On the Road to Albi -- Looking At the Sky -- Our Spring 2009 Europe Holiday

I could tell it was going to be a nice day,
not a cloud in sight in France's big blue sky!

We were headed to Albi, France, to visit the Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Museum (link). I have a picture (print, copy) Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (link) painted for my office and this would be an opportunity to see more of his original art.

I am glad we did because of the small things, being there with his associations, and seeing so many of his paintings in one sitting helped me appreciate this man still more.

My opinion of him? At first he painted fairly run-of-the-mill pictures of people. There may have been a slight impressionist leaning in some. Towards the end of his life he was so intrigued with dancers at the Moulin Rouge (Paris) and prostitutes that that was about all he painted. Well, he was still painting entertainment posters. I would like to have one of those or a copy.

These are pictures we took at a pull-out along the way. We were staying in Caunes-Minervois (link) which is a short drive from Carcassonne, France. At first there were a lot of grape fields which soon gave way to pastures with cows and sheep.

Then we hit the mountains. From the pictures you might guess were in West Virgina, U.S.A, complete with mills along the river down in the valley. We would next go down into this little town, Mazamet (link), to the market. Thursday (April 23, 2009) was market day for Mazamet. Sorry, pictures, we were to busy eating our food and shopping.

I never did figure out what the fields of yellow were. The plants were about height of yellow clover but they were courser and bushier. Anyway they matched the colors of the old John Deere tractor.

The tractor was decoration for the middle inside the turn-about. I went around twice to get the better picture. Of course the road was one way. How could a person miss with nice blue signs like this?

Finally we got to Albi. Parking was going to be a problem, but they must have known we were coming and saved this Handicap parking place just for me. I always travel with my hanging Texas Handicap Parkng Permit.


For more Looking at the Sky on Friday photos
click over to Crazy Working Mom…

One Single Impression: What's It Like?

What's It Like?

to be on top wound up too tight
then flying loose no holding hand
crashing the walls rolling on edge
spinning too fast circling wobbling

jump off that top while you still can
your bones will break your mind will bend
what a dead end--free at the game
kids abusing--doll head bobbling



Copyright © 2009 Jimmiehov. All Rights Reserved

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What's It Like to be a Christmas tree? (click here)

Find more poems at One Single Impression
"What's It Like" as prompt,
suggested by Alana of After the Pole

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Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do. Edgar Dégas
The same may go for poetry? (whatever, I enjoy painting with the words!)