La Cabane a Huitres

I think I'm addicted. I returned to Paris on Thursday night and then moved into a new apartment in a different neighborhood on Friday morning just before noon. Formalities aside, I didn't even unpack before deciding that it was lunchtime. Where to go for lunch? Where else?! My favorite oyster place is no longer within walking distance, but it is a direct Metro ride.

When I arrived, all of the tables were occupied. No matter, Francis the owner motioned to a table by the door where one of the regulars was sitting. (It turns out that the majority of the patrons are regulars!) The 96 year-old monsieur was there too . .

When I first sat down in the crowded space, I jostled the table and spilled a few drops of one fellow's red wine. After a little bit of grumbling, things settled down and the oysters started arriving and the wine started flowing. Because it is such a small place, they often leave the bottles of wine on the table and you can serve yourself. This is not the kind of place where they measure every ounce that you consume!

My oysters disappeared quickly:


This could be very habit forming! I've never eaten such fresh oysters at such a good price in such a friendly ambiance. I'm sure I'll go back there next week . . . They are only open from Wednesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner. I suspect I'll see many of the regulars again.

Touring in Glastonbury

I enjoyed my trip to England. It felt quite different to be in a country where people speak English! We saw cathedrals and thatched cottages:


Glastonbury is famous for its Tor and the remains of its Abbey:


As well as its cults of the goddess and the Mists of Avalon. The shops are amazing! You can find all manner of flowing robes suitable for wizards and goddesses, plus crystals and magic wands and dragons and on and on . . . There is a Goddess Temple where you can train to become a priestess of Avalon (http://www.goddesstemple.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=99) plus ceremonies for the solstice and full moon and Beltane (May Day). Even the outdoor markets offer flowing robes:


On Sunday, Ruth and her friend Steve and I went out for a Sunday lunch of - what else? - Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding!


We stopped at Compton Dundon to pay homage to a 1700 year old yew tree:


After lunch, we visited Bishop's Palace in Wells. Here's the gate to get in:


Here are Steve and Ruth at Bishop's Palace:


We had to park Steve's Toyota outside the gates - unlike those who arrived in Austins and got to park inside the gates:


Steve had to take his car and go back to work in London so Ruth rented a car for us to continue our visits. Can you guess which one is our rental car?

Birthday in Glastonbury

I celebrated my 60th birthday in Glastonbury with my friend Ruth. Can you guess my sign?


We were staying in a cottage in the countryside outside of Glastonbury. Here's how my birthday started out with a lovely breakfast, six candles, and presents!


The Tor in Glastonbury is a good place for contemplation. Here's what it looked like from my bedroom window:


And here's what it looked like from the base:


However, it turned out to be much less imposing and easier to climb than I imagined. Certainly not a 14er! I found myslef laughing and having a good time at the top. 60 is not serious at all!


Of course no birthday would be complete without birthday goodies. Here's my favorite tarte au citron:


Which we enjoyed with tea, sitting in the late afternoon sunshine outside our cottage:

Glastonbury

I've been having some wonderful adventures in England, but have had very intermittent internet access so haven't been able to share stories, pictures, etc. This is a quick borrowed moment to let you know that I'll be back on line with lots more details by the weekend.

Thanks for following! Stay tuned . . . .!

Why did I come to La Napoule?

I became aware of the Chateau de La Napoule thanks to my daughter-in-law Rachel who has worked on an architectural study for some updates to the Chateau. Rachel is a friend of the Clews family who are owners of the Chateau and Directors of the La Napoule Art Foundation. Rachel also organized a volunteer work party of friends who came to the chateau in the summer of 2008 to make some decorative improvements in the Villa Marguerite where I'm staying. She earned the respect and appreciation of the Director of the Chateau and thanks to the goodwill created by her efforts, I was welcomed as a guest.

After first seeing photos of the place, I thought "What a wonderful location to host a seminar!" and so I came here to finalize details of a workshop for women contemplating their options for the second half of life. The workshop will be held from September 20-25, 2010 and will employ writing and art exercises as well as outdoor activities designed to facilitate renewal and self discovery. This is not just a vacation or shopping trip! That said, there will be plenty of time for fun, for excursions to the surrounding towns and countryside, delicious French food, and of course time for the beach!

I'll be putting together more details for those who might be intested - so please send me an email at earagon001@gmail.com if you'd like to know more . . .

Leaving La Napoule

What a difference a day makes . . .
Yesterday it was quite warm and I had breakfast on the villa terrace:


. . then watched a group of local school children who came to the Chateau for an art workshop where they modeled clay in the studio of Henry Clews:


Afterwards, I had lunch outdoors at the chateau.


Today I awoke to the sound of wind and rain and pounding surf. A walk along the formerly placid beach was transformed by the wildness of three foot waves crashing on the rocks and releasing the scent of ocean.


But this little boy didn't mind the wind and waves . . .

Chagall, Matisse

I am enjoying my extended visit to the Côte d'Azur. Yesterday I took the train to Nice to visit a couple of museums that I had heard about. I went first to the Chagall museum. Chagall lived in Nice for many years and the museum here houses a wonderful collection of his paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows. Here is a small sample:






Afterwards, I went to the Matisse museum which is just up the hill about a mile away. You can also see Roman ruins in Nice, and this photo shows the outside of the Matisse museum in the background with the ruins in the foreground.


I'm sure you'll recognize some of the more famous of Matisse's work such as this one: