Another Day in Andorra...

The girls and our new neighbor (Doria Davidson) have gone to see Carcassone for the day. Judy and I went to Andorra yesterday in a mixed misty rain. The drive is spectacular, but it was as I remembered…just a huge shopping center. We saw the largest bottle of Chivas Regal I’ve ever seen…a jeroboam of Scotch! I looked at a Olympus camera which had been written up in the WSJ last week as the best one for under $300 for the summer and it was 266 E, so at the current exchange rate, no deal at all for us. However, since it is a tax free country it must be for the French in the South as they are there in hoards, buying hard liquor in unbelievable quantities. I should be painting, but instead right now I’m burning disks for them of their pictures. The digital age is upon us and they are recording more shots of everything than I can imagine! Since my camera is not working, I’m dependent on them for good shots. Meredith Anne should be very pleased with her mother’s shots…that camera really performs well in incredible circumstances.

We came home last night to the word that there had been a bad electrical storm here and it had blown the Forge’s wifi and only the one down at the other location was working, so I’m writing this on Word and will post it tonight or later on whenever I am able to do so.

I’ve learned something, many things really, this trip. I am not able to concentrate on my painting with two non-painters. There is chatter going on all the time. If I go into my room there are questions about one thing or another. However, I’m gathering all sorts of images for later. The colors are divine, the whole place looks different and I’m happy as a clam. The sleeping is wonderful. The coffee is great and the company is delightful. I guess I should come alone or with other painters of like ilk to just paint. It’s sloth on my part I guess partly, but the distractions are fun and delightful!

Last night when we got home we woke poor Winn up and ‘ordered’ her to arise and be hungry so that we could save the gumbo Judy made for Josep in his freezer and we went to Chalabre to the hotel for cassoulet that Judy had been dying to try. It was good, but waaay too fatty for our taste. It had sausage, duck and some other meat in it. I had the pate as an appetizer and we all agreed it was wonderful! Now, to find the crepes again and have a lovely supper at Miripoix one more time at the Relais Chateau. We’ve made a list of things we’d like to get done this last week and it’s varied. Tomorrow we plan to go to the market at Esperza and then Rennes-le-Chateua afterward. Rebecca Gregory called and said she’d like to see me, and that would be a lovely thing for all to see, but it may or may not make the list. So much is at the whim of the weather. I washed yesterday and the clothes were even wetter than when I put them out when I returned. They are drying today though.

The drive to Andorra was easy except for the sudden calls to slow down or stop if possible every time Judy saw a new possibility for a shot. We did as seems usual find yet another different way to Foix which was back roads…just dots for midline at times, but throughly lovely country side and more time consuming, but who cares? The return trip was a real hoot tho’ as we kept circling Foix from all directions and Judy at first too the 620 going West rather than East. We finally found a way to get turned around and took the 620 East which took us to Lavalanet and home. It was a fascinating journey and one of those we love which takes us off the ‘main’ byways and onto the tiny country roads. The views and pride of ownership here in this part are wonderful. To think these houses have been lived in for thousands of years and people in the tiny villages have such pride in their homes. Many villages are no more then 6 homes, yet they are named and kept beautifully with flowers and so clean!

We made a list of things yet to experience, taste, or see this next week. Winn had nothing to add, but perhaps a side trip to Albi where Oliver has some family ties and mine is mainly I just don’t want to leave period! Judy has a few to fulfill, but I’ve never seen her so relaxed. It took her a day or two to fall into the pace, but now she’s really there and sleeps for hours until one of us wakes her for something.

Now, I’ve got to go find a few pictures to upload when I get free to use the wifi.

Pat