Latitude Cultural Center
La Toulzanie (Lot) France
PARTICIPANT COMMENTS
What participants tell us. . . .a sampler
"There is definitely a Latitude
attitude. It begins with the welcoming beauty of the place and extends
through
the days. Must be the terroir!"
--B. J. Shabel,
New Hampshire
"This [Latitude and
the
surrounding countryside] is like living in a postcard-- only better --
because
it's real!"
-- David
Rubsamen,
Oakland
,
CA
"The Lot River Valley is
probably the most beautiful place ever. At every turn
there is something surprisingly dramatic; cliffs, towns,
river, lush fields unfold differently every time you see
them. The people are the nicest and most generous to strangers.
(If it is because of the local Cahors wine, they should export
more to the rest of the world!) A stay there is truly an
unforgettable experience. . . This would be a great place to
jam!!".
-- Jack Freeman, oil painter and jug-band spoonsplayer in San
Francisco
.
.. we had
never heard of the
Lot
...we
did not expect such charm and beauty-- it was staggering....
We enjoyed every moment, from our arrival to Latitude's
swimming pool... the fun of
seeing
the River Lot
... Pech
Merle's 20,000+
year-old paintings, the market at Limogne...the
Fete
de la Musique with Michel Griffin singing
his own
songs and playing the guitar. It all added up to a great time for us!"
--
Basil and Reina Powell, South Africa
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"I was here for a week singing, eating, dancing...There is only one
word to describe it: Heaven!"
-- Tyler (a teen who sang, danced, and ate during the Medieval Culture
Week)
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"The sheer beauty of the countryside, the remarkable food, the
astonishing acoutstics of the mill...made us (a family of husband, 2
daughters) feel luxuriously relaxed, welcome--and blissful!"
-- N. Weston (participant in the Medieval Culture week)
"I just have one question
about the
mill.... how do you get anyone to leave it? [Our response:
"Counseling!"] Thanks for the wonderful week!"
--
Joan Levinson
, Bay Area
Left:
Instructor & chef/ owner of
Liaison Bistro in
Berkeley
,
CA
, Todd Kniess (on
right hand side)
& participants say "Bon Appetit"
before eating the lunch they made under Todd's supervision.
Right: Instructor
Renée Morel (in red dress) with
some participants in her Art History
course during a poolside coffee/tea break.
"Latitude has truly
expanded our horizons. . . a stimulating
combination of French culture,
language,
and most of all, les gens français. A MUST for
francophiles."
-- "Nicole" (Neil
)and Eugene
Barth
, Bay Area (two-time
participants)
"Gorgeous surroundings, warm
and companiable people, great cooking, a
terrific writing
class--what more could anyone ask for?"
--
Liz Bedell
, New York
"What a gorgeous setting!
What great
food! I'd like to stay here forever!! I know I'll be back!!"
--
Marquille Randall, Orange County, CA
"Who knew this was a lapideria?
What incredible butterflies! And the hummingbird bug! Wow!"
--
Karen O'Rourke, Oakland, CA
"... a
superb setting with complimentary accoutrements that Latitude
and nature
designed...
Sorry
that the others in my class [Paleolithic
Art/Consciousness, July, 2005] did not have the experience at Latitude
of seeing:
- A Cave Bear running down the road,
- A Neanderthal peeking over the gate in the stone wall, and
- a Mastadon having a sip of water from Latitude's pool. "
-- Dr. James Turner,
San
Francisco
"After a week of living in a [former] tobacco hangar
..living with stone and rock, ancient and
beyond
ancient, and the fat, slow meander of a river...lively chat at
meals...medieval
ghosts mingling with Cro-Magnon brush strokes..
hot sunshine carrying the scent of cut
grain and
lavender, I am reluctant to pack my suitcase. Would anyone notice if I
remained
in my room and didn't catch the train to Paris? I wouldn't be much
trouble. Promise."
--
Sandra Choate,
San Francisco
"I shall remember this lovely
place as
where I first put my more inner thoughts on paper.
Quite
an
experience. The setting is marvelous, the food scrumptious, the
rooms
enchanting."
--Marle Hewett, CDR, USN,
Retired
"Dental floss and poetry will
change
your life! What a wonderful week at Latitude!"
--
the
Writing Class, June 25-
July 2,2005
"The mill is wonderful and
interesting
and I covet it! Great food. Beautiful
area."
--Eric Menninga,
Seattle
,
WA
"Hearts and flowers...
vin et food... what a
wonderful
place to relax and enjoy.
Although I have spent time in
France before, I never saw THE REAL FRANCE
and the wonderful people
that I was able to meet and enjoy this
time,
thanks to Latitude. Vive la
France
! Vive le Lot! Vive Latitude!"
-- Jim Scott, northern Nevada
". . . a
pleasure to pass some time Latituding"[after
an evening jam session at Latitude]
-- Mike and
Françoise Griffin, Pasturat (
Lot
)
"I am so sorry to leave Latitude
after
a wonderful, happy week of fun, beauty, relaxing, and marvelous
food.
I'll never be the same-- and hope to return again and again!"
