We are all shaped by our wounds, but we are not defined by them.
Wounds
France
More From France: Cathedrale Saint Maurice, Mirepoix
Just steps away from the hustle and bustle of the Monday market in Mirepoix is the Cathedrale Saint Maurice. Opening the scarred wooden doors, you step into the 14th century. The cathedral is lit by dancing sunlight streaming through stained glass, and by the soft whispers of candles lit in remembrance at the side altars. Simple wooden chairs await the faithful. A broken-winged angel stands watch over the high altar. The labyrinth in the crypt is no longer open to visitors – only a wall plaque notes its presence. And of course, there’s a harp. (All images © Janet Hince 2014.)
The Colors of Rennes-les-Bains
On the first day of my photography retreat in France, we drove through the winding roads and steep foothills of the Pyrenees to reach Rennes-les-Bains, a tiny Languedoc village perched on both sides of the river Sals. Artifacts discovered in the village indicate that Rennes-les-Bains was known for its hot and cold springs even before the Romans established colonies in the area.
The village’s narrow streets inch up steep hills and twist their way down to the river. Around every corner there are surprise bursts of colors aglow in the late summer sun. Come explore the colors of Rennes-les-Bains with me. (All images © Janet Hince, 2014.)
Eiffel Tower Nightfall
My last night in Paris, I sat at the Eiffel Tower and watched the changing lights until the twinkles turned on at 9:00 pm / 21:00. I took these photos with my aged iPhone4. I hope you enjoy the show.
Montmartre Harp Sighting
I returned to Paris and Internet access last evening. Thanks to the Air France pilots’ strike, I had a very long train ride from Toulouse to Gare Montparnasse, and what was supposed to be another day of Paris sight-seeing was limited to what I could see out the windows of the #92 bus back to my apartment.
But this morning I was back in tourist mode. I headed to Montmartre with the hope that I could see all of Paris spread out before me. Alas, Paris is in the middle of a smog alert, and when I looked towards the city all I could see was a dingy gray haze. But all I had to do was turn around to see this carrousel.
Then I joined the throngs of tourists to ride the funicular to Sacré Cœur.
As soon as I left the funicular carriage, I heard harp music. Here’s my harp sighting on the plaza below Sacré Cœur.
This is Hugo and his Paraguayan harp. He’s played at Sacré Cœur for many years, and sells his CDs to people like me who are suckers for busking street musicians, and especially busking harpers. You can see and hear Hugo in this video posted in 2008.
I leave the City of Lights tomorrow morning, and will gratefully sleep in my own bed tomorrow night. I’ll share more photos of my France adventures once the jet lag abates a bit.
À bientôt!
In the Languedoc
I am in rural southwest France, where internet connections are spotty and signal strength is quite weak. I am unable to upload many images at present. I’ll post more when the internet connection is better. With luck, here is one from Rennes Les Bains, altered with the waterlogue app.
Musicians in the Musée de Cluny
The Musée national du Moyen Âge, better known as the Cluny Museum, is best known as the home of The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. The museum’s statues, art, stained glass, and tapestries provide windows into the lives of the people who were alive when the Gothic cathedrals of Paris were being built, and show that music was an important part of life in the Middle Ages. There are a couple of harp sightings, too! Come have a look:
A Walk Through Luxembourg Garden
I awoke to another bright, blue-sky day in Paris, a perfect morning for visiting le Jardin du Luxembourg. I am finally getting the hang of Paris buses. I found the right bus stop and the right bus without getting lost and having to accost a stranger with my butchered French to get directions (of which all I can usually understand is “left” and “right”.)
Luxembourg Garden is an immense green space that provides respite for weary Parisians and tourists alike. As I walked through the column of plane trees, I inhaled the aroma of flowers and newly mown grass instead of gasoline and diesel fumes, and listened to birdsong and children on the playground instead of horns and sirens. C’est magnifique! Come see the garden with me. . . . .
Angels of Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is known for its soaring windows of stained glass.
If you can tear yourself away from being transfixed by these walls of colored light, there are angels hiding in the shadows:
The Cathedral of Saint-Eustache
If you say “cathedral” and “Paris” in the same sentence, you will most likely think of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. But Paris is home to many cathedrals, and one of the most beautiful is Saint-Eustache. It was constructed from 1532 to 1640, with towering gothic arches, walls of light, and the largest organ in Paris. I hope you enjoy this visit to Saint-Eustache.
Gothic arches:
Walls of light, including one with harps:
The organ:
Decorated stonework:
Heart To Harp 