WOW

Waoh it's been a while since I last posted to the ole blog.

A whole lot has happened since my last post...
I have an ongoing exhibit of my photographs of the Gitan of Arles up in "chez Paul"

It is the Reyes Family Bar.. and I have had the wonderful chance to be able to displat my work in such a fantastic space. The expo it self was in conjunction with the dedication of the "Place de Jose Reyes" Which was on September 27th... oof bad me hasn't posted anything about it... here is a link to my photographs that I took from that day.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6705&l=7ca8f&id=1384823477

I'll add a few pics of the day... Just to give ya a peek... I have a full gallery on my face book.

Also since, my last post I went back to America for three weeks..... Got the chance to see my amigos in NY and spent 10 days in Colorado.... And my mom and i spent a couple of days in Santa Fe New Mexico... As soon as I get the pics off of my new camera i'll post those as well.

At this point I can't remember what i did with the connection chord to my camera.....

Eh i'll figure it out one of these days....

The Reyes Family

Andre Reyes At Chez Bob

Well, gang that's it for now I promise that I will post more frequently..... It's well into fall here in Arles and It is that time of the year where staying inside is better.

~Mel~

La Corrida Goyesque 13-09-08

Here are a few pictures from the Corrida Goyesque here in Arles. For the first time I saw a Rejonador by the name of Pablo Hermoso De Mendoza fight. Rejonadors are Toreros who fight bulls on horseback... It was something that I had always wanted to see but never had the chance to see it first hand... Here are a few pictures of him. I will post more from the entire Corrida in the days to come. For now I hope you enjoy these..

Some pics from yesterday.

Hey hey gang just thought I would add some pics from some stuff I shot yesterday, most of them are of the Novillada but I did manage to catch a Gitan guitarist in the plaza, playing.

He was actually quite good...

Enjoy!

~Mel~

Ladies and Gentlemen, My new husband!

OUCH!!

Well, that's all for now, I will add more as the rest of the month unfolds.... this coming week is Roman week... hmm Arles turns into the old Roman city that it once was!! hmm people running around in togas and gladiator fights.... should be fun..

July Events in Arles

Well, kids here are some photographs from several events that have happened so far, this month, here in Arles.... This First set is from the Fete De Costume.. Where the New Queen of Arles was offically instated as the new Queen of Arles.... Gotta love these gals, dressed in the traditional costume of Arles....

Next are a couple of shots of the fire works from Quatorze de juliett. Bastille day for ya Yankees!! tee hee

Finally here are some shots of the Courses de Camarguaise/French Bullfights. Check these dudes out... The basic rule of the game is try to grab a little tiny piece of red ribbon from between the bull's horns... hmm easier said than done no? Meanwhile these guys are trying not to get run over by the bull or gored in the butt... Now no wonder they fly!!!!
See that little red dot between the bull's horns... Now try grabbing that while he's chasing you??

MOMMY!!!!

Well, kids these are some of the events that were and are going on here in Arles for the month of July...... Oh by the way they don't kill the bulls in a French Bullfight...

Abientot !

~Mel~

Budding young photographers

Hey hey y'all

I know it's been a while since my last post... In this post featuring a couple of little friends of mine..... Last week I was at a fiesta at Chez Paul... It was a huge family gathering where there was paella, music and good friends. Again I want to thank Paul and his family for inviting me to such a wonderful event.. So here goes the story behind a few of these pics... I handed my camera to Pepa and her little brother Illiam,(Tobacco) and I let them take pictures of people and things that they thought interesting... Don't let that picture of Tobacco fool you.... He's actually a pretty happy kid!! Notice how beautiful Gypsy kids are.... Their eyes... Even the young ones have a story to tell...Here are a few of Pepa's shots... I have reason to believe that Pepa is a more abstract artist... I love the way she sees things....

here are a couple of Tobacco's shots... Pepa and her mom... Awesome!! Notice the love that Tobacco's big sister shows!! tee hee Hey I am 36 years old and I still stick my tongue out at my brother! I thnk that little Tobaco is going to be the portrait photographer and perhaps still lives.
Pepa and Tobacco's Mom and Dad Paul and Nadia. YUMMY PAELLA!!!This is just another part of my life here. It was another wonderful evening shared with my Gitan family here in Arles..... MUCHAS BESOS Y AMOR MI AMIGOS!!

Who are the peeps in my hood 2

Well, Gang, it's time for another installment of "WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD" Please feel free to whistle the song from Sesamee Street.. As those of you who read my blog on a semi-regular basis, know I started this little thing so that y'all get to know a little bit about Arles. Not only Arles but my Arles... These people and places are part of the Arles I have come to call home for the past 8 months... They not only run some of the most fantastic shops and cafes here but they are also my friends.... Here are Gerard and Martine. They own and run what I happen to think is the best Cafe and ice cream place here in Arles.. Les Masion Des Gourmands... Located just across from the Roman Arena. It also is a wonderful Gallery space. They display paintings and photographs by artists from all over... I had the great fortune of displaying a few of my photographs there.... Like most places, here in Arles it is a family run place, which allows any visitor to feel like they are at home when they walk in... Once in a while it doubles as the unofficial Tourisim office here in Arles... It is a fantastic place to sit and watch people go by.. So kids, when in Arles stop in and get something to eat!! I recomend it all!!!

These next set of photographs are of my favorite Floristas!! Fabienne and Alain. This dynamic duo, husband and wife team run Marinette, by far the best Flower shop here in Arles... Below are a few shots of their creations. Stuning no?!!! So Gang these are a couple of the local places that I frequent quite a bit.. They are family run businesses, and they make sure you are treated as one of their own... They are part of what makes my Arles so special.. And I thank them not only for what they do and what they create but I thank them for being friends..

C'EST CANUT.

I am not sure if there are to many of you out there who do not know who this is. As most of you know this is Canut Reyes. I took these photographs about two weeks ago at a soiree we all had attended.. Needless to say It was an amazing evening. Filled with good food wonderful friends,
some new ones were made that night. And an incredible night of music.
As you all know Canut is part of a remarkable musical family. But for me, Canut is not just a gifted musician, he is a poet, a dreamer, an artist..... Some of those things are often said about Canut. He has the power, through his song to touch the soul... Not to many artists do that. If you sit and really listen to him, he tells his entire life story, with just a song. I have been truly blessed to know he and Catherine as friends. My life here in Arles has been a truly blessed one. It has been filled with remarkable moments. Sharing time with such a gifted soul is truly one of those moments.
I wanted to take this time to thank both Catherine and Canut for being such dear friends to me. It is an honor to have you both in my life. Canut you have inspired me to do great things with my art. You have also inspired me to create with my heart and my soul. Thank you also for giving me the inspiration to follow my heart's song.
And Catherine JUST THANK YOU!!!
10000 besos!!