Wednesday 12 September 2012

In the Midi-Pyrenees


I seem to be spending a lot of time apologising for not commenting on blogs. I haven't been at the computer much, so I won't be offended if you don't comment on mine! But I hope you enjoy these fleeting shots of SW France - it's so pretty... though internet access is not of the best.

These round French turrets (this one is in Villefranche de Rouergue) always remind me of old illustrations of fairytales, (or, let's face it, Shrek).


The town's horsemeat shop was closed each time I passed. I am sure horsemeat is delicious and this is obviously the finest, and yet... and yet....

I admired the elegant stook of corn in the church, commemorating Harvest. I suppose once upon a time all the fields would be covered with these, but no doubt less artistic than this one, which looks as if it could have been created by a professional flower arranger. Lovely.


Not far away is Najac, a long thin village right on top of a ridge, with huge views over surrounding wooded hills. Couldn't you fly to the castle?

The houses of Najac are slightly ramshackle, all different. You can see the town fountain. When cycling in this area in summer, a few years ago, fountains like these become incredibly important, in fact we fantasised about them, toiling up the hills in the heat. Would just get in them, fully clothed. Not sure I could cycle in summer in Mediterranean countries now because my tolerance for heat has gone right off.

Most of the village is medieval with thick walls and small windows - not a bad idea in the late summer heat actually.


We walked down to old mill, way down in a valley.

And then had to climb all the way up again! Still, had a wander around first as there is a fast brown river hurtling by and it is always fun to stand and stare at a river, when there is nothing much else to do.



57 comments:

  1. Lovely photos! These places always remind me of fairytales too. How fabulous would it be to live where you could see one of these turrets each day? Looks like you had some nice sunshine too. x

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  2. Please don't feel as if you are obligated to visit my blog! Live your life and enjoy. And sorry to say but you are stuck with me, I'm not going anywhere.
    And thank you for sharing your pictures. I would be half tempted to steal the perfect stook of corn. It would look great on my table but taking something from a church probably isn't the best idea.

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  3. Hello Jenny:
    France has indeed many very beautiful parts and this area is clearly one of them. We love how the houses, clustered together, give an air of timelessness, as does the fairy tale castle.

    No, we should not wish either to cycle in the heat of a Mediterranean summer either.

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  4. Jenny, no-one could possibly blame you for not involving yourself in blog traffic when you have such a beautiful life to explore. Go for it, and forget us, until the day you may remember us.
    XXX, Faisal.

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  5. Lovely pictures, Jenny. I enjoyed the little tour and I am definitely with you on the horse meat.

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  6. There is so much beauty in the nature and in the small villages!
    Thanks Jenny for showing it us.
    Cheers!

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  7. Thank you for bringing back memories of visiting the area years ago.

    My abiding memory of Villefranche de Rouergue is going into a bank and being greeted by a clerk wearing shorts....a bit mind boggling for someone used to 60s England!

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  8. Jenny,
    Me too. I have to apologize for not commenting on blogs. During summer, there are a number of festivals. I went to see them as much as possible not only held in Nara but Kyoto too. I am a festival goer. As a result, I badly suffered from summer heat. And I have been out of energy. Now, I am getting better.
    The elegant stook of corn in the church reminds me of harvest of rice. Soon, the busiest season for local shrines will come. Autumn festivals will be held, being dedicated to the local shrines to give thanks for a good harvest.
    It is interesting. In Nara or Kyoto, usually traditional old houses have bigger windows to make the path of wind and to circulate the air. Because they are built for people to survive notorious summer, sultry and searing summer, never thinking of winter. I guess this difference of the size of windows is that Japanese summer is very damp and humid, but the summer in this area must be dry. The houses with the thick walls and small windows must be warm in winter. The houses with the bigger windows are freezing in winter. If people in this area see Japanese traditional old houses, they will be very surprised!
    Have a wonderful week.
    keiko

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  9. Such a beautiful place! I could live here forever. I wonder how does horse meat taste.

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  10. What a lovely tour, thnk you. I think the round turret has to be my favourite image - as you said, most decidedly fairy-tale material.

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  11. Thank you for providing us with these glimpses of a very charming and beautiful place - - well, all except for the horsemeat......

