Yvoire

Number 6 of the decalogue. God speaking: ‘You mustn’t kill.’

Definition for kill: ‘ the ending of another’s life in any way.’

Yvoire is a small medieval town in southeastern France its nickname is ” gem of the lake.”  The lake being lake Geneva or Lac Léman from latin, as in Roman times, it was known as ‘ Lamannus,’ meaning port’s lake. By the 12th century, Yvoire was well established because of its  strategic position as a watch tower between the small and large lakes. Count Amédée V Le Grand undertook extensive fortifications in 1306.

Our park up was a half an hour walk on roads through fields to the town. After raining most of the night before, the crops were standing tall. Some taller than others.

We soon were entering the city gate. Roses are very much part of Yvoire at this time of the year. Let me share a few that we saw.

There is a gate that invites certain people of a curious nature, but what do you see. Well, it depends where you are.

The garden is a private initiative, a lot of effort, a touch of madness, and a lot of passion. This is on a board.

The beginnings of a maze and a then a well thought out plan to have a sensory garden.

The maze keeps us apart and makes it a peaceful garden,but  every now and then, there is a group of us stooping down to smell, pick, and taste. There is also a small window cut through a high wooden gate. I wanted to look out, and at the exact moment, someone wanted to look in. We stopped in surprise, and I reassured her that the garden was grand: ‘The garden of five senses is a good place to be in.’

The castle in the background  was not for visiting. It has belonged to the same family since 1655.

Back out on the street. There are art shops, but there is one particular artist whose work kept my attention for a good while.

This is what he wrote about his work: ‘ The zinc gutter that protects our home, subject to the constraints of time, inspires my creativity . Oxidation, tile particals, the vegetal environment, and pollution take advantage of the porosity of the material to fix their coloured prints. Look straight into the sun or under the steel sky of the storm. We look for the horizon. Faced with the spectacular power of nature elements, a feeling of fragility of vulnerability becomes invading. Contemplation, like meditation or prayer, opens the doors of modesty and gratitude for what surrounds us. We are just passing through.’ Gil Manconi

Google his name to see more of his work.

Back at the camp site with a vase from a second-hand shop and a handful of flowers, this was my keepsake of the day.

A beautiful day in Yvoire.

Here are some thoughts about a maze:

‘Real obstacles don’t take you in circles. They can be overcome. Invented ones are like a maze. ‘ Barbara Sher ( she wrote a book which I haven’t read: ‘ I could do anything if only I knew what it was.’)

‘ Life is like a maze in which you try to avoid the exit.’

Roger von Oech

And the last words for Alexander Pope: ‘ A mighty maze! But not without a plan.’

Take care,

Sandy 🙂