Many moons ago I was really into the art of the hours as captured in the Duke de Berry's Book of Hours; my mother was equally captured by the ideas of Courtly Love and the history of Eleanor of Aquitaine -so my recent visit to Poitiers was a delightful remind of these past pastimes as Poitiers was where the French court met. Eleanor was Queen of England and of France, she rode with the second crusade so travelled to places as far afield as modern day Syria, she was by all measures an extra-ordinary woman. The main tourist sight from this period is currently closed, but just walking around Poitiers lovely honey coloured buildings somehow the medieval past is present. From the streets bearing Eleanor's name to the wonderful Notre Dame in the market with its colourful columns the royal connection is there, but other historical figures have a connection with Poitiers too. Joan of Arc was I guess one could argue a kind of Frenchixter in that she wanted to wrestle France back from the English and part of her campaign was fought in the area.
A more recent connection with Poitiers is Camille Claudel - I only know about her as a former colleague from HRC, someone who used to put on vignettes of music and story, put on a piece about her and her relationship with Rodin. A talented sculptor in her own right, but his art and her role as muse dominate their history, so it was very nice to be able to see some of her work at the local museum including the only too well named Old Helen!
Apart from the streets and the range of shops with independent artisans, I especially enjoyed having bio supermarkets just around the corner where one could help oneself to what was needed - the food was excellent. I also found a place that just served coffee and tea, no food and each day in the market a different street food vendor would set up, but my favourite was the restaurant in the park. I had wondered into the Blossac and was thinking this place really needs a cafe, but there was no reference to anything like that on the park map and I almost headed out after conversing with a friendly duck, but then realised that if people were hiring bike type things then maybe there would be a cafe and what a cafe - lovely vegetables cooking out in the open, fish or meat to go with them, so despite not being realy really really hungry, I felt it incumbent on me to sit in the sun and enjoy myself.
I also often was equally happy to make food in the little kitchen provided where I was staying and sit out in the sun on the patio and just enjoy being still. Poitiers is very quiet compared to living next to the main Cambridge to Liverpool Train line, and just being in the sun and taking stock was brilliant.
Whilst I was away all hell was breaking out with rebellions in Parliament and Johnson calling for an election, BBC News was really helpful as they were showing a live feed from parliament. I could not decide if it was great to be away and looking at property in France or motivation to stay on and fight in Britain. It was really interesting to visit property in France, one place seen in Montmorrillon had a wonderfully bonkers array of wall paper but no bathroom, whilst another had a door from the internal house that opened onto a staircase up into the loft - like a whole secret space. With more money and energy I think I would have been happy to live in any of them, but worry I have left it too late, with worries that health provision will cost a lot if one goes to Europe escape seems more complicated than originally imagined, however, I was very pleased to be able to use my French and navigate the train system and see beyond Poitiers and if I can make it work would happily return for longer and on a more consolidated basis.
A more recent connection with Poitiers is Camille Claudel - I only know about her as a former colleague from HRC, someone who used to put on vignettes of music and story, put on a piece about her and her relationship with Rodin. A talented sculptor in her own right, but his art and her role as muse dominate their history, so it was very nice to be able to see some of her work at the local museum including the only too well named Old Helen!
Apart from the streets and the range of shops with independent artisans, I especially enjoyed having bio supermarkets just around the corner where one could help oneself to what was needed - the food was excellent. I also found a place that just served coffee and tea, no food and each day in the market a different street food vendor would set up, but my favourite was the restaurant in the park. I had wondered into the Blossac and was thinking this place really needs a cafe, but there was no reference to anything like that on the park map and I almost headed out after conversing with a friendly duck, but then realised that if people were hiring bike type things then maybe there would be a cafe and what a cafe - lovely vegetables cooking out in the open, fish or meat to go with them, so despite not being realy really really hungry, I felt it incumbent on me to sit in the sun and enjoy myself.
I also often was equally happy to make food in the little kitchen provided where I was staying and sit out in the sun on the patio and just enjoy being still. Poitiers is very quiet compared to living next to the main Cambridge to Liverpool Train line, and just being in the sun and taking stock was brilliant.
Whilst I was away all hell was breaking out with rebellions in Parliament and Johnson calling for an election, BBC News was really helpful as they were showing a live feed from parliament. I could not decide if it was great to be away and looking at property in France or motivation to stay on and fight in Britain. It was really interesting to visit property in France, one place seen in Montmorrillon had a wonderfully bonkers array of wall paper but no bathroom, whilst another had a door from the internal house that opened onto a staircase up into the loft - like a whole secret space. With more money and energy I think I would have been happy to live in any of them, but worry I have left it too late, with worries that health provision will cost a lot if one goes to Europe escape seems more complicated than originally imagined, however, I was very pleased to be able to use my French and navigate the train system and see beyond Poitiers and if I can make it work would happily return for longer and on a more consolidated basis.
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