Trip, Interrupted

                                          Gate F9- Atlanta Airport

​​In 2020, I signed up for a six-week ‘stay’ program in Bordeaux, France.  Having visited Paris, and painted in Aix-en-Provence and Bedoin, I was very excited to see a new locale in France- the program included day trips to Bayonne and Biarritz as well as walking tours in Bordeaux.  Of course, I was also looking forward to painting there, as well as improve my pitiful French speaking skills.  On the 5th day in France, I scouted some delightful painting sites- City Hall (Hotel de Ville), outdoor markets, Roman ruins, St. Andre Cathedral, the museum of renowned history of Bordeaux wine, outdoor cafés and people in the streets. Unfortunately, the next day my tour group was  informed that the President was closing the US borders due to CoVid. 

Our dedicated tour leader, Caroline, scrambled all night to get new air reservations for the eighteen members to various countries. The flights were not the most desirable due to high demand, and we were not certain that we would be able to enter the US without quarantine. However, due to the surprise of the announcement, there were no arrangements in place for screening, and we buzzed through.
 
Several participants considered staying in Paris or Bordeaux. On day 6, Bordeaux was put on strict lockdown- no leaving living quarters without a permission slip for essential purposes.  Luckily, our group leader wrangled the undecideds onto their flights. 
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I didn’t have an opportunity, what with jet lag and trip interruption, to paint in Bordeaux on this trip, but in 2021, I signed up for the stay program again- this painting of a masked couple at the airport was my first painting on the way.

Entrance to Hotel de Ville- Bordeaux              
Open Market Busker- Bordeaux