Alassio, Italy

Photo by Aline

I have been wavering about continuing my blog.  I think I started writing it since I grew completely uninterested in continuing art and needed to do something that I considered creative. 

 I had been painting for almost 20 years and it seemed like that passion would just go on forever.... but for the last couple of years, the art studio seemed the last place I wanted to be.  I wanted, instead, to be outdoors in the garden or on my bike, with friends and family or even working on my online studio rental.....  anywhere but in my painting cave.

But a couple of weeks ago, I started the school term for my print making class.   The "prof"  is challenging us to do more professional work this year.  Apparently there is a long waiting list for the classe and I now realize that I have been taking the opportunity for granted. In a few years I have to cede my place in the course.. so now I am feeling challenged again. 

I had vowed not to write another post until I had come up with an idea for my next engraving.... but now I think I have one..... so here I am back in my writing "chair" ( pillows propped up on my bed!)

Before all this started percolating though....after Lourmarin, I splashed out on some more little trips.  It seems like I have been saying "yes" to everything for a change.

  One of these day trips was to Alassio, Italy with 8    engaging women in a celebratory mood.  We were there to honor Fiore's birthday.

 Alassio is wonderful and feels intimate.  The beaches are sand, the vibe is relaxed and distinctly Italian.   For one thing,  there is no imposing boulevard like the Promenade des Anglais near the water in Alassio.....so it feels like the village touches the beach.

To say that the beach chairs are almost all the canvas kind that swag under your body might give you a hint of how a different ambiance is created.  Without stones, there is a kind of comfortable informality with folks really close together in the portable canvas chairs all moved around at different angles.  

 And too, the Mediterranean at Alassio is shallow for a long stretch which makes a difference in the way one bathes. 

  But Alassio is not all about the beaches.  There is a fine park, and all of the Italian specialness that we have come to expect in old architecture and  shops and of course distinctive restaurants, cafes, gelato vendors and bakeries.  

 Here are a few pics of our fine day . And as a record I spoke French non-stop for 12 hours!

Sophie, Fiore, Me.... Photo by Aza

Aza ( Chechen), Fiore ( Italian), Aline (French), Pierrette( French), Adele (Italian), Marie Pierre (French) Brigitte (French..lives in Ghana)...waiting for Christine before we start out. Photo by M.Payne

Brigitte, Adele, Fiore, Christine...photo by Aline

First impression of Alassio

Marie Pierre and Brigitte pose for the camera.

Fiore blows out her birthday candle.

Christine models her 5 euro shoes!

Brigitte after her dip in the sea