Our Gers Weekend

On Thursday evening, we went to a concert at L’Ecole de Immaculate Conception, with David Levi playing piano and Sharman Plesner playing violin.  They performed outside under the trees, just beyond the Cloisters of Immaculate Conception.  Both musicians are accomplished and their performance was superb!  Both performers were born in America and have lived in France for 10+ years.  We sat under the trees, surrounded by friends and lingered after the concert.

On Friday morning, I went to Lectoure’s marche - always fun and where I fill baskets with fresh fruits and vegetables plus artisan bread.  In the evening, we met friends, Caroline and Glyn for dinner in La Romieu, and then went to a Gospel choir concert.  It was a very hot evening and the acoustics aren’t great in La Romieu’s Collegiale, but the concert was excellent!  The choir performed songs in English, all familiar to the world, with their French audience singing along.  We enjoyed every moment!

I worked in the Bechetoille’s garden on Saturday morning for a couple of hours.  We met our friend Susan at 3:00 in Bastion Park, to watch the Carriolades, part of the Fete du Melon.  There were a dozen plus homemade cars that operate without engines, just people power - someone to steer and someone to push.  It is always great fun to watch!  It was over 100F, so we stopped for ice cream on the way home, with friends Rachel and Sid.

Papa and I picked blackberries and figs in Susan’s yard this morning.  We came home and cut more grapes to give away to friends.  We went for lunch at L’Atelier d’Auria’s.  It was delicious and it is always special!  A good weekend!

 

Early Morning Sun

Much of Europe is enduring a heat wave that has lasted several days, the Gers included.  Mornings are relatively cool, and the air heats up after noon.  I continue to go on my early morning walks, and this is a view over Lectoure’s cemetery, taken at 7:12, as the sun came over the horizon.  The sun appeared as a ball of fire. 

Weekend in the Gers

If it is Friday in Lectoure, I go to the market on Rue Nationale!  Always fun and it’s where I buy most of my fruits and vegetables.  We have friends with fruit growing in their gardens too, so I picked blackberries and figs in Susan’s garden and plums and pears in Agnes’ garden.  

We have ripe grapes in our garden too!  We have more than we can possibly eat, so we share with neighbors and friends.  

We met friends, Kay and Jay for lunch on Friday, at L’Auberge de Tournecoupe, a new favorite restaurant!  We stopped by Chateau Saint-Leonard after, to take a close up look at the crumbling chateau.

On Friday evening, Kelly and Jean-Pierre came for dinner and we went to the Blues Festival in Marrioniers Park.  Jean-Pierre brought several suit jackets for Papa to try on and borrow for an event we’re going to in early September.  Papa doesn’t have “dress up clothes” in Lectoure!

On Saturday morning, I went on one of my walking routes, partially on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques.  It winds down narrow paths and country lanes, through fields of sunflowers and alfalfa.  

We had a late lunch in the small village of Lannepax on Sunday at La Falene Bleue, on the Michelin recommended list.  Our lunch was delicious!  After lunch, we drove a bit further south to Lupiac, birthplace of d’Artagnan, a fictional character who dreams of joining the King’s Musketeers in the book, The Three Musketeers.  Lupiac was hosting a weekend fete, but it was quite hot, and not so many people on a Sunday afternoon, except for young fencers, and a beautifully painted carriage taking people for rides.  It is a pretty village.

Concerts and More

We feel so busy, we can’t keep up!   Last Friday evening, we had apéros in friends Pirkko and Nelson’s garden.  On Saturday evening, we met friends Caroline and Glyn for dinner in the garden of Cigale e Fourmi on Rue Nationale and went to a Jazz concert in Marrioniers Park after.  Deirdre and Abby came for a light dinner on Sunday and we sat on the balcony after and talked until the sun went down.  

On Monday afternoon, we visited our friend Aline in Agen.  That evening, we met Elizabeth, Jean-Claude, Deirdre and Abby at Chez Yann for a picnic supper on Rue Nationale on Lundi Nuit.  The band stopped to serenade us.  It was a fun evening!

On Tuesday, we went to a concert in the Eglise at Terraube, Handel and Mozart played on ancient instruments.  

Our friend, Rebecca arrived on Wednesday, just before lunch, with her daughter, Louise.  We had a girls lunch at The Bastard Hotel Restaurant, then went to Lectoure’s L’Ete Photographique - summer photography exposition.  After, Papa and I drove to Plieux with Rebecca, to visit Plieux’s summer art exposition.  In the evening, we went to another concert in Marrioniers Park, Echoes of America, with most of the music from well known composers.  It was a beautiful evening!

I walk every day, and enjoyed this view on Wednesday morning.  There are hot air balloons flying over the Gers hills to our south several mornings each week.  It is beautiful way to start the day!