Monday 24 June 2013

It's marble time again


 
Considering how strange last 12 months have been for our family, due to my illness, I can hardly believe that this last weekend has been the annual fete du marbre et de la sculpture in Caunes. In some ways last year’s fete seems as if it was years ago, but as we were walking around the stalls over the weekend, some of it felt like just yesterday.
 The weekend began with a musical bonanza on Friday night. 3 venues, including the Abbey grounds, held concerts. All were free, and people just moved from one to another. Classical guitars, some soft bossa nova type jazzy stuff,a 10 year old on key board ( just for 5 minutes) an excellent band playing Pink Floyd, Doors and other old classics, an amazing singer song writer type ( he actually played cover versions…not his own stuff) with guitar and harmonica, and a pretty awful rock band who got plenty of people dancing with their somewhat tuneless rendition of Brown Sugar.

So it was a mixed bag….but great fun, walking from one venue to the next, glass of wine in hand, chatting to people along the way. There was also a village meal, so actually some of the music provided a background for the chattering that went on as people ate....and drank considerable quantities of wine. I don't think any of the musicians minded....they all seemed to understand that not everyone was listening incredibly carefully to their sounds.

I am not wild about some of the marble statues that are displayed just about everywhere in Caunes....even when there isn't a festival going on...but this one fascinated me.....very Rosie the Riveter.

Saturday was the first day of the actual marble festival, and we had arranged to meet Veronica, who lives in a Corbieres village, and who I met last year when I was in Caunes  on my own. We wandered around the displays, chatted away, and spent part of the evening over a village meal, eaten in the lovely abbey gardens. Veronica was a mine of information about getting involved in village life in France, having been part of her village’s life for many years….she also gave me a great compote recipe, which will have to be tried out in the next few weeks.

not everything was about marble.....
 
The paella was excellent
 After Veronica left to go home, we sampled yet another Caunes musical experience. It was described as electronic music, and consisted of banks of computers, keyboards and speakers, with one of two DJs, who mixed it all and worked very hard on stage, ensuring it sounded as they wanted. Some of it was interesting, and some I’m not so sure about…but it looked impressive and the light show that went with it couldn’t fail to be good as it was beamed onto the abbey walls.
"Marble is Perfekt" Bnoise Electro Jazz avec DJs Janoez et David Brunner
 Sunday was actually the main day of the festival, and we met up with another couple of friends to wander the streets of Caunes again. More sculptors, more stalls, and more entertainment….and many more people around than on Saturday. A band and some brilliant Occitan dancers performed in the village streets and in the abbey grounds.


We felt as if everyone we had ever met since coming to Caunes, was out and about. We saw our French neighbours, and we met up with every English, American and Dutch person we have come across in the last 18 months. What was really interesting, was that everyone we knew....seemed to know everyone else that we knew, even if we had never met them together before.The whole of Caunes was wandering the streets in the rather weak sunshine. 




And finally….dans les jardins de l’Abbaye…..des producteurs …..Pays Cathare et Sud de France…providing incredible assiettes gourmandes.

We ate and drank well !

This seems to be the start of summer in Caunes. The classical Friday night concerts start in 2 weeks time ( les Vendredis Classiques ) in the abbey grounds, and the regularly held village meals are now being advertised.

 Despite a couple of trips back to England over the summer…..it is going to be pretty full of being entertained, eating and drinking here in Caunes.

Sculptor Eric Stambi putting the final touches on the exhibition piece for this year.." L'Argent Double"
 
 
Mark, Jane and Steve, checking out "L'Argent Double"
We have decided we like it.
 
 

25 comments:

  1. You have picked the most wonderful village to have your home, Janice - it seems to have a bit of everything from vide grenier to high art, taking in rather a wide range in between. I am definitely looking forward to a visit with you at some point - though very excited about you coming here!!
    It's lovely to find so many people you know - no matter what their nationality - you must feel you belong.
    And what a 12 months! I remember your post about the marble fete last year. Such a lot has happened but wonderful that you are there; looking at it all again with slightly altered eyes, I suspect.
    Huge hugs - have a wonderful summer. Axxx

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  2. Although I'm still feeling a bit as if I am a visitor, I think that by the time we pack things up for the winter, leaving here at the end of October/start of November, I will feel more part of things. Getting involved with helping at some of the village meals, or "happenings" could be one way....and Mark is setting up a cafe des langues, which we hope will get underway in September. It was good though, realising how many connections we have made...as we bumped into most of them over the weekend. Jxxx

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  3. I love the idea of a village meal with everyone sat down at long tables. I must find our exactly where your village is on a map and plan a virtual visit.

