Long light is stretched lean and tight by the Solstice but has been ever so in this corner of Provence. Other seasons, other times have left their mark beyond this eternal summer. For two thousand years, the Roquette has been inhabited, there is still a rue de la Monnaie from when the mint of the Roman Empire was transferred to Arles in 313 AD. The fishermen that worked the port of the Rhone, creating power as they pulled and docked, have always lived right in this neighborhood. Or did until the trains came and the industrial age with it, leaving their livelihood to sink slowly down. But the buildings remain. Not all have been made their pretty. And yet the details present a palette, one that is both beautiful and true.
So this renaissance is taking flight but it will fade and be replaced by future hopefuls, leaving trails and lounging on another June 21.
I thought that this would be the round-up of this week in the Roquette but Remi suggested another post about the life on the quay. We shall see but in the meantime…
…for those of you in France or participating countries, Bon Fête de la Musique!
…and for everyone else, make some music of your own this fine weekend…
Thanks so much Sister–that was wonderful of David to say! 🙂 And whew for the computer incident! Those puppers! They were just trying to add percussion. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
David, this is a comment that I will earmark (who created that word? It sounds foul!) for when I am having a not-so-confident day (of which I have many). With both hands crossed over my heart, I say "thank you."
And I would just add that I only started taking photos because I was so utterly bored in waiting for Mr. Remi to take his! I would sit and wait and wait and wait and look around me all that time. I finally caught on to the fact that I could put my camera to use during those endless waits and then they stopped being waits at all!
When we were travelling we would often do the opposite of what the guidebook says. For example at Angkor, if you just entirely reverse even the standard order (not going too far off the beaten map in case any mines have been missed) you will have the Bayon completely to yourself at sunrise (and it is worth the trip alone to watch those mysterious faces glow out of the dark of night) while busloads push to get their angle of Angkor Wat. Here in Arles, there is one loop and one loop only between the Arena, the Antique Theatre, the Place de la Republique with St. Trophime, the Place du Forum and the Hotel Dieu where Van Gogh was treated. That's it! Which leaves a whole lotta streets empty even in August…
Bisous,
H
Ah, that I CAN see in the eighth down from the top!
Left me speechless and blinking like stupido.
Oh good! Then by all means, please give him so more. That is if he hasn't gone out cat-napping recently. 🙂
Loree, I am hopelessly behind on your beautiful posts but I know that you and I both do like to wander off the beaten path.
Centuries! Millenia!
Thank you for stopping by on Midsummer Eve–that must be amazing to experience…and merci for the compliment too!
Not if it was the utter CACAPHONY that happened last night! Holy cow…
But Happy Summer Solstice to you too, N!
My goodness Helen, your thought about Rothko freaked me out! Heehee. But time is a mighty fine artist in these parts.
Ah, wishing you easy living as well, what a perfect shimmering idea that is..
Gros Bisous,
Heather