Our first week at Chez Providence is coming to a close. The internet connection has been weak, so posting is not easy and Skype out of the question most of the time. Therefore, it’s time to catch up.

It has been sunny and hot even up here in the mountains. Most days get to 85-90 F. Luckily the wind blows most of the time and gives some relief. Our apartment is cool because of the 3 foot thick stone walls.

One day we took a drive to Castres, north of here through the Black Mountains. It is a curvy road through dense forest, past deep gorges lined with ruined chateaux. Little villages appear out of nowhere and disappear around the next bend.

The primary purpose of our drive was to see the Musee Goya. The Goya Museum is dedicated to Spanish art. It was founded when a ollector of Spanish art left his collection to the city. A foundation has carried on the work and expanded the collection. The museum is housed in a Bishop’s Palace from 1676. The gardens outside also were first designed in 1676. It is a lovely setting.

Spanish painters are not my favorite. Most of the earlier works are religious in nature. Velasquez and many others are represented. The 19th century collection includes Goya, but has many other artists of whom I knew nothing. The 20th century includes Picasso as well as some stark images related to the Spanish Civil War.

Here are a few images from our day.

Paul

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