No Void of Music and Culture in France

We went to a music symphony last night and it was a violin and piano ensemble by two young proficient musicians. They came because they were talked to by the priest of the church of Saorge, a nice village just ten minutes away from where we live.

The church building itself was done in the Baroque style but because of its age, the old works of art on the ceiling were already peeling off. On the columns were faded but ornate designs that made the whole structure a masterful work of art.

When it came to the performance itself, the features were selected selections from classical composers like Mozart, Hummel, Loewe, and Bach. They all made me shudder in delight because, as always, a classical concert is a simple slice of heaven for me and I felt like I was transported to paradise. What was good was that the performance is entirely free since the parish typically organizes public concerts where everyone can attend.

The practice of performing and holding concerts probably stems from the Age of Beauty, an age when pleasure reigned and daily life is an exercise in cultural cultivation. Many places of indulgence sprouted in Paris and among them, Montmarte was known as the finest.

Viewing France Through A Mobile Domicile

Each year, there is a special point when a majority of the French leave for their holidays. The event occurs on the first day of August when nearly all roads lead to the south of France, so a big traffic jam spawns at the toll gates, which start to look like parking lots. When the clock strikes noon, the place turns into picnic areas, where slices of dried sausages and bottles of wine are shared among several families who become instant comrades. So, despite the aforementioned inconvenience, the spectacle is really interesting. You can see each car and observe the families with the children sitting at the back and the parents sitting in front.

I recall when I visited France with a comrade a long time ago by caravan. We used a trailer, equipped with all of life's daily needs and pulled by a powerful vehicle. We started from Dover to Marseille then proceeded to Avignon, staying in a little town called Barjac near Orange. The week after we visited Bordeaux, we passed through back roads, then back to Dover passing through Orleans. It was one of the most memorable holidays I've had and I really lost myself in it because we got to pass by France's beautiful countryside; next time, though, I would like to drive and experience maneuvering a caravan.