A Summers Day Out

One of the lovely things about having friends and family visiting in the Summer months are the memorable days out, visiting familiar and undiscovered places, you see things with fresh eyes and it makes you appreciate your near and far surroundings all the more.

On Saturday we set off for the lovely historical market town of Albi in The Tarn department it's about 50 miles north east of Toulouse in the Languedoc Roussillon region. Like it's larger neighbour Toulouse 'La Ville Rose' most of the buildings are hewn from red brick.  We ambled round the lovely windy, cobbled streets, browsed in fabulous shops, looked up in awe at the imposing Cathedral fortified and built from red brick, inside, every inch of it is painted, it is beautiful.  After a rather fine lunch washed down with local Gaillac wine we strolled along the banks of the River Tarn, with temperatures reaching the upper thirties, we made a lot of cafe stops for long, cold drinks.

The River Tarn

I was rather taken by this shrub, growing by the banks of the Tarn, Belle Mere told me it's a type of Grenadine, (Pomegranate), if I can find one, it will be in my garden next year.

Albi is the birthplace of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the largest collection of his works are housed in the Musee Toulouse-Lautrec in the heart of Albi, the museum was founded in 1922 by a lifelong friend and the paintings were gifted by his family.

Desire Dihau Reading a Newspaper in the Garden, 1890

Never one to miss an opportunity to go round an art gallery, the cool, air-conditioned, museum was a welcome escape from the searing heat outside.  Toulouse-Lautrec has never been one of my favourite artists but I did enjoy looking at his works and I now have a greater understanding and appreciation of his works and of the man behind the paintings.  Poor Henri, he was born into a wealthy aristocratic family descended from the counts of Toulouse, his parents were first cousins and as a result of interbreeding Henri suffered from many congenital health disorders, as a child he fractured his right and then left leg, the bones never healed, his torso developed normally but his legs stopped growing, his adult height was 5ft 1. With long periods of convalescence he immersed himself in his art, showing promise and talent he was encouraged by his parents who knew his destiny and future career would be in the art world.

Toilette, 1896

Henri went to Paris and was drawn to Montmarte, he is most famous for his lithographs for the Moulin Rouge and depictions of life in the decadent, seedy underbelly of Paris. I feel he was most comfortable painting prostitutes in the salons and the brothels, the prostitutes of the day rarely left the brothels and he seemed to have an affinity with them, painting them going about there daily business.  Henri was often mocked for his short stature and he consoled himself with alcohol, his favourite tipple was a mixture of Absinthe and Cognac served in a wine goblet and nicknamed 'Earthquake'. Sadly alcohol got the better of him and he spent periods of time in health sanatoriums and institutions.  One of the most poignant items in the museum for me was his walking stick, which he used every day, inside the cane was a secret compartment containing long thin bottles and a glass, this way he could have alcohol on him at all times, he died from complications of alcoholism and syphilis at the family estate in Malrome, he was 36.

Typical Albi Mansion

I did not get a chance to go into this shop...next time!

We left Albi and headed for the beautiful hilltop village of Cordes-Sur-Ciel, we took the D roads and drove through stunning countryside, passing pretty villages and narrow roads flanked by sun drenched Gaillac vineyards.

Cordes-Sur-Ciel

Beautiful Architecture

Views from Cordes of the Summer Countryside

This pigeon was most obliging posing for the camera

Love this stone carving, of a man (possibly the original owner of this medieval building) crawling out.

“In Cordes, everything is beautiful, even regret” Albert Camus.

Crusoe has sneaked onto this photograph, he is recovering beautifully.

Crusoe relaxing on very old flagstones, he looks suspiciously demure, but we know he has just polished off the remnants of a child's ice cream cone! 

With all the entertaining and messing about in the French countryside, I have barely turned my laptop on, hoping to catch up with you all soon.
XXX