This morning I visited an art gallery in Cahors dedicated to a local artist from the 19th century, Henri Martin. It struck me that his paintings of local villages also made them look bleak, populated by tough and stern people.
Then I have seen statues of St Jean Gabriel Perboyre who was born here:
Judging by Resistance museum in Cahors, the Maquis (French Resistance) were very active here during the war.
Finally, and maybe this doesn't prove much, this is the part of France which plays rugby.
Indeed Paul, life in France was not always un petit dejeuner sur l'herbe. Remember the maquis, cathars, anglo-saxons invasions, etc. Maybe the right soil for forming tough rugby players (very popular in the French Basque area).
ReplyDeleteIn Oz they used to advertise rugby as "the game they play in heaven". If so, I hope they play a more attractive version than that boring version that they play down here.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that the Lot River has infertile soil. Lot's wife just shouldn't have turned around and the soil is probably very salty. We know the effect salinity has on Oz soil fertility. Just goes to show that one should never look back, but just keep going forward, like that kangaroo and emu on the Oz coat of arms.
ReplyDelete