23 au 29 septembre: La Fête de la Gastronomie, les artistes ouvrent leurs portes et des Superheros.

We’re still not used to the hectic programme of activities in the town. Every weekend seems to have involved an event in the main square and other things around and about the place.

The Fete de la Gastronomie started on Friday, 23rd . We’re keen to participate in anything involving food and drink so signed up to a progressive dinner: a walk led by David, our entertaining and knowledgeable guide, with stops at three places for food. It was sobering to stand at the end of the Place d’Armes, surrounded by smart shops in modern buildings, and learn that the reason for its newness was that bombs in the Second World War had started a fire, so large that the residents had no option but to let it burn itself out for twelve days. The rue des Anges is so-called because an epidemic killed many young children who now look down as angels. 

The sombre mood brightened with the first stop: our "local," the Tandem. The theme for the evening was the Renaissance, so we had a Triple Secret des Moines beer and a very Renaissance tear-and-share pizza-thing. The beer helped people to relax a bit and we were soon yelling at each other over the sound of minstrels playing sackbuts and viols, poorly disguised as a band playing the Friday night gig.

The next stop was a wine bar with an Art Deco interior near the centre. The chicken breast with vegetables was good and we were very interested to learn that the better wines can be bought by the glass there. Definitely worth visiting to improve my understanding of French produce.

More history, though my memory is less clear on these later details for some reason, then we headed off to a familiar patisserie for coffee or tea and a cake. The shop sells leftover stock at half price after closing time so we all came home with the unusual souvenir of a loaf of bread each.

Listening to David while we wait for our cakes.

We had to wait until the following Thursday for the next event we'd booked: “Your guest is our guest”, otherwise known as BOGOF. The three-course menu was restricted and, as happens in France, the wine cost as much as the food, but even with that it was a good night out for less than usual.. It’s only two minutes’ walk away from home so we’ll be back.

We squeezed in a walk over to the Place d'Armes to look at the motorbikes in the Harley-Davidson rally on 24th. Though I've only been on a motorbike once, it was good to see the range of bikes and be amazed at the amount of polish that must have been used on them. The noise as they set off was impressive and I understood how Evelyn Glennie (a deaf percussionist) can feel the pitch of notes.

Not made for people my height!

On 30th September, artists opened their doors. Of those I wanted to see, two seemed to be sulking and their doors were firmly shut but I did find several in a converted workshop building. I was pleasantly surprised when I found it also had an exhibition by an artist (whose name I’ve forgotten). 

 A lot, if not all, her work was made of paper. I thought it might not be a good plan to touch it and see if it would squash. 

I liked a huge work that was two “tunnels” with a different view from each end.

The view of the table

The view of the radiator.

 

Upstairs were artists’ workshops, each busy with a school group. I tagged onto one and tried not to look too conspicuous in amongst a dozen fourteen year-olds. I'm not sur ei was successful. The artist was keen to show them how she worked and the reasoning behind it, much of it linked to the area’s mining past.

Another open door across town took me to an art group, very relaxed and with a wide range of styles. Anyone’s welcome, so I’ll be going along soon, remembering that I don’t have to be “good” to enjoy it.

On my way home, I saw Spiderman and Superman crossing the road. They were too busy being superheroes (but still being careful near roads) to let me have time to take a photo. I had a chat with a friend later about it. We were unsure if Batman might have changed identity but think not. He seems to be around more often, as I've seen him three times since we arrived.

 

Wilf and I went across the road to the convent on the Sunday (now there’s something you won’t hear often) and saw a couple more artists’ studios and a pottery workshop. All a bit too arty-farty for us, really, but the fund-raising fabrics from Africa and other places did provide a couple of batik pieces to fill some spaces on our still-empty walls.

Time for a breather before next weekend, I think.

J’ai vu Batman dans la rue de Mons (17 mai, 2016)

I saw Batman in the Rue de Mons,
Hurrying and slightly overweight.
Heading into town to save the world.

Somehow, all he needed
Was a small bag and a baguette
To make him a real French superhero.