Three Concerts in Two Days

Last evening Papa and I went to the annual Musique en Chemin Festival in La Romieu, to the Saxback concert, in the cloisters of Collegiale Saint-Pierre. There were five and sometimes six saxophones with a bassoon and a French horn, playing three classical pieces by European composers plus two well known American pieces by American composers - from Porgy and Bess and Westside Story. The musicians were world class and enjoyed performing. The concert was very well done! We enjoyed dinner in the square of La Romieu with friends Kelly and Jean-Pierre after the concert.

Today was “concert day” for us! We drove south about 1 hour twenty minutes to the village of Tillac for lunch at 1:30, and then we went to Summer Concert Contempo with our friend Judy singing as part of the choir of 55. All the songs were known by everyone and the choir director invited the packed audience to sing along to a couple of choruses. We enjoyed it! 

We drove back to Lectoure by 6:30 pm and went to a concert in Bastion Park, with our neighbor Esmee performing. She has a beautiful voice and is an amazing entertainer. She sang at my 1 July girls lunch for friends. I texted several friends, some already planning to go to the concert, and met up at the Bastion Park. We had a fun evening!

Second Visit to Another Source

My friend Bea showed me the way to a spring, a water source, just north of Lectoure. I took Papa there this morning. Along the way there was a wall of large stones, and cobbles along a path. All very interesting because we know “there has been a constant settlement (around Lectoure) since 10,000 and 2500 BC, evidenced by remains found during excavations.” “The original Roman city of Lactora thrived by the Gers river from the 1st to 4th centuries AD before barbarian invasions pushed people to the fortified hilltop.”

Source Discovery with Friend

On Wednesday morning, I met Solenge at 7h30 and we walked about 5 miles, through the countryside and the commune of Tane.  Along the way, Solenge showed me the location of an ancient spring, with a stone basin to collect water, down the hill.  It was a beautiful cool morning and our walk was one of discovery for me.

Lundi Nuit

Our first Lundi Nuit of summer 2026, last evening!  The air cooled as the evening progressed and the sun set by 9:30.  There was a band playing plus the drum band too, and antique cars in front of the Halle aux Grain.  The streets were filled with people of all ages, eating and greeting friends and neighbors.  We stopped for a crepe, and later ice cream.  We saw several friends.  We love Lundi Nuits in Lectoure!

Day in the Garden, then Orchestra Concert

I worked in our garden on Sunday for several hours, cleaning up low limbs, raking, then putting down mulch. It was a strenuous day for me!  

Late afternoon, we went to the cathedral for the first concert of the 2026 Nuits Musicale de Armagnac, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.  It was the best Orchestre concert we have attended in the past five years.  The conductor was enthusiastic and energetic throughout, and the orchestra was happy, smiling through the performance.  There were two standing ovations and an encore.  Well done, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse!

 

Morning Walk

I take a different route every day, and this morning, I took a familiar route backwards.  I walked down our street, down the steps of the Fontaine Diane, and through the village garden downhill of our house.  Hot air balloons went up.  I passed a field of sunflowers that have not yet opened.  There was a cool breeze.  I walked back up the hill and around the old chateau, along the rempart walls to our home.  A very nice morning walk!

After my walk, I rowed in my home gym, then went to a vide maison at a friend’s house.  He is moving a block on the same street, but has a lot of furniture!  Papa and I went for lunch at our friends, Lesley and Andy’s house, and met Lini and Rob, long time friends of theirs, who split their time between France and Phuket, Thailand.  Lesley and Andy traveled to South Korea last year and took a cooking class.  Lesley prepared a delicious Korean lunch for us.  We enjoyed our afternoon on their terrace.