anywhere. Neither could Jim.

As I readied to ask someone, it felt like cheating, so instead I walked across the street beside the River Seine. Still couldn't see Eiffel. Then I turned half way around and THERE SHE WAS! Taken aback by the enormity of the tower and how close I stood to it. I yelled, "WOW!" Never again in my life will the Eiffel Tower have such an impact on me. It also made me realize, metaphorically, how just a slight turn or change in direction can be full of impact and surprise.

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!

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).

RUINS OF GLANUM

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