In 1878, Robert Louise Stevenson began his two week trip through the Cevennes
with Celestine, his donkey, from Le Monastier.
In 2013, I was two weeks into my seven week trip with my motorbike,
Louise, when I arrived in Le Monastier.
Louise, when I arrived in Le Monastier.
Robert and I have much in common it seems.
And I quite admire many of his remarks
eg
" For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake."
and
"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world. "
and
the little sign that my son gave me a few Christmases ago which
hangs next to the this and that of my house
"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much."
Very optimistic advice from a man who suffered ill health all his life and died aged 44
while opening a bottle of wine in Samoa.
Very optimistic advice from a man who suffered ill health all his life and died aged 44
while opening a bottle of wine in Samoa.
I doubt that Robert left with a fan fare. But I was lucky enough to arrive with one.
As I strolled through the shadowy aisles of the 10th century abbaye,
where even the dust hovered in a static denial of time passing,
wild Gypsy/Balkan music blared and echoed and thrashed off the rough volcanic walls.
It was the 25th Festival of Brass Music.
Unfortunately, I had a thumping great migraine at the time.
To see and hear for yourself: visit this website link
the wonderful rough hewn volcanic blocks that make a mosaic of the west front,
squashed between buildings and awkward to photograph
No comments:
Post a Comment