French Trip May 2026 Photos Saturday 16th

 Backwards photos...whatever you do, it decides which way you'll get them!!

Any ideas on this insect? I think those are wing cases like a ladybird..but it isn't one

In a garden by the river..taken through the fence! The bigger pot is from La Borne.

Holly full of berries!

Bzzzz

??

lunch!

through the restaurant windows out into the Coeur du Temple

I had to get this registration

there are quite a few around town

squeezed in !!

a detail...

of the back door...

of this lycée(high) school

French Trip May 2026 one last wander?.

 The wind was really chilly this morning..despite leaving setting out until 10am. Of course by the time I got to town at 11 am ( I'd just missed one bus but they are frequent) it was warm in the sun! First stop was the Tourist Information Centre for a couple of small gifts..and the WiFi and toilet!!  Nice to be greeted and have a short chat.  I really needed to have used more French this past fortnight....but I'm not a chatty person at the best of times! I've not done too badly anyway and plenty have said that I speak naturally. A nice compliment.

I wandered around bits of the centre that I'd managed to miss before..had a coffee in a spotless kebab café/carryout. I think the coffee was the only vege thing on the menu!!

It was clean and the welcome was as good as anywhere. I thought of walking further but decided on an early lunch..yesterday I'd missed out on my favourite place. Going earlier than usual French lunchtime today gave him more business and I had a nice quiet lunch.

Then from the centre...carrying my coat!! to the oldest bridge, Pont St Martial to cross over and have a leisurely stroll just over 1 km to the Pont St Étienne. I was fortunate to spot a wren...and not so much to see a rather large rat crossing the path to the river. They are everywhere round the globe where humans are.

A nice sit in the sun by the bridge on a beautifully warm granite bench..before crossing the river and tackling the steep streets back up to catch the bus. 

The forecast is for rain all day tomorrow...but we can live in hope!

French trip May 2026. lost count of days!

 I tried to number the days on my posts...but I've lost count! One weekend to go then sadly I have to leave on Monday.

More wandering today, but beginning to focus on shapes and ideas that I can start using. 

I came back a little earlier because the weather was turning again...came through a heavy slushy shower in the last 500 metres before my bus stop...then walked home in sunshine! The rain/hail looked like curtains falling from the clouds, but it turned to a fine but chilly evening....eventually!

This is a series of cartoon posters around on empty shops

porcelain again

I had to resist....my bag is full...

French Trip May 2026. Day 11. Drawings and weather

 Today's weather forecast is chilly, rain of varying amounts. and risk of thunder...right through until midnight.

So unless it perks up enough for a short walk I'll be here indoors all day!!

I'm looking at yesterday's drawings...I changed tactics, going for the focus and working out. Trying to focus more on detail as the whole is so overwhelming!

Getting there...and one pen ran out...and then so did my concentration!! 

For improving drawing...and French speaking...perhaps staying somewhere different might help..and staying longer.

But...being on the edge of the city, being rural but still within good transport has been good. No noisy streets and better sleep!

 Being part of the artists' coop also means that being away for more than two weeks during the time that the gallery is open and manned on a rota wouldn't be a good idea.

French Trip May 2026 Day. 10 alleys

 With the cooler start to the day I waited for it to warm up a little before heading off.

Day in the centre started at the Gare des Bénédictins...coffee and listening to the piano being played. Walk to the centre then, and drop into the Tourist information centre for free reliable WiFi!! I think they are getting used to me! Then just wandering around the centre, and finding quiet spots to do some drawing. 

I think that the problem so far has been seeing the while picture and getting overwhelmed with all the detail!! So I'm working a way around that. Also trying to do too much without a break..as then the Eye-Hand-Brain coordination gets a bit wobbly.