Mayronnes sculpture trail - a little wonder where the road ends

Nadine Trescartes: Le cri. Permanent exhibit. 

Aude is full of history, nature and nice surprises. Everywhere you turn something catches your eye. In a small valley in the Haut Corbieres, the Corbieres mountains, art and magnificent nature are blended together. At the end of the road lays a hamlet that is host to a spectacular art walk. Here are some of the sculptures.

Mosaic from the trail.

Mayronnes is the starting point of a walk up into the mountains. A special walk. A walk amongst sculptures. A beautiful tribute to art, life and nature. A walk I've wanted to take for some time but not been able to. But this year we did. Armed with hiking boots, walking sticks and taped up ankles the 5 kilometre trail was to be explored.

Charly: Tortues. Permanent exhibit.

What a path and what an experience. The sun was shining, it was hardly a breeze. Green, lush and beautiful the track goes up and up.

Raymond Galle :  L'arbre couché. Permanent exhibit. 

It's not made to walk fast, along the way different pieces of art are integrated in the scenery.

Jean  Lebeau: Couroucoucou. Permanent exhibit. 

Cleverly done.

Robert Cros:  Agrafes. Exhibit 2015.

Some of the artwork are here permanently.

Robert Cros: Un, deux, etc. Permanent exhibit. 

 Others are this years contributions.

Nadine Trescartes: Le cri. Permanent exhibit. 

Finally you reach the plateau and what a view.

Nadine Trescartes: Métronome 2. Exhibit 2015. For full sculpture see further down.

These are just some of the artworks. I will be back with more photos at a later date.

Raymond Galle : Les 3 pierres dressées des Corbières. Permanent exhibit. 

Walking back the track takes you into more forest areas and again beautiful views and interesting artwork.

Anne Sarda: Mes tissages. Exhibit 2015. 

Anne Sarda: Mes tissages. Exhibit 2015. 

An almost perfect walk in nature! *

David Vanorbeek: Élégance. Permanent exhibit. 

I will be back!

Nadine Trescartes: Métronome 2. Exhibit 2015.

* While the path for the most parts is ok to go there is one part towards the end that is absolutely horrifying.  It should come with a little warning for those having bad joints, heart problems or bad eyesight. It is not a walk any more but an "adventure" trail obstacle course. A very steep climb on a tiny rough trail where you have to drag yourself up after trees. I apologize to the artists as I had no appreciation for their interesting contributions.

When you are through the bush walk you reach a new plateau with some really cool artwork, more  on the way down to the parking again. I will have to go back (and up where you go down) another time to be able to appreciate them and take pictures.

There is a shorter version and of course you have the possibility to go for longer walks in this magnificent area.



Here is some more information on the walk in
English http://www.audetourisme.com/diffusio/en/activities/exhibitions/mayronnes/mayronnes-sculpture-path_TFOFMALAR011V504QD2.php

and French: Sentier Sculpturel de Mayronnes
http://www.sentiersculpturel.com/

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"All of your thoughts and dreams"*

We are planning to be a lot outside, having nice encounters with the French and learn more of the beautiful language. Orange customer service is a brilliant way to do the last two and best of all it does not cost you an arm and a leg either.

"All of your incredible time"*

You will be fortunate enough to speak to a new person every day. This is done to be helpful and aid you in understanding their message. As they might be paid per words per minute it helps talking to a lot of different persons so you can catch new words and meaning and in the end understand what they are telling you.

"Will stay with me"*

Some help you out by just hanging up. First I thought it was because I was a foreigner but my French friends assured me that's not the case, it happens to them to. So like you prepare for exams you can then study and learn important sentences before calling again: "Ne raccrochez pas le téléphone s'il vous plaît" (please don't hang up the phone) and "allez-vous me rappeler s'il vous plaît" (will you call me back please) and other vital informative sentences you need in everyday life.

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Ok granted, your blood pressure might not be the best after talking to the customer service every day for months. It does wonders for your language skills though. One day you'll even manage to argue in French with the customer service. That is a day to remember. As a French friend of mine commented: 

Congratulations you are now integrated in France!

Winning the lottery

This was written about Orange and our decoder but could just as well have been about trying to get a mobile phone, car insurance, membership in a organisation, extra health insurance and so forth. The easiest thing so far has been getting the national health card and social security number. 

As with everything else it depends on the person you meet at the other end of the phone. Yesterday I was so fortunate to meet a man who was both service minded and good at what he was doing. When I started out saying "This is the hundred time or so I'm calling" he responded by saying: "Then I'll not insult you by asking if you have turned the decoder off and on". He solved the problem with the decoder, he called back every time the line was broken (we have internet phone) and he will call back on Friday to be sure everything is ok, if not we'll get a new decoder. I was so happy, it really felt like winning the big pot in the lottery.

Update: Guy called today as promised. We're getting a new decoder and he will call back on Monday. I give him 5 of 5  stars! Orange SA, this is excellent customer service and he should be used as a brilliant example on how to do the job.

Update 2: New decoder, working like charm. Guy called back on Monday to check everything was OK. That guy is worth gold!

* Some knows the words of the headings all to well, for those who don't it's the music played when you're put on hold with Orange. Its a catchy tune (Sudden Dreams by Sophie Hunger) that is haunting me in my sleep.  And its not even in French.