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    1. We are just north west of Carcassonne...at the foot of the Black mountains. It is a good place to be. J.

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  4. All of this may be just the beginning of a different life in France for both of you. It takes time for acquaintances to become friends, but it looks like you are well on the way.

    Caunes seems like such a wonderful place to live and the roots seem to be going deeper. Enjoy every minute as you make your plans. x

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    1. Yes, being in a place over a period of time certainly helps. The finally improving weather is helping too ! Jx

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  5. I love this view of French life - better not show it to husband as he's already seriously keen on moving and I'm just a scaredy-cat!

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    1. Just think of the fun you'd have at the vide greniers !

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  6. Caunes looks like a very lively place to live; how many villages have a Marble fete? It all looks quite wonderful. The dancers look absolutely picture perfect - it must feel like you are living in a storybook sometimes! xx

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    1. Caune's marble is apparently quite famous. It was used in Paris and Rome, and comes in red, pink and white ! I don't know of any other villages that have a marble fete....cherries, onions, apples, almonds yes...but not marble ! Jx

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  7. Everyone you knew seemed to know everyone else you knew....a nice place to be!
    Did they combine la fete de la musique with the marble fair?

    It's been a rum year for you....but now clearly it's onward and upward and i'm so glad for you.

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    1. I think the musical extravaganza that was Vendredi was meant to announce the start of the festivities. It is really good to be feeling fit enough to enjoy it all ! Jx

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  8. Can it really be a year already? It seems like it was just yesterday that you were introducing us to the marble festivities. What a year it has been for you, yet, here you are, celebrating and recovering, meeting up with what are now becoming your friends in Caunes.

    I love festivals such as this one; a celebration of what is really the fabric of a community.

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    1. I really cant believe it was a year ago...so much has happened, but we're still here...and so was the marble fete! Jx

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  9. I love your postings of your life in France Janice.For me the photos you use tell your story perfectly.x Maria

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    1. Thanks Maria. I have to admit that now, when I take photos, I am often wondering how they might fit into a blog....or how I might turn them into a picture book for the grandchildren. Jx

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    2. www.snapfish.co.uk does wonderful picture books.I have several of them now.I especially like this firm as they will always send me special offers.It is good to be able to write script on every page of the book.Another benefit for me is they keep your photos in albums and you can upload directly from Facebook.Last but not least the delivery is speedy.Sorry Janice i sound like i am a salesperson for this firm!!!x Maria.

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    3. Maria,This is hilarious, as my family think I have shares in Snapfish. I have dozens of albums I have made through Snapfish over the last few years ! jx

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  10. You took some great photos, Janice! All of mine were rubbish -- I wasn't really paying enough attention to them. It was lovely to see you again, and meet Mark. I wasn't sure the electrojazz was going to be up my street -- I'm sure it was "interesting" though :) It is nice when you start bumping into people you know, and making connections.

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    1. It was so good to meet up with you on Saturday Veronica. The electro jazz was not really my taste, but I'll give anything a go...and it was interesting. I have also tried making some compote...with those small pears. I have yet to taste it, but that looks "interesting" too. Jx

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  11. It sounds wonderful and your photos are brilliant. You have obviously found a very special village.

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    1. It does seem to be quite a special place. We are very happy we found it. J

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  12. Love your stories and photos about your life in Caunes....in your postings. you have a way of telling a story.....
    Some people are really talented with those marble sculptures.

    Glad all is well with you and that you are once again enjoying your time in France.

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    1. WE are having a great time....it is so good to be back, particularly as I am feeling so well. Jx

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  13. It all looks like so much fun, Janice, and you sound like you feel very much more at home there than you did at last year's marble festival. I'm glad the weather has improved for you and am looking forward to ours doing the same next week. The fete season is getting underway up here in Normandy too, with a village meal in the street or in the salle des fetes for each commune's annual fete. Our dancers' traditional costumes are very different from yours (not so colourful for one thing) but we enjoy watching them.

    You're obviously gearing up for a great summer in Caunes and it's wonderful that you feel so well again now to enjoy it all. Pxxx

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