This is when things start to get interesting. A smudge of the thumb and the fine line between virtual and real is erased. Within…shall we say…two minutes of having met Dash from the amazing blog French Sampler, I sensed that she was exactly the kindred spirit that I had hoped. But to have her sitting across from me at a small café just outside of the train station in Aix! I scanned her face eagerly. Would there be signs of her panoplie of knowledge, her distinct elegance? I had long appreciated her honest writing, been inspired as she worked hard to improve her photography and was always beautifully surprised by her subject matter. Our tastes are mind-bogglingly similar, it is true but had I misjudged her and she me? A warm smile spread out across her face. We started talking and didn’t stop for the next six hours. And it passed like the blink of an eye. We were still at lunch after three and when finally we pulled ourselves out of our comfortable volley to move, we wisely abandoned our best laid plans and let our feet and cameras lead us. How wonderful to be just two women wandering. Alright, I’ll say it, deux blogueuses. Both looking, discovering with no one to hurry us in the least sense. Cameras in hand, focusing at the eye and click. Quite like a good connection. I have written about the wonderful city of Aix many times and it was lovely to watch her discover its rich diversity. We decided to make mutual posts, revealing our farandole on the same day without showing each other in advance. So I will look forward to finding where her eye landed nearly as much as I will spending time with Dash again…
Now, as quick as you can name the name of Lartigue’s favorite muse (“Renée!”), let’s hop on over to Dash’s wonderful blog:
And for those of you that are visiting for the first time from chez elle, a very warm welcome indeed.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Thank you so much Helen–your support and kindness always makes me smile. Oh, we would have had a wonderful time all together, I am certain! Save that it would have caused all kinds of trouble as after that you would have wanted to move here to paint it all!
Bisous…
Dash, I hope you know how much I feel the same! And I think that the idea I suggested to the Hattatts would be amazing! If they agree of course…but really, any where you wish for our next meeting and I would be so happy! And yes, I love even more the differences than the similarities in what we photographed but love, love, love that what we wrote was both right next to each others thoughts!
Debra, you will LOVE her blog–I am so thrilled to see that you signed up! Whew, this woman is an encyclopedia of elegance without ever being the LEAST bit pretentious. No small feat in the blog world! I loved your most recent post. How I wish I was there to go for a walk with you and Dylan dog…
Oh my friends, if you both had been with us…well, for starters we would never have left the café! We would have had even more wine, then a little coffee, then ok why not let's take dessert after all and then we should finish the wine and oh, it seems to be the apero, how lovely, hmmm, aren't we feeling peckish again? Well, we could always get that antipasta plate that looked so good before and…Do you see what I mean? You can't deny it!
Maybe Dash and I need to make a road trip to Budapest? 🙂
Thank you for such an unexpected friendship blog x 2
I can see differences in your personalities viewing the pictures on both blogs.
I have favorite photos from both. But best of show is the flying pigeon picture you post here first.
In both blogs, the locked gate chapelle des Ursulines…I feel like a little girl in those weeds. Dash's photo of the two leather chairs with bottles' surround…drunk in those chairs or from their beauty wouldn't be a difficult choice. The fountain in the square…I can feel the water on my hands. Not a bad Monday morning.
I have read both of your blogs re: the day together- Astonishing! I am overloaded on the beauty of both- Incredible! Loving all of the photos!
What a wonderful afternoon you had! Your photos are gorgeous and I feel like I was dashing around Aix with you and Dash! Off to visit her blog. If she's a kindred spirit of yours, I know I'll like her, too! XO
Hello Heather
I loved hearing about your day with Dash. How fortunate to have met a kindred spirit and having so much in common. I would love to have been along. Your images are spectacular and in particular the second one is so vibrant.
To many more meetings with Dash and on that note I shall rush to her blog.
Helen xx
OMG Heather your pictures are so stunning and has me dreaming! I can't imagine Dash having much different but I'm exccited to go see. Thank you for introducing her to me.
Enjoy your day!
XX
Debra~
Dam it, I just lost my connection, it's been on and off all day and am having to type this comment again. Wonderful post and pictures Heather and even though we saw the same things, we also saw things differently, amazing. I adore the second picture and the old advertising painting through the arch…wonderful.
We had a fabulous day and I can't wait to do it again.
As I said at the time I feel a richer person for having met you.
X
Hello Heather:
Ah, les deux charmantes blogueses de France…..
What excitement there is when virtual and real worlds collide and what joyous serendipity that two kindred spirits have found each other in this vast space that is the world wide web. we are certain that you will both have had a truly magical time together exploring the intriguing town of Aix and gossiping about all things blogwise!Oh, how we should have loved to have joined you at the café with those most delicious looking lunches…..we would have focussed on the eating and the talking rather than the photographing!!!
And, what splendid images you delight us with here. Glimpses of the everyday life in a town which is clearly brimming with beauty and bursting with bonhomie!! Bisous xxx