Sometimes it's the season that dictates the shot. In February almond trees are always first to signal that spring is on its way and it's a sign too good to ignore. With a 12th century chapel in the background the sight is even more appealing.
Nail it down !
Side door of St Pierre church. I've never seen it open.
Is this Our Lady of the Sacred Chairs? Some friends and I came upon this scene on Saturday afternoon : all the old church chairs were sent off to be burned, replaced by rows of new ones. Couldn't a few be saved, I asked ? The lady explained that most were eaten up by worms, partly broken and really shaky, and since they were attached in rows of three it was difficult to sort them out but we were welcome to take as many as we wanted before the car came back to pick up the second round. Looking at the chairs closely we realised it was indeed difficult to find a strong and sturdy one but a friend and I each took one. I'll tell you later what I did with mine.
'Photo of the Year 2011' is the theme chosen by City Daily Photo bloggers on this first day of 2012. I selected this one, 'Catholic leaving church', because I'm particularly happy with its composition and timing - the person's arm and shadow on the right really do it for me. If you follow this blog regularly, is there another of my photos that you would have selected instead of this one? For more 'Photos of the Year 2011' around the world click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Late afternoon view of Avignon from the top of Jardin des Doms. Framed by a falling branch, the bell tower of the Augustins' ancien convent.
Touring Avignon with my Australian friends on Saturday I came upon this scene: cathedral main door, late afternoon. How many times have I walked around this very touristy place ? Yet once again, it's the light that provides inspiration.
My most wonderful surprise at Tuesday's Fete de la Musique was an outdoor performance by a group of young hand bell ringers from the First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. We're not used to handbell choirs in France, I had no idea any such thing existed. I wasn't able to record their music but I strongly recommend you click here to see a video of them playing in their home church of Charlotte, NC. Not all the players are the same but several are and so is the conductor. In Avignon, despite sly attempts by gusts of winds to blow their score sheets off, the choir performed beautifully and was much appreciated. They got great rounds of applause.
I had a chat to some of the young ladies after the performance and learned that they are on a two-week tour of France. They stayed in Paris for a few days before coming down to Avignon for the Music Fest, played again in the village of Pernes les Fontaines last night and will be giving another free concert tonight at 8:30 p.m. in Pujaut, a village just outside Avignon. If you happen to be around, please come and listen to them! Otherwise you can console yourself with more videos here.
Click here to read more about the church's children and youth handbell choirs : the Ivey Handbell Ringers (Grades 9-12) is composed of experienced handbell ringers. They ring in worship and on special occasions throughout the year. They accept outside engagements and take a two-week concert tour each summer. The conductor told me they'd been to various European countries (e.g. Germany and Denmark) but never to France. They all looked like they were having a wonderful time.
Ma plus belle surprise de la fête de la musique, je l'ai trouvée dans le passage de l'oratoire avec un groupe de jeunes sonneurs de cloches de l'église presbytérienne de Charlotte en Caroline du Nord, USA. Je ne connaissais pas les choeurs de cloches à main, je ne savais même pas que ça existait. Cliquez ici pour les entendre en concert dans leur église aux Etats-Unis, ça vaut la peine. D'autres vidéos aussi ici sur le site de leur église. A Avignon, malgré le vent fripon qui soufflait sur leurs partitions ils ont complètement séduit leur auditoire.
En parlant un peu avec ces jeunes filles après le concert j'ai appris que le groupe était en tournée en France pour deux semaines. Ils ont passé quelques jours à Paris avant de descendre à Avignon pour la fête de la musique. Ils ont donné un concert hier soir à Pernes les Fontaines et en donnent un autre ce soir vendredi 24 juin à 20h30 en l'église de Pujaut. C'est un concert gratuit. Si vous avez l'occasion d'y aller, ne ratez pas ça !
This is where I was last Sunday at sunset. A gorgeous moment of peace and beauty.
The village is called Saint Saturnin les Apt and sits on a south facing hill in the Vaucluse range, way above the little town of Apt. It's an ancestral tradition in the region to build villages on rocky outcrops with commanding views of the plains below. The dry stone houses were clustered below a fortified castle ; in case of an invasion villagers gathered behind the fortified grounds for safety. Today the castle is only ruins but the charming village and stupendous views remain. Across the plain is the Luberon mountain range.
The octogonal church spike carries eight bells.
On est à Saint Saturnin les Apt un village orienté plein sud perché sur une colline des monts du Vaucluse au-dessus de la petite ville d'Apt. C'est une tradition ancestrale dans la région de bâtir les village sur des éminences rocheuses dominant la plaine, avec un château fortifié surplombant une poignée de maisons en pierre sèche. En cas d'invasion les villageois venaient se réfugier derrière les épais murs fortifiés. Aujourd'hui le château et son abbaye ne sont plus que ruines mais il reste un charmant village et un panorama à couper le souffle qui porte jusqu'au massif du Luberon de l'autre côté de la plaine.
Church steeple at sunset in the small village of Vedene, just east of Avignon. The freezing but crisp bright light is what makes the winters of Provence so amazing.
