Matisse

This morning I caught the bus to school for my last visit to Notre Dame de L'Assomption. That made the end of my Language Immersion Award seem imminent! I left a little early so I could walk around the small market in Bavay first. Once again it was raining. I now understand why there are so many gumboots on display in shoe shops! No self-respecting inhabitant of the North would be without a pair or three! You can buy all colours and with spots, flowers, designs, stripes - you name it and they have got it!  I optimistically travelled over with sandals, jandles and my mesh-topped lightweight merrills ( a fabulous choice of shoe to travel with I've always thought before!). Unfortunately they haven't stood up to the rigours of the rain here and neither have my feet enjoyed being sodden for seven days straight! With the distinct possibility of developing trenchfoot, I felt the need to purchase a cheap, light pair of shoes to handle wet conditions. Viola! At the market I found a perfectly decent pair of black flatties for $12! My feet have had a wonderful day!

A variety of mushrooms on display at the market.

 

After my purchase I walked down to school and had a huge au revoir photo session. We took group photos with classes but so many students wanted one of themselves with me! I don't think I've had to smile so much since my wedding day!

 

With Chantal, head of the English Dept at Notre Dame de L'Assomption

 

I was later collected by Therese and we headed off to Cateau, about 20 minutes away.





Henri Matisse was a great friend of Picasso who lived from 1896-1954. He came from the village of Cateau up here in the North and was a draughtsman, a printer and a sculptor but is known primarily as a painter. He was known for his use of colour and along with Marcel Duchamp and Picasso, he is responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture in the opening decades of the 20th century - all information I learnt this afternoon during my visit to his museum in his home village of Cateau. Having had little education in the field of art history, I am pretty much devoid of knowledge in this area. The visit was really interesting though and the museum holds dozens  of his original paintings and sculptures. There was a school group of 4 and 5 year olds being taken on a tour through and were standing in front of his works discussing them! An appreciation of art is developed early here! There was no painting I would like to have walked away with ( other than to sell! ) but it definitely was worth the visit.

Henri Matisse

 

On the way home we called into an escargot farm. It was really interesting and we left with a bag of fresh ones for entree tonight. They reek of garlic though so I think I may defer!

Escargots topped with garlic butter - an ingredient the french adore!

 

Tonight we aren't going out so I am looking forward to the evening in with the rain pelting down on the roof.