|
|
Post by plantsnobin on Oct 15, 2009 13:49:53 GMT -5
Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well for part of the trip, but glad you have posted these pics. I don't know if I could come back to Paoli, IN after being in some of those places. I think I would be too tempted to stay, so it is probably better that I never go there. Not that I will ever get the chance to go anyway...just as well. I hope you get a chance soon to post more about your wonderful adventure.
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Oct 15, 2009 16:55:03 GMT -5
Well my friend, as beautiful as these places are, the trip was about people. I felt jealous of not living it such surroundings, but after a month it was time to come back. I own an amazingly beautiful castle here, and it is called ''my friends''. No architecture in the world can replace that, that is why a good experience in Africa can be so memorable, and if there is a place devoid of much architecture, this is it, but for Soudan and Egypt. My most important memories are about people, not places. Paris, with all this magnificient ''grandeur'' disgusted me. I was only seeing the price paid by the people to build this insanely, decadently rich architecture, way to full of money and sacrifices to make you feel at home. My most beautiful moments where not when I was sightseeing, but meeting new friends. You could build me the greatest caste in the world in Indiana my friend, you would only need to open your arms and your heart to me. It would make me feel like a king very fast. I had many experiences there, but meeting Alan Carter( and his amazingly wonderful and beautiful wife Heidrun and their son Nanuk) was a dream for me, Alan is the greatest organic seed producer for Kokopelli, probably in Europe ( over 350 cultivars). I can throw all these pictures and memories in the garbage can if I am asked by a godly power to make a choice... Imagine...the end of a difficult and tiresome trip, then this incredible oasis of peace and beauty, the souls of 2 amazing human beings living a very simple life, and, finding way far on the planet a similar human being that in a moment only, our true souls being so close to each other, becomes like a long lost friend, the smile of a 9 months old baby who loves my silly faces then hugs me like he had known me forever, smiling like crazy, you can't find a more beautiful castle anywhere in the world... I kind of know where I am a king now, or at least where I felt like one..... of course, there is always architecture.... Michel P.S.: to explain the context of my meeting with Alan, I had 2 days of rest in Nice before meeting him, my only days of rest in the trip. I planned to visit Nice and the Riviera and Monaco and else, but I ended up in my room in the afternoon, fell asleep until next day, woke up for lunch, made a few phone calls then rested on the bed...only to wake up the next day around 11 am. Gone where my dreams of bathing in the Côte d'Azur with the beautiful goddesses walking around naked or so. ( Quite frankly, at that stage of tiredness, they were not a priority). To all those having fantasies about the sexiest beaches in the world, do not cross the equivalent of 2 times America in a single month while giving 2 days long conferences, it will hurt EVEN your conception of sexuality  Hell my friends, I love women but we all have our limits.... |
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Oct 15, 2009 20:57:52 GMT -5
LOL.....Yeah, I know my limit(s)......Kim!
Really wish I could have gone, but too many things got in the way.....this time......but next time, well that's another story!
|
|
|
|
Post by grunt on Oct 16, 2009 3:53:55 GMT -5
Michel: Thank you so much for the photos. I do know what you mean about which is the true grandeur. Never been to France, but Portugal has churches and other architecture to rival that of France. Yet the true amazing beauty is to be found in the rural villages, some with 1000 year old churches that are not architectural marvels, but still in use by the locals. And the people, inlaws or not, still working on a mid 1950's level (or earlier), and happier and more open than most of us over here. Probably the best tasting meal I ever ate there was with an almost-inlaw fisherman, picking shreds of fish off the bones of fish that we would not even consider here, because of size and boniness, eaten with coarse bread, olive oil and onions, sitting in the shade, next to a small charcoal brazier.
You get befriended because you are related to or are friends with someone else, and treated like family.
|
|
|
|
Post by tatermater on Oct 16, 2009 17:19:52 GMT -5
Great pictures Michel.
I am still on the run with the workshops here in Europe. Getting some sleep now before my two day workshop here in the Southwest of Ireland where I can look out to sea.
The workshops were well received again, most recently in Jutland and Germany.
This Irish workshop is tomorrow. This is such beautiful country.
Sorry I can't write more as I don't have much time to reflect. My hosts are always willing to spend a lot of time with me.
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by tatermater on Oct 20, 2009 4:12:10 GMT -5
I am on the Isle of Man now. This is the birthplace of my grandfather Joe Kaighin. Going to the farm where he grew up and visit the church and gravestones of my ancestors. I will be taking lots of video and pictures of the island.
No workshops here, just a vacation of a day!
|
|
|
|
Post by hiven on Oct 20, 2009 4:21:12 GMT -5
Nice pictures ,Michel! Hope your tooth ache is gone (too much chocolate ?)
