WALKING IN GASCONY - THE COMMERCIAL

WALKING ON THE ST JACQUES ROUTE IN SW FRANCE

Just a quick note to say that we now offer 2 walking holidays on the St Jacques Route to Compostele.
Lynne and I have walked the Chemin de St Jacques for several stages in central France, and we’ve walked from where we live at La Petite Galerie in Mézin to the Pyrenees and then on into Spain.

The route is very well signposted - and you'll have your own guide.

Over the past few years we’ve had many requests from guests about walking on the St Jacques Route in SW France, and we now offer two fully inclusive group holidays. They are both, guided walks, with a back up vehicle in case of sore feet, knees, hips or even hangovers. A very important point to remember about group holidays is that they make the individual cost very attractive.

WALKING ON THE ST JACQUES ROUTE IN SW FRANCE - but remember the back up vehicle would be carrying your pack.

In St Jean Pied de Port near the Spanish border.

Here are details of the 2 Options

Option 1 covers the stages from Lectoure to Montreal. You’re driven to the start of the walk every day, and the minibus meets you at midday with a picnic lunch. At the end of the walk, you’re picked up and brought back to La Petite Galerie, where you spend the night. One day is set aside to visit some of the many other attractions in the area - including wine and Armagnac tastings.

Option 2 takes you on a walk from La Petite Galerie to St Jean Pied de Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We discuss the route with you before you arrive and pick out the best stages in SW France.

Both Option 1 and Option 2 are fully inclusive, and they both include airport pickup and return, all meals and accommodation, minibus back up and guides.

Hard work, this walking business

For more details and prices, please click here:

http://pilgrimswayinfrance.blogspot.fr

STEPHANE CHARBONNIER

CHARB
21.8.1967 - 7.1.2015
Formerly editor and cartoonist at
Charley Hebdo in Paris

ANOTHER DOG

Lynne's brother Matt turned 50 when we were on holiday in Hobart.

Needless to say, Lynne said (very endearingly): 'Darling, I've forgotten my brother's birthday. Can quickly rustle up a dog?'

Just what I wanted to hear when I was engrossed in my daily task of working out which beach to spend the day on.

Fortunately technology came to the rescue and Carol emailed a photo of Frankie for me to do a portrait from. (For anyone who's interested here's the genealogy: Carol is Matt's wife - Frankie is Matt's dog.)

Then Australiapost and the Royal Mail came to the rescue and got the painting of Frankie to Mat on time.

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

Three Spanish painters. It took me a while to get this more or less right, as you can see from these preliminary exercises.

NEARLY AS OLD AS ME - TWO PAINTINGS OF SOWETO

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Trawling through an old file recently, I fount these two views of Soweto that I painted about 52 years ago. Nothing to do with painting in France, really, but here they are anyway.

DESIGN FOR A BOOK COVER

This my cover design for a collection of my short stories.
But beware, the copy says it all. What you see is what you'll get.
And as sure as a pound to a pinch of you know what, some people will have difficulty with both the style and the themes.
But I don't give a fig. I'd rather get a reaction from readers - even if they hate my writing - than be read with indifference.
So, if you decide to read any, please be sure to read the warnings.
Here is the link:
http://rays-books.blogspot.com/

THE SPANISH PAINTER

After several years of focussing on painting, I've negleted drawing, which is where I believe it all starts.
it's a great discipline and it teaches many basics, including control of the pencil.
So I've decided to do a series of portrait drawings. Here's the first.
The subject's a Spanish painter who lives nearby. I've painted him in the past, but he has such an amazing face that I decided to do another portrait, this time in pencil.

YOU TURN 60 ONLY ONCE EVERY LIFETIME

So, George is getting old. In fact, he's SIXTY today. Even if he's being trying to forget it. But we won't let him.
As you can see, George likes Guiness.
And, as he's made 60, Guiness must be good for him. Maybe if he drinks lots of it, he'll make a hundred.
Happy 60th birthday George.
(Can anyone guess who I'm talking about - if not, send me an email).

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN FRANCE

Here's a recommendation for anyone traveling in France. Buy a copy of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, available in English as The Most Beautiful Villages in France. Make sure you and always have it with you. If you don't, you could miss out on several gems in country piled high with precious stones as far as tourist attractions are concerned. We have an old copy which was printed in association with The Readers Digest. Most of you will remember The RD, which is still one of America's largest selling monthly publications, and, at one time it was almost the only thing to read while waiting for the doctor or the dentist. Some of you may remember it's reputation for hounding subscribers to the grave - quite often literally beyond the grave. (New subscription material would arrive for many months long after the addressee was dead).
The point of this rather garbled introduction is that, when traveling in France, these beautiful sites are sometimes the best option when looking for overnight accommodation. So you need to know where they are.
The two above are Larresingle (in the Gers) and Vianne (in the Lot-et-Garonne). Both are nearby, but if you are ever nearby, don't stay in either of them. Rather come to us at La Petite Galerie in Mezin. And we'll take you there and show you around. We could even go there to paint if you like.