Week 30

by Sue Janzen, posted in Chapter 3

I work on the blog through the week, do a final check on Saturday morning, then post it. Seeing the fear, anxiety and anger expressed by many of my friends on social media this morning gave me pause.

I had a good week – an extravagent week – and I don’t want to appear tone deaf. But I also hear from many people that reading the blog is part of their Saturday morning routine and I think routines are important. So I’ve decided to post, in part because the purpose of the blog is to document my life in France, but also in the hope that the photos bring a moment of beauty into your life.

I handed over the keys to my old apartment on Monday morning and felt a weight lift. It was a great place to land and now I’m ready to step fully into the next chapter. To reset, I spent two nights in Collioure, a small town on the Mediterranean Sea near the border with Spain. In this week’s blog, I share photos of this beautiful town and I reintroduce the word joy. 

Song of the week

I’m putting the song of the week at the top of the post to set the mood. Two months ago, I decided to remove the heading ‘Joy’ from the blog because I felt that the word was generally overused. I’ve changed my mind. I think we need it now, more than ever. This is a catchy tune that lifts my spirits.

A visit to Collioure

I needed more than a great song to reset after a stressful month, so I booked two nights in a small spa hotel in Collioure, a Catalan town that dates back to first century AD. I first visited this small seaside town in the summer of 2017 and was eager to return.

Collioure is steeped in history and art. Picasso, Matisse, Derain, Chagall and many others spent time here, in part because of the light. The town is also full of charm and the landscape that surrounds it is stunning. I stayed at a beautiful boutique spa hotel, up the hill from the old town, and soaked in the fresh air and peace.

Here are some photos:

The temperatures were down to single digits but I enjoyed evening swims in La Maison Nova’s pool.
My room had its own little garden, complete with a lemon tree.
It was exciting to see Le Canigó, one of the tallest mountains in the Pyrenees, from the train on the way to Collioure. I loved the way the snow complemented with the trees along the tracks that were starting to bloom.
Le Canigó can easily be seen from Collioure.
Collioure’s iconic clock tower dates back to 1763 and has been sketched and painted by countless artists.
The Collioure Art Trail has empty frames set up throughout the town. When you step up to them, you see views that have been painted by artists for centuries.
Pablo Picasso, right, is pictured with the owner of Hotel des Templiers in a photo which hangs behind the hotel bar.
Collioure is full of charming spots like this.
The Saint Vincent chapel was built in 1701. According to legend, it was on this rock that Vincent, Patron Saint of Collioure, suffered martyrdom.
The Chateau Royale, built by the Knights Templar in 1207, remains a formidable fortress.
The town sits nestled between the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.
The patios along the sea are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. It was nice to be there in the quiet of the off-season. I spent a full morning sitting on the patio in the sun.

I wish you a week of peace and unexpected moments of joy.

À bientôt .

7 thoughts on “Week 30”

  2. Bonjour, Sue Thank you for the song of ‘Joy’. Henri Nouwen wrote: ‘Choose Joy and choose it every day.’ I LOVE your Tour of Collioure and the Art Trail! I want to visit the area. I might have already told you but my new travel business is called, ‘Joy in the Journey.’ It was the title of my eulogy for Carver. Yes, your blog has become part of my Saturday morning routine, so please continue…sending you love and moments of Joy, Marianne

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  3. Wow Sue! These are beautiful pictures of a beautiful place. Thank-you so much for posting. I need this today. I need a bigger picture of the world in which we live. It’s too easy to develop tunnel vision when our immediate world feels unstable. You have reminded me that there is beauty beyond the shadow.

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