It's June of 2002, and I'm in Albi, in the south of france, home of my former IRCAM collegue, Adrien, his girlfriend Juliette, and their newborn, Arthur. It's also the home of the Cathedral, St. Cécile, who actually lived and died in Albi (her bones are sill in the cathedral collections of treasures!) The inside was done by imported Italian workmen, so it's much more ornate and colorful than your typical french gothic cathedral. The outside is brick, with a very ornate portico.

Then it was on to Bordeaux, where I spent a weekend with my friend Nathalie, and her boyfriend, Daniel. We drove to the coast, and picniced at the edge of a bay on good cheese and wine, olives and fruit. Two thirds of the bay empties at low tide! Then it was on to the beach, where we wet our feet, and finally to the boardwalk before finding dinner. The welcoming lamp outside my apartment building inspired a photo after I got back.

Before leaving Paris, I got up early one morning, and took photos of my favorite places in my neighborhood. The cafe de deux moulins and the le marche de la butte were featured in Amelie. The stairs lead up to the familiar dome of Sacre Coeur. Normally these pictures would be full of tourists. It's only at 6:30AM that these shots can be had.

Back in the US, I spent a morning playing Mille Borne with my niece, Tess, then it was out to Portland where nature was the theme: a visit to the Oregon Gardens, some waterfalls not far from salem, and my father in the Backyard by his bee balm.