--
Marian Forman
,
San Francisco
"
Quelle
agréable surprise! C'est un
Américain qui nous
fait découvrir notre
Paris
."
(after
Leonard Pitt's
talk on Baron Haussmann's redo of
Paris
)
-- Emile Andissac,
La Toulzanie
"Crossing the magical
footbridge with
the moon reflected in the river [
Lot
]
below, I was transported to another time, another place.
The moulin is
a perfect setting for these informal,
stimulating
salons on all sorts of fascinating subjects.
Chapeau
for
providing these visual & intellectual gifts."*
-- Ferne Halgren,
Corte Madera
,
CA
*Editor's note: Two-time
participant Ferne was planning to return for another course when her
serious health problems worsened. She died in 2005, but she lives on in
the memories of the many people here in La Toulzanie and environs; she
touched us with her indomitable will, generosity of spirit, and
adventuresomeness.
"Lotoise
d'adoption, j'ai
enrichi mes connaissances
sur la région
merci de votre soirée[
d'histoire
locale]."
-- Suzanne Bru,
St Martin Labouval (
Lot
)
"It is clear that the climate
--
intellectual and environmental -- at this particular Latitude
is ideal
for human growth and development.
A sojourn at this Latitude should
be obligatory for all who work at the United Nations--not just one
idealist
who's working on disarmament."
--
Randy Rydell
, UN Dept. for Disarmament Affairs, New York City
"I cannot imagine a more
exquisite
setting than Latitude on the
Lot
River
. . . thank you for the terrific
experience at Latitude.
I am raving all around about the beauty of
the
Latitude site and the genius in locating on that curve of the
river, with
that exquisite view."
--
Joan (and Marty) Rosen,
Kentfield
,
CA
"This week marks the second
'trip of a
lifetime' for me. The first was
China
. Both gave me a chance to observe how
people live.
Both
were totally new experiences. I appreciated my time at Latitude
so!"
--
Natalie Goldberg
,
New York City
"Meeting the French in their
homes and
at their work was so special. . . I enjoyed my walks in nearby
townsand found
a wonderful hike through the
woods
connecting Limgone and Lugagnac--just
follow the signs at Limogne and the
Dolmens and keep
hiking!"
--
Carol Watson
,
San Francisco
,
CA
"I loved my stay at Latitude."
--
Alice
Rudebusch
,
Racine
,
WI
"We adored the visit to the
goat farm,
viewing the mother goats in their straw-covered quarters as a "
chambre goat."
-- Mary and
Tex Kimball,
Texas
"Un
cours excellent (grâce
à Renée Morel), la bonne compagnie, la
bonne cuisine, le vin
copieux,
un endroit
incroyablement beau. Merci
bien de votre
hospitalité gracieuse."
--
Arleen Glenn
,
Northern
California
"Cette
visite à
Latitude a été
une
introduction au Paradis!"
-- Ricardo del Villar (
éleve de Renée Morel),
Texas
"There are no words to
describe this
place. I had a wonderful time."
-- Giselle Barroso,
Mi
ami
"A
magical week!"
--
Barbara
Andrews
,
Princeton
,
NJ
"Tout est
'luxe, calme,
et volupté.' "
--
Anne Norris
, Nice
"The class, the setting, and
the
camaraderie were truly memorable.Thanks."
-- Mike Jones,
San Francisco
". . . un
cadre
pittoresque et saisissant"
--
Veronique de Cadoguere,
Cajarc (
Lot
)
"Our professor [Renée
Morel] was perfect--six
times-- I hope she returns so I can take another class --any
class--with
her."
--Mme.Yves
Jolly, Larnagol (
Lot
) Editor's note:
You've got your wish!
Professor Morel returns in July, 2007!
"Un moulin,
le
rêve, et quel
Moulin! Magnifique
!"
--
Michel Prayssac, Chateau de Camboulan (
Aveyron)
"I enjoyed the stimulating
lectures and
discussions, the conviviality among guests and La Toulzanie
residents,
the picture-postcard scenery, and the immersion into the
slow-paced world of yesterday. Wonderful.
Wonderful. I shall return."
--
Susan Hoehn
,
New York City
(and she did! two-time
participant)
"Parmi
ces beautés
architecturales, c'est
d'un accueil chaleureux
que je me souviendrai."
---Alex (et Pauline) Rubio, Paris
Latitude is a real
treasure! You have a
beautiful place in one of the most
picturesque settings that we have seen in
France
.
We could happily spend weeks in this
idyllic spot. What a special place!"
-- Rick Wojcik and Susan Feldman,
Bellevue, WA
"Thank you -- and nature -- for a
perfect
vacation . . . . How can you beat low-key learning in the mornings,
hiking & biking in the afternoons,
freshly-picked melons & haricots verts anytime, the starriest
skies I've ever seen, & a lot of laughter with new friends? (This
is a rhetorical question!)"
-- Harry Melone, Washington, D.C.
"Hats off! Chapeau! Latitude's
a super
place, and my French really improved.
I appreciate not only your willingness to
provide meatless meals but your talent at making them such taste
treats."
-- Duncan Campbell, London