D'Abord

I am currently sitting alone in the darkened Marchutz studio, with music from what I would guess to be the '20s or '30s playing. It is John's (one of our professor's) music. I can see fog gathering a ways away.

The studio sits on hill about a seven minute walk from Madame's apartment. This means we are approximately a forty-two minute walk from the Aix Centre, and very far outside the Ring Road. The Ring Road is the old border of the city. I believe it was knocked down in the 19th century. As is, the studio and our apartment are still beyond civilization. Okay, not quite. We are, however, far enough out to not be on the general map of the city, 

I finally walked to the Aix Center completely on my own today, and I did not have to use a map. Actually, I've never been Mapkeeper while here, so the fact that I got to the Centre on time, without getting lost, and without a map is actually quite a feat. The city lay layout fits expectations of Europe - it's got tons of tiny roads that look like alleys, and you can tell by the street order that it was not all built at once.

After my first class (Art history, Cezanne and Van Gogh), I went to the art store where an account had been set up for me. I picked up a large sketchbook for class, a red hard-bound Moleskine (!!) for outside of class sketching, two pencils (2b and 5b), and a pen. Met a fellow Marchutzian, who had been waiting for someone else. The someone else never turned up, so Nadia and I got lunch around the corner. Mine was absolutely delicious. How could it not be? Mozzarella, goat cheese, some other thing with a French name I didn't recognize, creamy gouda, and tomato on fresh French bread. Mm. Good thing I'm walking at least five miles a day!

We found another Marchutz classmate after that, and walked around the daily market while waiting for another person. Nadia bought lychees, and gave one to both Kyra and me to try. Interesting. Sticky juice, white-translucent flesh, smooth pit, paper-thin prickly skin, with a taste similar to watered white grape juice. We found a "Honey Man," who had each of us sample his product. So good that I actually bought some. My first unnecessary or not-food-to-be-eaten-immediately purchase. Walked around some more, found Sloan, had coffee/hot chocolate. I have pictures from the market that shall be posted on Facebook later. Went back to the art store, got a pencil sharpener, found the original person we had been waiting for and another person, started walking toward the studio. 

Worked from a FEMALE model! What a treat. At Denison they hired old males almost every time.

Well, time to head back to the apartment. Madame will be serving dinner at 7:30, as usual! :)