A Long Distance Love Affair (14 page)

I spent a few hours at the Museé d'Art et Histoire, and although it was quite small, I really loved it (apart from all the religious iconography).  They featured the works of Fribourg artists from the last two centuries and there was a female called Marcello who was a completely gifted sculptor and painter.  They didn't have any posters or postcards of her work unfortunately or I would have bought some.  I also bought myself three old blue and white Villeroy and Boch saucers from a second hand store for 8 francs..it was a steal!  (I collect blue and white China).  And I saw some shoes I want...well lots really, but I have to leave room for things for the family.

I hope you have had a bonne journée.  I am thinking of you and wishing I could baise toi.

Je t'embrace et je t'adore completement.

Mon Dauphin Délicieux

I am finding the Swiss to be a very civilized people - they are all extremely polite and helpful but I am missing the mercurial wit of the Celts and the wry humour of the Australians - maybe it’s just a language difference, but I find I have to rein in my wit because they just don't get things.  It's a bit like talking to Americans - there's a woodenness and you have to explain things...

I am leaving Fribourg a day earlier than I thought ie tomorrow morning - Friday - and will spend a day and night in Zurich rather than here as I've explored all I want to and the devil keeps tempting me too much in the stores.  Saturday is the train trip to from Zurich to Cologne which is about 6 hours.  I'm really looking forward to that.

I am reading a crime novel about murders in the Vatican City and last night there was a passage about a saint called Teresa who says an angel paid her a visit in her sleep - she is said to have described it thus:

 "...his great golden spear filled with fire plunged into me several times - penetrated to my entrails - a sweetness so extreme that one could not possibly wish it to stop...."

She, poor thing, (like me) was obviously dreaming of you!

Je t'embrace partout (especially on your golden spear).

Chariette

Mein Klein (it's all German here)

My senses are just overwhelmed with the beauty of Switzerland.  Zurich is just wonderful. I walked all over the town centre yesterday and passed houses that Wagner lived in and Goethe stayed at and I even came across James Joyce corner which was just stunning (I took a photo of that like a complete tourist dork).  But the plaques are all in German so it's a bit difficult to understand what they are commemorating.

This is my kind of place! The old buildings full of history and dead souls, cobblestones, greenery that's so intense you can feel the vitality of it and I even like the shape of the leaves on the trees.  Oh I wish you were here so I could kiss you on the cheek to share my happiness.  It would be the warmest, loveliest most heartfelt kiss you ever had!

My wallet and I are in constant battle.  It's trying to stay shut.  Bought the princeling the loveliest little hat and could spend a fortune on him if I let myself go.  The clothing here is really top quality.  But so expensive it's beyond belief.  I have seen so many shoes but am holding off for Paris. I've noticed the people here are more good looking than in Fribourg and fatter. Maybe Fribourg was just full of ugly tourists...but I think here it's more the German influence. Makes me think of you...

I can't seem to stop thinking of you.  Oh God when am I ever going to be released from this torture???  Here I am surrounded by sights to swamp my senses and you're still there inside me dominating everything despite it all.

The hotel I'm staying at here in Zurich is absolutely lovely and romantic and we would have had a lovely time together in it...  Had a wonderful bath last night in the deepest bath I've ever seen.

I'm off to Cologne this afternoon...

Missing your beautiful voice and your text messages.

Chariette

Mein Klein Spent yesterday (Sunday) in Cologne. It´s very ugly after the beauty of Zurich. The place must have been significantly bombed during the war because it´s full of ugly post war

architecture and there has been no planning at all.  The beautiful cathedral which is the centre piece of the place has been built around with the ugliest modern buildings.  But I spent yesterday in the cathedral square listening to buskers all day.  There was a brass quintet there that were so good they sounded as though they were from the philharmonic.  And a woman playing solo violin that was just heart wrenching.  The music was so beautiful that even teenagers on rollerblades stopped to listen.

