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Showing posts from December, 2015

CHATEAU DU PUITS ES PRATX - RESTAURANT REVIEW

This is a ticklish one. We went to the Chateau to hear an Indian fusion jazz concert. We could have booked for just the concert but we decided to try the dinner menu as well. We experienced a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. Let's see if I can make sense of the evening for you. The venue is in some ways unique. The chateau sits just on the outskirts of Ginestas, a rural Languedocian village with a surprisingly robust English contingent in residence. The restaurant is situated in what had been the winery of the chateau, behind the main house. A conversation nook with a wood-burning stove greeted us on entry. The walls of the large space are well-pointed stone and the dining room is surrounded by the trappings of a major wine-producing facility - casks and cuvees (large vats) abound. Set up the way that it was, about 30 or 40 people could have been seated. We counted perhaps 25 attendees total as the concert commenced. It's a very inviting space. Cathey cho

GANAPATI - CONCERT REVIEW

If you've been following this space, you know that I have been very favorably impressed with the quality of live music that is available to us here in the south of France, particularly given that we don't head for any of the venues in the larger cities. Instead, we go to local venues, churches and libraries and community rooms in small towns. Often the concerts are free, staged by regional tourist or cultural associations. Sometimes, you have to pay. To see Ganapati, we paid. It was worth it. I'll talk about the venue in another post, Chateau du Puit in Ginestas, a bed & breakfast with a restaurant/event center attached. But this is about the music. Bernard Margarit is a regionally recognized jazz guitarist. He joins with Débojyoti Sanyal (Tabla ), his sister Joyeeta Sanyal ( Sitar ), and American Stanley Adler ( Cello-like strings ) to form Ganapati. They all have other gigs. For instance the Sanyals often perform in their native India as a duo. But Ganatapi get

CHRISTMAS MARKET - LE SOMAIL 2015

Le Somail sits astride the Canal du Midi, a touristy little village as so many are that are situated along the Canal. There are two fabulous community yard sales, spring and fall, that attract sellers and buyers from far and wide. The Christmas Market is more restrained. It's December after all. But quality exhibitors attend and plenty of bright, shiny objects are on display for those inclined to be distracted by such things.

ANOTHER FRENCH COMMEMORATION - NORTH AFRICA

Again, folks gathered in Quarante's place de la mairie (town hall square). Again, flags waved, flowers were offered, and speeches given. This time, the dead that were honored were those who died in French North Africa - Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Perhaps, when our American culture is as old as the French, we'll have as many occasions to honor dead soldiers.