I want to begin the blog post with yet another huge thank you to our most marvelous new friends, Tobias and Sabine! Without their generous spirit and their nifty convertible, Cathy and I would not have gotten to see and do all that we have seen and done during our stay here in Bormes. Tobias and Sabine are wonderful company with whom we enjoy much conversation, laughter, and a bit of adventure. We hope to keep in touch with them once this trip is done, as we will miss them.
Our latest adventure, with the top down and the wind in our hair, was on Saturday, Sept. 28. We left the apartment at 8:15 a.m. and we were in St. Tropez by about 9:15, after a stop at a fantastic boulangerie in a little village along the way, La Mole, where we bought petit pain au chocolate and ate them in the car as we sped along, letting the crumbs fly. There is a sailing race in St. Tropez that begins this Tuesday and it involves both old and new sailing ships, and we went to see and photograph these vessels. I’m afraid that’s all I’m going to explain about the race itself, since that aspect of things isn’t really important for me. I was there to get another look at St. Tropez, plus whatever was there – sailing ships included or not. But I enjoyed the ships a great deal; more than I thought I would.
The last time we were in St. Tropez, we focused on the huge outdoor market, the ramparts, and the art museum. This time we spent lots of time at the port, looking at the ships, and we did a walk around parts of St. Tropez that we hadn’t done on that last visit. As you can see from the photos, the place was already hopping by 9:30. And when we left around 1:00, it was downright crowded. For lunch we went the economical route and stopped at a grocery store for sandwiches. We were economical with time as well as with money, and we ate them in the car while we drove with the top down to Ramatuelle, more crumbs flying away behind us.
Ramatuelle was marvelous. Here is what the Michelin guide says about it: “Set on a slope among vineyards and scrubland, this pink-roofed village is a typical Provencal mix of narrow winding streets, vaulted arches and historic houses huddled against an ancient town wall.” We wandered those narrow winding streets, taking photos and oohing and aahing over the views, both grand and intimate. Then we enjoyed an espresso at one of the cafes while we reviewed some of the photos we had taken and just chatted and relaxed. That is one of those photos that I WISH I had taken, or gotten someone to take of all four of us. Oh, well. I’ll bet by now you can construct it in your imagination, yes?
From Ramatuelle, we drove on to Gassin. From the Michelin guide: “This village, which lies at an altitude of 201 meters (659 feet), has retained its Provencal character and is especially lively on market day (Sunday). The Terasse des Barri, planted with lotus trees, provides a view of St. Tropez Bay, the Iles d’Hyeres and the Alps on clear days.” I didn’t know it at the time, but we did stop at Terasse des Barri to look at the view, but it was not a clear day. Yet, the view was still magnificent. Gassin has its touristy aspects, but it is the least touristy village I’ve been to so far and I enjoyed it immensely.
It was around 5:00 p.m. when we headed back home from Gassin, stopping at the grocery store along the way. This is another thing we wouldn’t be able to do without our wonderful friends – go to the large grocery stores with the wide selection and good prices. Another thank you to Sabine and Tobias. Once back at the apartment, Cathy and I enjoyed a simple but yummy dinner of rocket, tomatoes, shredded carrot salad, shredded celery root salad, a superbly creamy blue cheese, and a whole grain baguette (for a touch of variety). And of course we had a red wine, a good one, but not top of our list of favorites. It was better with food than alone. We are becoming very discerning – within the echelon of the lower prices, that is.
I am writing this blog post on Sunday morning, because Saturday night was early to bed for both of us. BUT, we DID do an art session after dinner and before we became comatose! I include our artistic explorations, as usual.
P.S. I am finishing this blog at 2:30 p.m. after beginning it around 9:30 a.m.! For some reason, the program was cranky today and very, very slow loading the photos. 5 hours to do a blog post is a record! Well, we also did a lot yesterday, so it’s a long one. Since I have spent most of today, Sunday, Sept. 29, writing this post, there won’t be a post for today – I haven’t done anything to write about! But, I needed a day off, plus we had thunder and lightening and pouring rain in the middle of today, so it was good to be doing something indoors. Hope you enjoy this post!!
We parked our car in St. Tropez and we were walking through the lot to the port when we spotted this funny little vehicle – doesn’t it look like an insect? Just had to include it, even though it has nothing to do with St. Tropez.
The port in St. Tropez, about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Some of the residences and shops facing the port. I took this photo to capture the folks up in the balconies enjoying their breakfasts. Many people were doing this on many of the balconies of the residences along the way and I thought it looked like such a cool thing to do – I wished I was up there, too. Down on the sidewalk is a tour group. This was repeated many times throughout St. Tropez as well, but I did not wish that I could do it, too.
The racing ships in the port. Can you see the two men in the masts…or the rigging…or whatever the proper term is. Several crews were working to prepare the boats and we spent a good bit of time watching them – it’s all new and foreign to me, as I have never done any sailing of any sort.
Cathy, T and S. But you knew that already, didn’t you?
Watching the crews. Take a special look at the feet.
A basket of footwear? What is that all about? Sufficient or Insufficient??