I don´t like the physical surroundings here at all. I’m finding it quite depressing.  I´m off today to visit an institution in Aachen then the same thing tomorrow at Dortmund.  I´m travelling around on the trains very well.  I´m always a bit nervous about the unknown, but once I know what to do I can quickly adapt, and this is happening to me with the train system despite everything being in German.  (Reminds me of my first visit to you in Sydney - I was VERY nervous about that, but now.....)

I´ve lost track of where you are.  I imagine you´re off to Europe soon or on the way there now.  I´m disappointed you haven´t been able to get into the email.  Missing you very much....

"For where thou art,
            There is the world itself.
            And where thou are not -
            Desolation."

Chariette

Le coeur (heart) de ma vie (life)

So wonderful to hear from you now that I’m in Paris and very glad you are also keen to take me up on the Rodin poses.  One of them was called "Transport et ravissement" and I would very much like you to transport and ravish me in a similar manner.  Oh how I would love to be coupling with you again and again just now. Would also love to be simply walking with you through the streets of Paris and along the Seine.

I passed the Sorbonne yesterday and today I saw Montmartre (from a distance). I'm heading off now to the Musée D'Orsay and will look out for the bus you mentioned as I'm still nervous of the metro and gangs of Africans hang around the entrances and shout things at the people coming up the stairs from there.

This is truly the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  I love the over the top architecture of all the monuments.  I was in Rue de Lafayette today and suddenly there was this grand arch in the middle of the street commemorating some battle or victory but it was just so grand!! And proud!!  And I saw the French Opera and some building nearby that had something to do with de Gaulle and it had a magnificent golden eagle on the top which looked to be real gold because it was glowing.

I am full of feeling for you all the time I'm here.  It doesn't go away....

 "I would not wish any companion in the world
            But you."

I hope you like my new shoes and like taking them off me.  They are truly lovely and make me very happy (simpleton that I am..)  I hope you've managed to buy yourself a new shirt because I will love to be taking it off you....

My French is working perfectly here.  I can understand a lot that I hear, can read Le Monde no problem (there was even an article about the Australian election in it) and can get by asking for the things I need.

Je te baise (kiss), je te caresse, je t'adore

Mon très cher Chariot

Oh the Musée D'Orsay! What a wonderful experience.  To see so many Renoirs in the same room and in their original form was just magnificent. (Renoir, by the way, obviously would have LOVED my body..) And I found Van Gogh growing on me too.  There was one of his city scenes where the blues he used were just pulsating with vitality.  I was standing in front of a Manet portrait of Berthe Morisot (who was holding a bunch of violets...) when an oldish couple came up beside me and starting speaking - they had Australian accents so I spoke to them and we discovered we were all from Melbourne.  We almost fell upon each other with joy at discovering this!  It was a lovely moment.

There are times I just can't believe I'm here.  In the past I immersed myself in French literature (which I read in French, including Sartre who was one unhappy bastard - I don't think he ever fell in love...) and I have loved the French Impressionists since I first saw them when I was very young, and to be here now, in their city, is just so thrilling to me.  I think of my poor parents who never had these opportunities but who must have had longings in their souls for this experience of life to have passed them on so strongly to me.  I am trying to enjoy the experience to the fullest for them in a sense.

That was one unbelievable railway station! Do you recall the sumptuous golden room with all the mirrors? (We could have had a lot of fun in there...) What an unbelievably majestic room.  I found the splendour and magnificence almost too much to bear (rather like I find you at times...) All senses were quite out of control!  Wishing they were out of control right now with you!!  I passed a street this morning called 'Passage du désir' and I took a photo of it for you.  (Wish you were enjoying MY 'passage du désir' just now...)

This is my last day here - plane out tomorrow then back home by Monday.  Missing the princeling and my boyos (and the dog).

Missing you....wanting you...longing to hear your voice again - which is more beautiful to me than I can say.

Ton très amoureuse Chariette

Dear Chariot

I'm back home at last and going to drop into bed.  Very tired and stiff necked from the plane and dying to stretch out on my lovely bed with my own pillow.  Finding the days all very confusing.  Thought I was going to be here Monday but it's Tuesday today!

I'm not sure where you are just now.  If you're in transit I hope the flight goes well for you and you get plenty of sleep.