Minerve

It was a beautiful, sunny day as we wound our way to the painting site for Thursday. About an hour away the roads wound upward and the topography changed to more rock and scrub. On the way we visited a dolman of very old stones. It was high on a hill overlooking vineyards with a sweeping view all around us. Making our way down we continued to the site of Minerve which is a pinnacle of stone surrounded by gorges. Two rivers converged far below and the drawbridge has been replaced with an arched stone bridge. The view from across the gorge was beautiful with the tiled roofs of stone buildings stacked in a jumble.

Crossing the bridge on foot, we climbed the cobblestone streets to select our painting sites then met at the cafe for lunch. We sat under umbrellas and could look out over the river gorge. Many of us had a salad with camenbert served over a toast in a bowl. It was delicious!!

Next to paint!! Joan and I found a comfortable spot on the street and painted a cottage subject. It was breezy and fragrant with the smell of herbs and fresh air. Artists scattered throughout the town, some to paint several and some only one. She and I decided to break at the cafe again then proceed back over the bridge to start again. We found Fred painting away there and passed others of our group on the way. A couple of hours work was accomplished until the dark clouds scattered us to find shelter. Another cafe found several of us gathering until Isobel came to take us to the artist's home for dinner.

Sprinkles and gusty winds accompanied the drive to the next town where an artist has his studio and whose wife prepared dinner for us. It was a night of new tastes. Orange wine, white with strawberry liqueur added, tapenade, pate, and for dinner a paella served in a huge paella pan. Tarte tatan for dessert then back to Limoux for the night.

Today is Friday and market day in town...Au revoir