Une Journée Français, Une

Baudinard-sur-Verdon Evening

We’ve learned the hard way that hopscotching from town to town every other night does not inspire creativity. Checking out by 11 every other morning and checking in every other afternoon after three suppresses artistic energy. There’s not enough left after the logistical challenges of travel to wax creative. So, our preferred mode of foreign travel is to rent a house or apartment for a month or more in an appealing and central location and to take two- and three-night trips to other places within, say, a half day drive. It really works in Europe since distances are short by US standards. And let's not forget to use the train between major cities. Trains rock.

Yacht Harbor, Antibes. It's Europe's largest.

Roman Theatre, Orange

So, we establish a home base where we learn the rhythms of our adopted town and try to live like a local. We learn where to get a fresh baguette, a bottle of local wine and a well-served meal. If we’re lucky we make local friends who steepen our learning curve.

This post appears because my January-February entry in Shadow and Light Magazine is titled as above. Une Journée Français in the magazine is a more thorough examination of the home base and short side trips which have proven so illuminating and exciting. We’ll start with Baudinard-sur-Verdon, the second of our month-long French stays.

Roman Arena or Arene, Arles

Abandoned Tanneries, Barjols. Once there were 24 tanneries in the town. The last went bankrupt in 1983 and the town fell into dereliction. It's trying to reinvent itself as a art colony.

The places we could explore from Baudinard and were legion. We visited, painted and photographed a laundry list of important sites including Avignon, Orange, Arles, Cassis, Antibes, Marseille, Moustiers and hidden jewels like Bargeme and Villecroze. 

Far-ranging and contemplative travel shows us that we’re citizens of the larger world. I can’t imagine a greater gift. Immersing oneself in another culture, language and lifestyle is enriching beyond measure. In my long life I’ve enjoyed seven of these month or more experiences and wish I could say fifty. Since time waits for absolutely nobody I’ve got to get cracking don’t I?