Mark Odegard

Sketch’n and relax’n

The look of France, btw, I have blue swede shoes on too.

Jean Cocteau Museum with friends.

Having a cup.

Monte Carlo

Traveling along the Cote d Azur 40 minutes by local bus, I am in Monte Carlo, some serious galleries and museums to see. Even in winter, 55 some days, 42 some mornings, still an adventure just walking down the street. More grey days, then the sun comes out and the view dazzles me. Glad to unravel over these three months, many new kinds of stimulations and inspirations to refill the engine. Rainy day, still in bed at noon, last night I worked on my journal, and got my best art done since I arrived, been waiting to turn that corner. That feels good.

Not sure what the rest of day holds, there is a small flea market just opened up in empty building a block from here, hmm….yesterday near to where I was, three military/police were attacked, I saw 30 soldiers block off a street, as my bus passed. 25 more days in Nice, got a list of things to see.
Ode

Knight in Eze, France

Collecting stories, yarns, photos, drawings, will keep you up to date after Monday, it has taken awhile to fully arrive. Stay tuned.
Ode

Just getting going

Finally feel like we are here, today, the cold, rainy, dark days left, finished jet lag, my crud is gone, and finally my camera/computer gear are tip top shape now, I hope, Took a week of fumbling forward for both of us. Ok adventure starts now. The crud had a deep hold on me, I think the fresh moist air and sleeping in for a couple days till my internal clock got reset.

We took the 1 euro bus about 15 minutes west to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, a most gorgeous bay, step hills up to castles, small little out door cafes over looking the sea, I tried to order something most interesting in French, the waiter brought me a pizza with anchovies, I will get better. People watching here brings us smiles everyday, we stop along the street at some outdoor cafe, order a rose wine, or expresso, and everyone passes has French style, makes me want to start smoking Gaulise, people with their dogs, all cafes have dog in them, behaved dogs, we have seen 100s, not one bark, very civilized dogs, even in the butcher store we see people with their dogs, everyone has a relaxed, stylish, way about them.

The photo is of David Niven home, the actors home here in Cap Ferrat, the second picture is of Nice, in summer this would be crowded, off season people walk around with heavy coats when it is 50, today it had to be 65.warm The next picture is of a one seater electric car and Eliz. And my drawing table and French homework.

Leaving Minnesota

Packing, getting ready to leave tomorrow.

More from Paris

Brothers
Still trying to stay away from the news, the places we are staying in don’t have CNN, so its all French. Feels good to be drifting in peace and adventure, I buy a New York Hearld once in awhile to see how my man Obama is doing, and if the USA is still in crazy-fear mode. Yeah, so I will have to come back and get a job, if I can find one, and ride it out, but till then I will refuse to worry, and still dig my little corner cafe here, and these little cups of espresso, and the Monet museum, Paris is a passionate city I can live in. Just walking around is fun. I love getting lost in a new neighborhood.

Get this, today I am at this old mansion, turned into a museum, it is now an Oriental museum with an incredible collection of Chinese, Tibetan, and Cambodian art and sculpture, largest in Europe, especially from Anghor Wat, rooms filled, when I notice this small photo and a caption, in French of course, it says,”This is the room where Mata Hari did her first provocative dance.” What! Uh! Greta Garbo. Mata (not her real name) married young, and moved to Java and studied dance and the Java culture, came back to Paris and became a courtesan to the French generals and later to the German generals, She danced in a way people had not seen before, a Java-tease kind of thing, she was a good friend of Isadore Duncan. Later she is accused by France of passing on secrets to the Germans, but never proven, she just liked sleeping with men of power. That is what is challenging and invigorating about traveling-the learning part. Last month I lived in the country outside this village where Joan of Arc, at 16 or 17 showed up, I had to read and understand that, and Richard the Lionhearted was buried there, so Hollywood doesn’t always get this stuff straight. Then I discover, you probably knew this, but the Arc de Triumph was built in 1809 by Napoleon to celebrate his armies victories, but before it gets built he is looses all his power. …well the stories go on.

The best and most discriminating art exhibit I have seen here is an all French pastel show at the Musee D”Orsy called “Mystery and Glitter” The French word just doesn’t translate well, it really means mysterious and magical light. Almost a religious  experience, well..I guess it was one.
Mark

Paris Report

Brothers,

Now the work begins, 
so many artists to be inspired by,
where do I begin this task,
open the book, wet brush, 
baguette, wine, cheese,
so maybe its not a good poem,
open book, wet brush, begin.

Marcus

Jazz on the corner 

France Chinon bridge

Eiffel Tower

Me and Monet

One of my recent drawings

How To Survive

Brothers
When times get tough, I recommend coming to the country side in France. I got a job picking grapes, the whole first day was a learning experience.

The morning breaks, they served coffee and 1982 Cote D’ Rhone wine with nut bread.

At lunch, all 45 of us got fed by the vintner at long tables filled with great wine, toasts, songs. Picking in the morning, the workers were singing French patriotic songs, laughter, throwing grapes, everyone was so polite to me, helping me get the drill.

By the afternoon, after a 2.5 hour lunch  with lots of wine, we went back out, a little slower, way more mellow, less singing, and picked till 5:30, then back to the chateau to de-stem (by machine) and fill the stainless steel tanks with our days work.

The night before we went to a small cafe late at night in Huimes, about the size of Marine on St. Croix-tiny, they were having a French “Rhythm D’ Blues” singer. ”  All in french and so polite, “Je Suis Hutshi Kutchi Homme.”
Hey how is the election coming, and the economy? I am trying to stay away from the daily news right now, and enjoy the little morning cafe, sitting outside, drinking my expresso and trying to get a drawing in. We are making most of our meals, soups, staying away from horse meat, and frog legs, but I will give them a try.
Marc

Dolman vs Megaliths

This is the largest dolman in Europe, 75 feet long, 5000 years ago, this was used as an above ground burial chamber for 25 bodies, or more. Covered with earth, there are 1000’s of these in France alone. A megatlith, like Stonehedge is different, that is more of a monument, not a burial chanber. Its unbelieveable  to walk through it and feel the 50 ton of stone all around…..

French Castle Gardens