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!
How wonderful to discover a blogger soulmate! I love these images. I last visited Aix 15 years ago and have wanted to go back ever since! x Sharon
Just a tad jealous!!!!!!!I better skip over and see what DASH did…….love her name!
This is such a delightful story to warm my heart and imagination. It is early morning here, and as I sip my coffee in bed and quickly catch up on blogworld (as John calls it) this junps out with a clarity and reality. How truly wonderful that the two of you finally got to meet – and how funny my blog list looks with your twinning titles in my side bar! Hopefully the beginning of a long friendship.
I stumbled here from Collage of Life. Your photos are gorgeous and Aix looks like a place I would love to wander around in.
This post just makes me so inordinately happy. LOVE the story of the two of you meeting and running around town, cameras in hand. And, of course, the lunch looks mouth watering (I checked it out over on Dash's site).
My friend Cheryl and I also both did posts on Sakonnet Garden. SHE is quite the photographer and it was fun to see our two different takes on the same day.
More please! Oh, and I've added French Sampler to my list on Bloglovin.com
Hooray! You are in France!!!! I am SO excited for you and to top it off you are going to meet fellow bloggers in Nice?! I wish that I could make the trip to see you too! Have a fantastic time!!!
Bonjour Heather– Writing this message from Paris, where I arrived two days ago. Catching up on my blog reading and what do I find… this fun story! So cool that you and Dash met and hit it off immediately! "Virtual friendships" that sometimes evolve into actual friendships are the best part about blogging. So happy for your two… As a side note, I have also enjoyed those TWO trips through Aix en Provence. Really fun to see what photos you both chose to publish. Heading down to Nice at the end of the week where I am hoping to meet two fellow bloggers for the first time as well! Very excited now. A bientôt. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Thank you Poet Whale, as always your response is so evocative! That chapel fascinated both of us in all of its rusted beauty. And my to spend an evening in those leather chairs would be something to think about…Happy that we both eased you into your week. 🙂
Thanks so much Linda Sue (my Mom's name so also my favorite name)! Aix is so beautiful already and add to that two ladies who have had a bit of wine and are loving being in each other's company–hooray!
Oh you will Jeanne. She loves a lot of what we like and knows all of the stories behind it all too–with your background I think you will be interested in all that she has to share. XO to you too!