Sabbatical 8/27 - Drinking in Montpellier
On my first day in Montpellier, I scouted out some likely places to visit and photograph. On the second day, I had a very nice breakfast in the hotel garden and started doing some of them.
First up was taking some photos in the Jardin de Peyrou, which is the large park that was on the shortest route between my hotel and the old quarter of Montpellier. It featured a large ornate water tower that was the end point of the aqueduct. There is also a large equestrian statue of the Sun King, a triumphal arch, and a rather nice view of the city.
From there I wandered into the old quarter and shot the statuary on top of the courthouse and on a building overlooking the Place des Martyrs, which contains a large fountain honoring some of the glorious dead of the French Revolution. I continued on into the city and went to the Place de la Comedie, which is reputedly the largest place (plaza) in France. It is named from the theater at one end, which overlooks a statue of the "Three Graces".
Just a short walk away was the Musee Fabre. This is substantial art museum. The major visiting exhibition was built around Caravaggio's time in Italy and the people who were inspired by him. I particularly enjoyed a painting by Massimo Stanzione titled Susanna and the Elders. I like how it looks like she is about to spit nails at her accusers. There were many other fine paintings at the museum, and I spent many hours there.
After a nap (naps are essential in great heat when traveling), it was time to meet bart_calendar for a drink. In general on social media (be it LJ or Facebook) I only follow people I have met in real life. bart_calendar was the one exception, so when I realized that I was going to be near Montpellier I asked if he wanted to get a drink. He was in favor, so the trip to Montpellier was in large part to meet him.
On the way to meet bart_calendar, I passed a bookstore. Obviously, most of the books were in French, but I happened to notice an English language copy of Clive Cussler's Raise the Titanic!, which I happily purchased for 20 cents. Then I met bart_calendar, and we started drinking. First we had a few beers at a pub he visits every afternoon (Bistro Victoria, I believe). Having mutually established that neither of us was particularly creepy and that we enjoyed each others company, we headed to his favorite English-language bookstore, where I bought a copy of Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy.
From there we went to the Beehive and started serious drinking. Our conversation was wide ranging and enjoyable, and pulled in several of the bartenders and other of his friends who turned up. As we found it to be mutually entertaining (I seem to recall that he wanted stories about theferrett, but I was also very drunk), we agreed to meet again the next day. I headed off to a authentic restaurant that he recommended and had a delicious meal.
In retrospect, I was intoxicated enough that walking through an enormous park filled with people roughing it (mostly students on vacation on the cheap) was probably a bad idea, but fools and drunkards are protected. Thus doubly covered, I returned to my hotel intact and fell into bed.
Photos one through fourteen in this set are from August 27.
First up was taking some photos in the Jardin de Peyrou, which is the large park that was on the shortest route between my hotel and the old quarter of Montpellier. It featured a large ornate water tower that was the end point of the aqueduct. There is also a large equestrian statue of the Sun King, a triumphal arch, and a rather nice view of the city.
From there I wandered into the old quarter and shot the statuary on top of the courthouse and on a building overlooking the Place des Martyrs, which contains a large fountain honoring some of the glorious dead of the French Revolution. I continued on into the city and went to the Place de la Comedie, which is reputedly the largest place (plaza) in France. It is named from the theater at one end, which overlooks a statue of the "Three Graces".
Just a short walk away was the Musee Fabre. This is substantial art museum. The major visiting exhibition was built around Caravaggio's time in Italy and the people who were inspired by him. I particularly enjoyed a painting by Massimo Stanzione titled Susanna and the Elders. I like how it looks like she is about to spit nails at her accusers. There were many other fine paintings at the museum, and I spent many hours there.
After a nap (naps are essential in great heat when traveling), it was time to meet bart_calendar for a drink. In general on social media (be it LJ or Facebook) I only follow people I have met in real life. bart_calendar was the one exception, so when I realized that I was going to be near Montpellier I asked if he wanted to get a drink. He was in favor, so the trip to Montpellier was in large part to meet him.
On the way to meet bart_calendar, I passed a bookstore. Obviously, most of the books were in French, but I happened to notice an English language copy of Clive Cussler's Raise the Titanic!, which I happily purchased for 20 cents. Then I met bart_calendar, and we started drinking. First we had a few beers at a pub he visits every afternoon (Bistro Victoria, I believe). Having mutually established that neither of us was particularly creepy and that we enjoyed each others company, we headed to his favorite English-language bookstore, where I bought a copy of Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy.
From there we went to the Beehive and started serious drinking. Our conversation was wide ranging and enjoyable, and pulled in several of the bartenders and other of his friends who turned up. As we found it to be mutually entertaining (I seem to recall that he wanted stories about theferrett, but I was also very drunk), we agreed to meet again the next day. I headed off to a authentic restaurant that he recommended and had a delicious meal.
In retrospect, I was intoxicated enough that walking through an enormous park filled with people roughing it (mostly students on vacation on the cheap) was probably a bad idea, but fools and drunkards are protected. Thus doubly covered, I returned to my hotel intact and fell into bed.
Photos one through fourteen in this set are from August 27.