le Gard en pastel

Coincidence maybe, but looking back at the photos I had taken this past week in the Gard, they all seemed to have a slight pastel hue.

a summer break #2

The lovely thing about living in a city (even a small/medium-sized one like Edinburgh), is that you really, really appreciate the countryside when you pay it a visit. This week we have been making the most of our hamlet in the Gard: taking walks in the heat and picking fruit from the trees in our garden, which were my Mamy's pride and joy (my daughter was loving the dinky apples). Oh, and cheering on the la France at the Olympics (my loyalties will of course change once I hit British soil once more).

a summer break #1

We left the soggy isle where we currently live a week ago and have taken refuge in our holiday home in the Languedoc-Rousillon (top photo). The Olympics, for us, will be watched from here, for the the time being. Things I have been enjoying this last week:

- no rain and proper summer heat (though not sure the temperature above was quite right...
- rediscovering dad's old art in the house
- tasty local fruit and vegetables
- dips in our new paddling pool (trois boudins)
- hiding from the hot sun under a fragrant fig tree
- fig and melon shower cream (almost as fragrant as the real thing)
- an aubergine caviar, camembert and emmental pizza, from the pizza van

Just a few more simple pleasures.

Musée PAB

Today, I am delighted and slightly ashamed, in equal measure. This afternoon was really lovely and we discovered a gem: the Musée Bibliothèque Pierre André Benoit (PAB), in Alès. This town in the Gard is minutes away from the house that once belonged to my grandparents and I have been coming here all of my life. I had however never been to the musée PAB, until today. This centre for modern and contemporary art is an absolute delight. In the grounds of the museum is a fragrant rose garden, as well as enormous peonies coming into bloom and a range of installations dotted around the place. We were lucky enough to drop by during a great photography exhibition, 'Monstres Sacrès du Cinema', about which a short documentary in French can be seen here. Large black and white photographs by Xavier Lambours of cinema greats throughout the years. The permanent collection is  also terrific and worth a visit alone, with works including those by Braque, Hugo, Picabia, Picasso and my favourites being the land art, with several pieces by Ian Hamilton Findlay and many more. I made several purchases, too, in their well stocked little museum shop. Beautifully produced catalogues and publications and many limited edition pieces are all for sale. There is no website at present, but contact details and current exhibitions can be found online. If you happen to ever pass by Alès, you really should go.