dream walkings

2000 by train

The French countryside, so much different from the Swiss. Still lush and green but unkempt and wild. The structures small and humble but inviting with their scratchy, burnt-red shingled roofs. A thousand pictures seen in just a few moments. A sunset masqueraded by white and gray clouds, rays breaking through, casting long fingers down to the earth as if not wanting to say goodbye. The fading sunlight lingering like a lover offering one last caress. Bright white cows on the hill against the greenest pasture. Latte colored horses with cream manes. A broken down barn melting into the earth. A crooked fence in the distance fading into the early evening mist.

How can it be so overgrown and softly elegant at the same time? An old stone bridge arched over a lazy creek. As far as can be seen the lush, verdant green covers the rolling hills. All such a stark contrast to the city of Paris – our destination on this train from Luzern. Crumbling stone buildings and a field full of daisies pass by too fast. The sky now dark pastel blue a clean contrast to the green pastures and still darker green tree line in the distance. Solitary fruit trees randomly make the transition from earth to sky. Truly a memorable occasion, my love and I arriving at the approach of midnight for a weekend in Paris. The sky now a darker but bright blue against the fuzzy black horizon. How I wish I had my pastels that I might capture the romantic French colors at the end of this day.