Enjoy your time, Tom!
|
|
|
|
Post by Penny on Oct 20, 2009 6:05:11 GMT -5
The pictures are just amazing!!
|
|
|
|
Post by tatermater on Oct 22, 2009 15:10:13 GMT -5
I will somehow make available tons of pictures of the trip that Michel and I started and I am completing the last few days now.
Quite a few batteries were gone through.
Tom
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Oct 22, 2009 20:01:43 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to it!
Telsing
|
|
|
|
Post by Penny on Oct 23, 2009 5:38:30 GMT -5
That would be great, love to see them,
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Oct 23, 2009 16:23:17 GMT -5
THE GARDENS AT LA BOURDAISIERE:   WITH THE BELGIAN KOKOPELLI PEOPLE  DRIVING THE VAN KEIRSBILCK MOBILE:  SQUARE IN GENT  LOTS OF VAN KEIRSBILCK MOBILES IN GENT  EATING GOOD IN FRANK'S GARDEN WITH A GOOD LOOKING GAL  ME, YOU KNOW WHERE  LE LOUVRE  NOTRE DAME DE PARIS  IN FRONT OF THE GOLDEN GATE AT THE CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES. GREAT REAL ESTATE, I MIGHT BUY IT WHEN THE PRICE OF GOLD GOES DOWN ;D  PIC NIC AT LA BOURDAISIERE  WHEN IN FRANCE, EXPECT SOME MUSIC  PEOPLE SURROUNDING MY YOUNG APPRENTICE, TOM WAGNER   TOM WITH LUCINE ( CRAONNE HERE AND ON TOMODORI) AND HER HUSBAND MICHEL  IN MORLAIX, BRITTANY, THE CITY THAT STOLE MY HEART  THE OLD STONE BUILT FARM WHERE WE GAVE THE WORKSHOP IN BRITTANY, NEAR MORLAIX  WITH BLANCHE MAGARINOS REY, KOKOPELLI'S LAWER NEAR MORLAIX, YOU MIGHT NOTICE I DO NOT SMILE MUCH IN MANY PICTURES, BUT I WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE TOOTACHES. WHEN THE ADRENALINE RUSH WAS THERE, I COULD FORGET IT. IT IS AMAZING HOW GOOD FRIENDS AND INTELLECTUAL CONCENTRATION CAN HELP YOU ALLEVIATE THE PAIN, BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO EVERYTHING. A LOT OF THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN IN RELAXATION MOMENTS, EXACTLY WHEN THE PAIN WOULD COME BACK. THEY BROUGHT ME TO THE DENTIST IN FOLCARQUIER, AND EVEN PAID FOR IT, IT HELPED MAKING MY LIFE EASIER A LOT.  TOM AND BLANCHE IN FRONT OF A CAIRN, A HUGE MAN MADE MOUNT OF ROCK FROM THE CELTIC ERA , DESIGNED AS A CEMETARY OF SOME SORT. BLANCHE LIVES IN A HOUSE BUILT IN 1492, THE YEAR COLUMBUS PRESUMABLY DISCOVERED AMERICA  A VIEW OF THE SEA AND THE LAND IN BRITTANY  WALKING IN THE STREETS OF MORLAIX  TOM AND I CLOWNING AROUND A BIT IN A SEMINAR IN PERIGUEUX, SOUTHERN FRANCE  IN SÈTE, BOTH FEET IN THE MEDITERRANEA  A VIEW OF THE ALPS FROM LONGO MAI, A COMMUNITY NEAR FORCALQUIER WHERE WE GAVE A WORKSHOP AND MIGHT RETURN IN THE SPRING. BELIEVE ME, YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THERE  IN THE HIGH ALPS  A VILLAGE IN THE ALPS  TOM AND HIS SON KAIGHIN  FIELDS OF LAVANDER IN PROVENCE  AN EXEMPLE OF THE ROADS IN THE SOUTHERN ALPS. ONE CAR ONLY ON THE BRIDGE  IN NICE, I AM EXPLAINING THE GENEBANK SYSTEM TO ALAN CARTER, THE GREATEST ORGANIC SEED GROWER IN EUROPE FOR KOKOPELLI   LA TOUR, ALAN'S VILLAGE IN THE ALPS  THAT IS ABOUT IT FOLKS.... |
|
|
|
Post by grungy on Oct 23, 2009 18:06:29 GMT -5
Beautiful people, beautiful scenes. Thank you Michel, it was almost like taking the trip with you two.
|
|
|
|
Post by stratcat on Oct 23, 2009 18:21:05 GMT -5
More wonderful pictures, Michel! |
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Oct 23, 2009 19:31:23 GMT -5
|
|
