If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Fridays are definitely coming around faster than ever! Enjoy this one!
Last month I spent a few days in the fabulous town of Arles (don’t pronounce that ‘s’, please) in the Bouches-du-Rhône departement and was reminded of all it has to offer. If you haven’t been there, you might want to add it to your travel wish list.
This was one of the towns we visited on the Womens Travel Network tours I led this summer and it was a highlight for everyone. Have I mentioned how much fun we had? Click on that last link to see photos from the tour and a lot of smiling faces.
It’s impossible to visit Arles without talking about Vincent Van Gogh, 
who spent a very brief but productive … and chaotic … time in that town and the surrounding area.
Stopping in at the yellow-walled Café Van Gogh in Le Café La Nuit in the Place du Forum is a must for every visitor. Touristy as it is, it’s impossible to deny the feeling of the history that played out in this square where Van Gogh painted Café Terrace At Night.
As you can see, we did!
A few years ago, after spending some time in Arles, I discovered this video. I watch it often and have this song in one of the soundtracks I play when I write.
Take a few minutes to watch and listen. I think you will be glad you did.
I’m going to share some more photos from Arles in a later post. There’s so much to talk about!
Have you visited this beautiful UNESCO heritage town and do you have particular memory from there? Share it with us, please. It’s always interesting to hear other experiences.
With this song of McLean’s in mind, I recently wrote a post about music and writing for the BestSellingReads website. I almost always have tunes playing while I write. Do you do the same when you are working, exercising or whatever occupies your time? Any favourites?
I absolutely love your posts! Van Gogh was one of my favorite artists.
Thank you, Bette. He’s one of mine as well and visiting these places where he and other artists lived and created is always a thrill for me. Of course, they all be come rather commercialized but that’s the way it goes these days. I just ignore that part of it. In Arles you can also walk right into the courtyard of the building where he was hospitalized and sit in a beautiful garden that is still just as Van Gogh painted it. And you can be alone there, sitting on a bench,letting your imagination run … until the next tour comes along!
Thanks for all this! It helps me “travel” now that I no longer can do it, visit new places, and revisit others.
Martha, I know you have a wealth of travel memories. I’m pleased to take you back to some of them and bring you new ones. I thought of you during our tours.
I love this song. It has always been one of my favourites. The video clip matches Van Gogh’s paintings so well with it, so it’s a visual treat as well. Thanks for this lovely post, Patricia.
Thank you, Anneli! I never get tired of watching or listening.
Great shots! I love how you replicated your shots with the painting – wonderful!
Thanks! I’m sure you are well aware of how there are plaques all through the south of France with an artist’s print of that particular scene, set in the location where the artist actually painted it. I can’t say I have noticed this anywhere else in France. Have you? Is this done in Paris? I also read recently about photo tours in Paris and thought of you. Have you ever been involved in these?
Fabulous pictures Patricia! I’m jealous, but glad you had an amazing time.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thanks, Patricia! We did have a fabulous time and the two groups of women were wonderful … enthusiastic, interesting and a ton of fun! I’m meeting with the travel company next week to talk about a tour in 2015. Come!
Well definitely send me the details and if it’s something I can afford, I’d love to join you. jansen.schmidt@yahoo.com
I do subscribe to your newsletter so I’m sure I’ll be seeing that news as it becomes available.
Patricia
Bien sûr! Once we have the details for next year, I will share them in my newsletter and blog for sure! You never know …
Thank you, Patricia, for the memories and the virtual trip home. Arles is gorgeous and Van Gogh an all time favorite. Great new blog, by the way.
You are most welcome, Evelyne. I didn’t realize Arles was home for you! Thanks for the kind words on my new website … still a work in progress but we are getting there.
Just beautiful. I am a history fan and this sounds like such a great spot to visit if just for the Van Gogh connection.
Phil, you can’t turn around in France (anywhere in western Europe …) and not be surrounded by history. You would love it.
Love this…I really need a holiday, and I found myself yearning for France. Great to hear Vincent again and be reminded of something that has subtlety shaped the collective unconscious of my generation. It is a twinge of the past, something that helps us know who we are. Many thanks, Patricia.
I hear you, dear Niamh. The song takes us all back and partnering it with the art was a brilliant idea. It’s been on YouTube for a few years and never loses its appeal to me.
Thank you for this beautiful post. My hope is to be able to travel with you one year. If I don’t get to go, I truly love living vicariously through your words and images. This has been a rough week and that lovely song with Van Gogh work was just what I needed to cleanse my mind – a few moments of concentrated beauty.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, Michelle. It would be wonderful to have you travel with us one year but bringing you along in spirit is important in the meantime. I’m sorry to hear you had a rough week and pleased that the video brought comfort. I agree it truly is concentrated beauty and I play it often … many times over some days!
Pat, I loved watching this video. It brings back such wonderful memories of this past summer when we were in Arles with the Womens Travel Network group and stood in the courtyard where he painted the famous garden picture. I loved Arles, so much history and great memories.
I love it too, Rosemarie. Arles is such a beautiful and intriguing town and Van Gogh’s paintings are so evocative of the atmosphere there. You are so right about standing in that courtyard … goosebumps! We did have a grand tour, didn’t we? In no small part thanks to the very special group of women who were on it!