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  12. Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Wow, and *DROOOOOOOL!* Thanks for the trip. :)

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  14. Ahhh, a sight for sore eyes! Thanks for another lovely tour, despite the internet challenges! I confess I've had horsemeat once in my life - it tasted somewhat of beef and wasn't bad at all, though I'm not sure it's something I'd have again. :)

    (I'll be thinking of Harry Potter the next time I pass that spot with the mass student gathering!:)

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  15. Such a charming area. Looks like quite a hike to get from one place to another because of the enormity of the area. Hmmm, I don't think I can eat horse meat unless you didn't tell me that's what I am eating.

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  16. I can say that horsemeat steaks are delicious.

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  17. No need to apologise for fewer comments - we all have times when we are just too busy to do everything. And you are especially forgiven cos you've given us such wonderful photos!

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  18. That corn arrangement is so lovely. Perfectly shaped and I bet it isn't that easy to do. As for horsemeat, I may be a total hypocrite as I tuck into sweet lambs and cute pigs, but I just couldn't eat it. It seems the same as eating dog or rabbit, a step too far. Though my Mum informs me that I have eaten rabbit when I was young and didn't know what I was doing! Also my aunt used to cook big cubes of horsemeat for their dobermans-boil it in a big pan, and the smell was awful!

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  19. What a fantastic place to be! My imagination runs wild with the castles, turrets and foot bridges!

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  20. That beautiful village, castle and maybe even knights and princesses in the streets, jajjaa. A beautiful story. Hugs.

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  21. It all looks vey beautiful and yes I have to admit Shrek did come into my mind looking at that turret. I had a French friend who used to tell me how lovely horse meat is, but I couldn't bring myself to eat any, especially as we have 2 horses grazing in our front field.

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  22. Ah it looks like fun! I've heard about the selling of horse meat in France and have been told that it is a much leaner meat. Looking at your photo it's easy to see it is, but like you, I won't be giving it a try any time soon.

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  23. Yes, it is all so very pretty. I love castles....I suppose I am a romantic. Another wonderful tour you have taken us on.

    In answer to your question regarding landscape over at Living Life. It is in Ireland. It was my view each morning. I believe it to be sugarloaf mountain. I can't tell you how many pictures I took of that beautiful vista. Bonnie

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  24. Thanks for the beautiful photos and travel inspiration.
    My husband and I are hiring a camper van next summer and driving through Germany, France and Spain. I've been doing a lot of research trying to find little, out the the way villages to visit. Coming from Australia there are so many places and towns that I have never heard of that look amazing.

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  25. I love my virtual trips through Europe thanks to your posts and photos. Blog on and never mind commenting! :)

    There shouldn't be any difference between eating a cow and a horse, but huh-uh, I love horses too much.

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  26. Having nothing to do but stare at a river in France right now would be a relieving break from my to do list! And i agree with you about the horse meat.

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  27. Loved seeing this part of the world Jenny. Such beautiful villages, buildings and just perfect spots for a home. Truly delightful to see through your eyes. Thank you :D)

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  28. Your photos are beautiful! What a wonderful vacation you must have had - old villages, gorgeous mountains, picturesque houses...! Is this the area of France where they have found caves that are some 30,000 years old? I believe the cave drawings are thought to be quite elaborate and the earliest testimony to art and culture.

    We understand that there is no time for commenting on other blogs. That's what cool rainy days are for!

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  29. That is the fairy tail castle that all little girls dream about.

    Lovely pictures fom a lovely place.

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  30. This is soooooo beautiful, I went off into a little day-dream!
    Jenny dear, don't worry about the commenting thing! I never do... :)

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  31. just simply love these French villages and your photos and text bring it all home !

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  32. Oh Jenny, how terrible to have to suffer all that heat! I pity you so.
    The pictures are great, really make us want to be there.
    An untouched land, almost, for many years it appears.

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  33. You could never offend me Jenny, yours is always one of those Blogs I want to read and comment on whether you ever visit "Nowhere" or not. I have never been to this part of France, but, as usual, your words and pictures tempt me dreadfully.

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  34. The old town you show makes me feel like time stood still. Wonderful that such places still exist.

    Darla

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  35. I always enjoy seeing your photos and vicariously visiting these interesting places!

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  36. A castle on top of a hill, how romantic. I can just see the pining maiden waiting for her absent knight to come galloping up to the castle in the moonlight....

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  37. What intriguing pictures. Well, castles are always fascinating. Horse meat? An old mill. Love traveling with you...whenever you appear. :)

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  38. Lovely photos of a magical place - thank you for sharing. I've never been to France (and I've never watched Star Wars, either).

