Metal Work

A room in the Guggenheim. I visited a couple of months ago. It was definitely worth a visit.

The Back Garden

As the title suggests, this is the back garden of my Chateau. I know it looks a little different to the front, but that's no bad thing.

The Chateau

The front of my newly purchased Chateau. As I am sure you can see, it's in great condition. Complete with pond (bottom left). I am sure you are all very jealous!

A Room Without A View

I can't get the blasted shutters open in this particular room. I can't understand why, the shutters are brand new.

The Front Door

This is the front door to my Chateau I have posted about already.

What a Beauty

I wouldn't fancy being the dentist for this one! Looks like she's taken the odd knock to the nose also! Poor lass. Notice how her eyes aren't exactly alike either!

Wine Cellar

The cellar at the Chateau I just bought in the Dordogne. This lot should last me a few days at least!

What a Great Set Of -

Garlic bunches! The iconic french veg. A fine example too!

Wonder Horse

These are all the prizes the horse I just bought has won. Next is the Grand National! Bet on Wonder Horse!

What a load of Crock

I bought a jug( similar to the 1 bottom left) for Anne. It's her birthday tomorrow (the 29th). The lady top right makes and sells them, a really nice friendly person who I managed to speak a few words of french with!

A Tractor and Wheelbarrow

I couldn't get the tractor started, I think perhaps the engine was blown and I found  the wheelbarrow too cumbersome. You have to watch it buying on the market!

Flower Power

A stall at the Saturday morning market in Bergerac. The most beautiful in my opinion. What can equal flowers for pure Beauty?

Dried Herb

Although Eymet is a small place, it still manages to hold a large market! Testimony to France I reckon.

Spice Bowl

I thought this stall at Eymet was presented very well. It smelt fantastic also!

Legumes D' Annette

Anne, my host does 2 markets a week, one in Eymet and one in Bergerac. This is the sign for her stall. A friend of hers made it. Beautifully painted.

The Cloister

The cloister garden adjoining the church was in a formal style, but there was something nice and peaceful about it. And there was shade too, which I am increasingly appreciative of.

L'eglise

A church that I visited in Marmande, which is in the Lot/Garonne region, just south of the Dordogne.

The Grain House

Well, I guess the title explains this one. Where's the ladder?

The Kitchen

The only thing this kitchen was lacking was some food and drink! Oh yeah, and a cook!

Pots and Pans

Taken in the kitchen of the Chateau de Bridoire. Dating from the 12 century. It is currently being restored, after being abandoned at some point. The kitchen was the only room I liked. At least you shouldn't struggle to find a saucepan in it!

Street Business

I love finding shop fronts like this one. Complete with old wooden sign. There is real character to them, I have to say unlike the majority of shop fronts today.

Cyrano de Bergerac

The swashbuckling, long nosed philosopher, who has no connection to the place. Though you wouldn't know it by the 2 statues of him in the town! Good for the tourists.

The Waterhole

I really like how you find fountains in french towns. They make a great vocal point.

Bergerac

This is in the pretty old quarter of Bergerac. There was a large Saturday market on when I was here. Anne, my host does a stall at it.

A Bridge Over Calm Waters

A Bridge at Bergerac. Quite a large town, with a really pretty old quarter. I hitch-hiked here with a really nice guy called Mustafa, french of Algerian decent.

One Too Many

This Knight and me had a few drinks together. A really nice guy, but he clearly couldn't handle his drink. I ended up having to carry him to his room, not an easy task with all the armor!

Heads Up

This crowd were all quite a bit taller than me! They must have out-numbered me at least 10,000 to 1!
I thought better of it, and left them alone.

The Fountain

The square of Eymet. There are quite a few cafes dotted around it. One of them makes delightful pizza!

Water Pump

Here is a wee example of the cool things one sees in France. Water pumps on the side of the street are not uncommon.

Bread and Wine

It is so typical of the countryside where I am. Wheat and Vines, Bread and Wine. And both are great here!

Water Lily

This was in a tank in Eymet. A pretty village that I am staying on the edge of currently.

Bourgougnague

Care to pronounce this place name I came across while on a walk.

The Wheat and The Chaff

Where I am in the Dordogne there are lots of fields full of wheat, maze, sunflowers and vineyard.

Tony and Jane

My English hosts in the Basque country, where I stayed for over 2 months. I had such a good time with them, and everyone I crossed paths with through them. They are really lovely, down to earth people. I am really glad to have met them, and to be able to call them friends.

The Garden

Here is where I was working in Helette, Basque country. A really nice spot to work, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

All the Pretty Horses

This group of horses were gathered to discuss the quality of this years grass. I believe climate change was also on the agenda for discussion.

Dancing Water

What a great analogy Water makes. When it moves it is healthy. When it doesn't it goes stagnant.
Water is always changing, to quit changing/ evolving is to go stagnant and/or die. I have come to realize that change is the only constant in the universe. Strange then why humans should find change so hard?

Julia and Amaia

Here are the 2 girls I was talking about. The name Amaia apparently means " the end" in Basque. Nice name whatever it's meaning.  Favourite animals, A Horse, and A Fish. Good choices I reckon.

The Castle

I asked the 2 girls what their creation was, " A Castle", was their answer. I particularly like their use of high ground, classic defense strategy!

Child's Play

The 2 girls I mentioned upstaged me with this very artistic creation. I might not have made it, but at least I got to photograph it!

Balance

I have become very fond of making these. I enjoy the task of finding the balance between the levels, and it sometimes requires patience and perseverance, which I like.

Riverman

I went to this river quite a lot during my time in the Basque country. Set up a steep sided ravine, which itself is part of a mountainside. I was fortunate enough to have great river companions whenever I went.

Water Spirits House

I built this on a river trip, one of my favourite places in the Basque country. Only 20 minutes from where I was staying ( in a car). I was asked by 2 little girls what it was. " A house for the Water Spirits who live here", was my answer. I collected all the wood for it from the river itself.

The Resurrection

This amazing stone was at Lourdes. Representing The Resurrection. It stands about 5 ft tall.

A Soaking

This little kid was having a great time getting soaked. It was fun to watch such simple enjoyment.

Pau

I stopped here on my way back to the Basque country. I liked it as a city, not too big or manic.

Flowing Water

This was a beautiful quiet spot I found by the river coming down from Gavarnie. It was such a warm day, I really wanted to jump into the river, but it was icy cold. More than 5-10 seconds of foot bathing was painful.
Still it was a lovely place to just sit and reflect on my walk etc.

The Place of Rushing Waters

Definitely one of the most dramatic and beautiful places I have ever been.

"You are nothing, palaces, domes, temples, tombs, in the presence of this incredible coliseum of Chaos."         Victor Hugo on the Cirque de Gavarnie.

Big Medicine.

Big Medicine, this was one of my very first thoughts when I saw The Cirque de Gavarnie. I love the feeling of the place. It is extra special. I spent a very warm afternoon lying on the grass and having lunch with this for a view. I love the idea of the Native Americans ( as I understand it), that a place can be a medicine itself. I certainly feel that a place can be therapeutic and inspirational. Our surroundings definitely affect us.

At the Foot of a Giant

I made it up to the waterfall in the morning, there weren't too many people at that time. I saw that in the afternoon it got very busy, so I was very glad I went in the morning. The sheer amount, speed and power of the waterfall was beyond description. All I can say is that it was awe-inspiring.