BaroqueW

Le Lavoir

For our third day of adventuring we traveled to the petit village Pernes les Fontaines, which boasts.. as you might have guessed from the name.. an embarrassment of richess in the fountain department.

Ironically enough, this is the first year where all of my classes have actually been useful to me in one day. This term was spent studying French, museum science and included a five-week internship where my main responsibilities were the research and requesition around the theme of “laundry.” We visited a small private art exhibit, and one of the surviving lavoir left in France. Hurrah for classes you can make use of!

A lavoir is a public place in France that is set aside for washing clothes. They’re generally situated in conjunction to rivers or springs, and while not in use there are various community projects to support their restoration and care. As you can see, this one was in beautiful condition.

volumes sculptés (aka garbage bag wearing mannequins)

The art exhibit was titled L’art au donjon’ which I could describe with plenty of bullshit words I learned in my class – but I’d rather cut through all that and just say “it’s pretentious art made out of garbage”. Which isn’t to say that it’s bad, but let’s call the kettle black, shall we?

The exhibit with gigantic ants was my personal favourite. France is filled with ants. No one tells you that in the travel brochures.

elles fourmillent, click on me to see the ants better!

Big giant ones too, although most aren’t as big as these ones, and they bite. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that they don’t because they DO!

Après Vous!

The exhibit incorporated the entire building as a mode of display, using its degradation to enhance the mood of the exhibit. I’m sure I could write off a 20 page paper on the entire thing, but that would be as boring as technical articles no one understands. *cough cough* Unfortunately, it was situated throughout the path leading up to a clocktower and which meant you had to use very steep crumbling steps with very low sides.

To finish off our day, we indulged in gorgeous ice-cream/sorbet/nut/whipped cream/fruit creations at Isabella’s. It was fun, but I have to say I prefer the quality of the small shop called Patisserie Montero which may not be as flashy as Isabella’s, but the ice-cream and sorbets are mind-blowingly delicious. And she makes le vacherin (ice-cream cake)!

Max says: Click on the title of the article to see a map of Pernes les Fontaines in France.

The Andrea

The Giovanni

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