Vallauaris

Today I finished my workshop at Vallauris.  We arrived from Carcassonne on Thursday afternoon, and were met by Dale and his daughter Luanna.  It was hot and sweaty after the cool changes we had at Carcassonne, so after a shower Dale took us up into the hills to a villa owned by a really nice Belgian couple - Gabby and Roberto.  We had a wine tasting with Roberto's excellent home made brews that he makes from his own vinyard...on this occasion, orange wine with about 124 percent proof (no .. 24, but strong!).  The horses doovers were very nice too.

Dirk was impressed with Roberto's gardens - the full schlameel with veggies and fruit trees, flowers, manicured conifers, shrubs and grape vines.  All on a tiered site with 45degrees angle, probably.  Lots of flagged levels and great views.  A pool which had a light in it that changed the water colour from deep blues through to light blues, azures, almost lime green, and back to purples. It sounds lurid but looked amazing.  And to top it all off, we all had a swim in the pool with our clothes on.
Then off to the beach at night with a home made hamper of Dale's to round out the last day of his latest batch of residents who were leaving in the morning.
                                                                           

Vallauris is six years on from the last time we were here and the place is still going great with a lot of things happening with the arts and plenty of activities all the time...particularly at night.  

There's a tribute currently going on all over town to an artist called Roger Capron, who died last year.  He worked with Picasso in the 50's, and his work is just lovely....I  wonder  whether Capron borrowed off Picasso or did Picasso borrow from Capron?  Statues of his are dotted around the town...like this one.

Here is a picture of the workshop as it finished this afternoon.  It was a small but good group of French gals.

Tomorrow we get up early and get on a train and head east.  La Meridiana is next.

Love to all our mates and family back home.