Here is the last sketch I did in France – naturally at the airport (Charles de Gaulle), which is pretty fancy. This wasn’t our plane but I could see it easily when we found a nice spot to sit.
Sat-7-Jan-2023
69-2276 – Au revoir Paris
France
69-2275 – Painting of a painting
Here is the last sketch I did during our stay at La Rhue in Dordogne. This was done in the house that I sketched the day before, after a nice walk through local villages, sitting next to a cosy wood burning stove and drinking delicious red wine.
Thu-5-Jan-2023
69-2274 – La bergerie
Here is a sketch that I did for the sister of our friend – as a little gift for letting us stay in her house. The house is a recently converted farm building. Bergerie translates as sheepfold or sheep barn – which I think is what it used to be. Now it’s a lovely house with thick stone walls and a living room heated by two types of wood burning stoves. We had a lovey stay, visiting Carennac and other villages and Rocamadour.
Thu-5-Jan-2023
69-2273 – Cats journey
Here is a belated sketch from our train journey from Paris to Rocamadour. Someone was transporting their cat in a basket, placed on a seat nearby. The poor animal was a little distressed and quietly meowed the whole trip.
Wed-4–Jan-2023
69-2272 – The unknown soldier
On our second full day in Paris we started with a visit to the Sacré-Cœur and then walked down through the city to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and to the Arc de Triumph. There we went up (by elevator because we felt tired by then) to the terrace to view Paris as the sun set – which was glorious. This statue (which is of a WWI infantryman by Jean Boucher) is on the level below the observation terrace. Eventually, after walking about 15km, we made it to the Eiffel Tower, which was all lit up.
Tue-3-Jan-2023
69-2271 – Pompidou crowds
On our first full day in Paris we of course went to the Centre Pompidou to see the modern art collection. Needless to say it was fantastic – we spent most of the day there and still didn’t see it all. Afterwards we walked to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame (sadly damaged by fire) and then to the Louvre – to see them lit up at night – including the pyramid by I. M. Pei, which was spectacular.
Mon-2-Jan-2023