Wandering amidst the American new, occasionally my mind will stray. Back to so much living history, where I can point out with child-like glee that the cardo and the decumanus still form the central arteries of Arles with a bumpy heart-beat boom.
These old Roman roads.
They cross the countryside, still full of the promise of going…
…even when their paving stones, covered in two-thousand years of moss and tears, have been pushed aside.
Simply reminders now…
…of the many that came before…
…slowly, so slowly…
…at a pace we only know with our breath.
These old Roman roads, joining empires of the mind and yet there are flowers, such bright poppies.
They too burn in bloom, saying follow me. Follow me. Home.
Such soft images, and yet the history is anything but soft….how time changes all…..
Another lovely post.
I read your posts in Florida, more than a country apart, a world apart. Our oldest known roads are canoe routes of the earliest people in Florida.
We know quite a bit about from where in Spain the Spanish explorers in Florida came. But I've no idea about the French who had a bigger presence here than I knew before I moved here. From Arles? Had they walked along the Roman Roads?
Not yet Judy but thanks for asking…I'll let you know. 🙂
Merci ma chere Soeur! And I am no Monet (hooweeee!) but maybe that is who you were thinking about? I love his paintings with the poppies and fine ladies strolling in them…
Thank you, Judith.
I am so terribly sorry to hear about Finney's passing, friend. You know how much I consider my boys family and so I understand how you are hurting. If there is anything that I can do please let me know, otherwise know that you will be in my thoughts.
Gros Bisous and a giant warm hug,
H.
So very beautiful, Heather, thank you. We lost our beloved 12 year old spaniel Finney last night. This post has warmed ny heart.
Heather, once again you have a great post. I especially love the first photo. Are you back? coffee?
Omgoodness – the first photo looks like a painting!! A famous one, whose painter escapes me….anyone? So beautiful! And mind-boggling to think about how old the roads are (well, everything is) over there – I felt the weight of the history when I was there – in the arena, for example! And I'm noting Judith's observation, too, about your words of "home". Hopefully you feel at home here, but I can see how you are hoping for the road home to France soon as well! Thank you for another simple, beautiful post!
Gorgeous. And I hope you are on the road home very soon.