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  39. Thanks for taking us with you Jenny, to places we may never otherwise go. Blogs like yours are ways to see the world from our computers - Dave

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  40. It looks lovely but I think I'll pass on the horsemeat shop too!

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  41. When I lived in England, I was puzzled by the fact that what English people called "corn", I would call "wheat". I found out that when the English people first encountered "maize" from the Indians, they called it "corn" (which is apparently what they called any grain) and the name stuck for American English. Makes it confusing for Americans now!
    And I would not want to eat horse meat, but given the circumstance (that is, STARVATION) I am sure I would not hesitate.

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  42. Enjoy my home country! I haven't had horse meat for a very long time. I can't believe that it still exists!

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  43. All your photos are like little travel gifts...I enjoyed each one. My interest was caught at the "stook of corn" which must be a European phrase...because "corn" to me is only that yellow corn on the cob vegetable, whereas what that little bundle is made of we think of as grain...which I imagine is wheat though I have never seen wheat in its natural state. Whew...sorry...got off on a tangent there. Anyway, I appreciate the views of all those old stones and the narrow bridge over the river and all the rest....very lovely and even exotic to my eyes!

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  44. I had the same problem with English folks calling every field a "corn" field when it was barley! I have eaten horse , by accident, and believe me it is not worth it- rather have the horse! Your photos are so welcomed- I feel like I have been on a very enchanting trip! Thank you!

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  45. Don't apologise! I love the summer when everyone gets out and about, as opposed to the winter when we're all stuck inside commenting on blogs.

    I just love your photos! I visited France for the first time in June and I fell in love! I like that we discovered the hills, coast and countryside before the cities.

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  46. I sure would like to see this part of France on another trip. Looks just lovely! I know what you mean with the corn/barley -- I was having that issue with mustard and rapeseed back in April!

    Don't worry about commenting. It's wonderful, of course, when someone does, but if you are anything like me, it's been a challenge just to blog visit! Things go in spurts -- this will pass!

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  47. Hi Jenny,

    We seem to have the same case of the apologies. In my case, between being raised in Asia and a Catholic country at that (though my family were the rebellious Protestants), I have had GUILT stamped on my forehead since birth.

    This hillside town is absolutely beautiful. You have the most wonderful job (travel writing)! I live in an old, Victorian town here in CA so many original houses downtown have turrets and lacy overhangs on the roofs, etc. I do love the thick stone walls of the medieval structures. As a dreamer youth, I thought the medieval period was enchanting (not really thinking that I probably would have been burnt at stake had I lived in it). I think we share the same sentiment re: horse meat. It was difficult enough for me to try buffalo burgers in Colorado. But gleaming chestnut mares on my dinner plate? Ah, no thank you.

    Your climbing into the water fountains reminded me of a rather surreal experience just a few weeks ago. We were having a family barbecue on our deck. I was trying to hang a bee catcher on a tree in the surrounding woods to re-direct the insects from our party. Little did I know I was stepping right on a yellow jacket nest right underneath the branch I was hanging from. I have never been attacked so painfully in my life. So many stings! I ran crazed and jumped straight into the pool -- fully clothed -- and finally took several of them with me. As you can imagine, that was the story of the evening! My family said they had only ever seen that in cartoons, prior to this. I tell you, real life (my life, at least) is stranger than fiction.

    -- Jenny

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  48. Thank you to everyone for the fantastic comments - had to laugh out loud at yours, Jenny, which I read just now. I have loads of stuff to write about but it will have to wait a bit longer... watch this space...

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  49. Lovely photos of the lovely scenery there. Wish I can have a walk there too! :)

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  50. charming place, maybe one day...great post

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  51. Oh, I adore France!!! Lovely post!

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  52. Love this French journey - thanks for taking me there through your excellent images!

    Anna :o]

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  53. Oh Jenny, these photos are all of such a lovely place. It is true, fairy tales can come true...as seen here! Sometimes it does get so frustrating when you visit places and they are closed, and you come again another time and still closed! But even from the windows and the outside often it's still quite interesting!

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  54. I'm just catching up too after a while away in France and Italy. I haven't been in the Midi-Pyrenees for a few years but it is an area of France I love dearly. I have a special affection for Carcassonne which I cannot explain: it's one of those weird stories. I've only knowingly eaten horse meat once and I found it rather coarsly textured.

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  55. dear Jenny, thank you very much for sharing these photos - they are really delicious)

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  56. What a lovely nature is ! Your snaps collections are very nice !

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