Ah, the mystery is no longer mysterious…please remove your shoes before boarding the ship…one must either be barefoot (and elsewhere I saw a sign specifying CLEAN bare feet) or be wearing special deck shoes on these ships. I find it very intriguing that this “feet” theme has following me everywhere on this trip!
So, those shoes in and near the basket are sufficient for landlubbers but insufficient for deck hands. It’s all about context. Any application to art and art making?
Another shot of the port.
One of the racing ships.
Racing ship on the left, yacht on the right.
A view of the masts. You can see that the morning was overcast. The last few days have been mixed, weather wise, sometimes sun, sometimes clouds, sometimes both.
The residences, shops, and restaurants facing the harbor. Oh, yes, and the motorcycles.
A closeup of the restaurant in the previous photo – people watching people watching people.
Too early for lunch. One of the restaurants facing the port, completely in the open air except for an awning. I was taken by the black and white and the repetition of motifs – the abstract qualities attracting me more than the literal “it’s tables and chairs in a restaurant.”
Here is another one a few doors down. Not as strong as the other restaurant shot, but still interesting in its minimal color and use of repetition.
View of the port from another angle, with one of the sailing ships leaving port.
In the foreground on the left, out of sight in this photo, is the red restaurant that I gave you a closeup of. This is a street leading away from the port. See the archway in the stone building on the left just past the bicycle? The fish market is in there.
What you see when you first enter the archway. No fish yet.
Turn slightly right and…a glimpse of fish. I’m watching him watching me watching him.
Turn sharply right and…FISH!
Lots of FISH!
And even more FISH!
There is evidently a lot of effort put into designing these fish displays.
Fish display.
What are these?
All kinds of FISH.
We walked down to the other end of the harbor and, as you will see, out onto a long jetty. The racing ships were, one by one, leaving the port and heading out into more open seas nearby and we got to watch them sail (future photos, not this one).
Here is the beginning of the jetty.
The view back to the port from the beginning of the jetty.
View of the jetty as we walk down it.
Cathy in the lead, as always, but only because I always lag behind, taking photos for you. See that little orange bit over Cathy’s right shoulder? That is the end of the jetty, where we are going.
View to our right while walking along the jetty.
View toward the left while walking along the jetty. The jetty narrows as you get closer toward the end. In this photo you can clearly see the structure with the orange top that is the end of the line.
Looking back down the jetty to where we began walking – the round structure in the distance.
Reaching our destination: the end of the jetty.
View from the end of the jetty.
Another view from the end of the jetty.
Returning from the end of the jetty, we walked down on the sidewalk between the jetty wall and the harbor, and I found this marvelous pile of chains.
Or do you prefer this direction?
Back at the beginning of the jetty, and back at the round structure that was so far in the distance in a previous photo, we went through the opening under the stairs on the right to explore some of the village of St. Tropez.
The opening under the stairway.
First view after going through the opening under the stairs.
Further along, a little beach and some houses.
And even further along, past the little beach.
And here I am Mom & Dad. I try to remember to ask someone to take at least one photo of me for every blog post so that you can see that, yes indeed, I really am here, too, and am taking these photos and writing these stories. Behind me is the round structure and the opening under the stairs that we came through to discover this little beach and neighborhood.
Old Orange Wall: Photo One.
Old Orange Wall: Photo Two.
Old Orange Wall: Photo Three.
Leaving the little beach and wandering into the small side streets of St. Tropez: an interesting doorway.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo One.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo Two.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo Three.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo Four.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo Five.
Street in St. Tropez: Photo Six. And this is the last photo I will show you of St. Tropez on Sept. 28. Now we will go on to Ramatuelle.
We are now in Ramatuelle. Our first street view.
Wandering in Ramatuelle.
Another street in Ramatuelle. Nope, I don’t know these people. They just wandered into my wanderings.
Doorway With Bird: Ramatuelle.
Narrow Street With Steps: Ramatuelle.
Blue Door, Violet Flowers: Ramatuelle.
My wandering companions: Ramatuelle.
Le 26: Ramatuelle.
Worn Wall: Ramatuelle.
Green Window, Orange Wall: Ramatuelle.
T (and S, further ahead) in Ramatuelle.
Stairway/Street: Ramatuelle.
Street With Archway: Ramatuelle.
We ended our visit to Ramatuelle with espresso at the cafe on the far left, the one you can barely see. The next photos will be of Gassin.
Our first view on arriving in Gassin.
View from Gassin.
Another view from the same spot in Gassin.
Between The Buildings: Gassin.
Street In Gassin.
Street that is actually a tunnel under a house: Gassin.
Lovely Corner: Gassin.
Courtyard Through Grillwork: Gassin.
Another tunnel-street in Gassin.
Ancient Stone House: Gassin.
Rooftops: Gassin.
Cathy’s work from the after dinner art session on Saturday, Sept 28. That yellow shadow is the result of my amateur photography – it’s raining today (Sunday, Sept. 29) and I had a hard time getting lighting that wouldn’t throw my shadow over the work. So ignore that yellow bit,
One of Debi’s collages from the after dinner work session on Saturday, Sept. 28. (Again, ignore that distracting yellow shadow.)
Debi’s other collage done at the after supper art session on Saturday, Sept. 28.
I really like the picture of “green window, orange wall”