“She wanted to show that everyone, at their own level, should make the world we live in tend towards a better understanding and a total acceptance of difference”. Akio Bouillon, the eldest son of Josephine Bakers twelve adopted children.
The American born singer, dancer, actress, resistance fighter and equal rights accompanier is to have the high honour and privilege to enter the Parthenon in Paris, the resting place for great National figures, on 30th November 2021. Among those entombed there are Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, Germaine Tillion and Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz.
Fleeing discrimination and prejudice in American she fled to Paris becoming the best paid artist of the music hall era. Using her money to restore the splendour of Château Milandes and the surrounding area.
A great collection of her life through costume, photographs and audio presentation are on display for everyone to enjoy at Milandes. What makes myself proud of her achievements was her fright against discrimination showing the world through her “rainbow tribe” children and through her own actions that not everyone has the same colour or same language but that people are all humans who all want the same thing.
One prominent action of Josephine Baker’s was to join the French Resistance, during World War 2 she concealed micro film in her underwear and forwarded information through her song sheets. She became Second Lieutenant of the auxiliary troops of the French air Force, later to be honoured with the Legion of Honour, the Croix de Guerre and the Medal of the Resistance.
“Our native Perigord is our region of heart”. Akio Bouillon.
Each day at the rear of the Château is the very entertaining and informative display of rescued raptors.
At the front and side of the Château are the ornate gardens and water features.
Well worth a visit or two.
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At Castlenaud this morning all of the picnic area is now under water.
The statue is on a high plinth which is being slowly being submerged under the river.
This picture gives an insight into the water level, as the island sinks below the waves.
The D53 road leading from Castelnaud to to Milandes is closed due to flooding.
Leaving Castlenaude over the bridge along the D57 is also impassible due to the flooding which is from right to left from the extremely flooded fields.
This picnic and barbecue area has been transformed into a lake.
One of the camp sites near Daglan that are under water.
Just a few steps out of our courtyard and I was in glorious sunshine.
Castlenaud, underneath the duck egg blue sky.
Just past the bridge at Castlenaud on the road to Milandes we stopped to watch the river. It is at a very high level but not going over the bank, thank goodness.
Paul took another picture for me from the opposite direction. It shows how very high and fast flowing the river is.
The first signs of Spring, on the branches of this tree are little catkins.
Not a lot of green on the trees yet but tiny buds and the ivy is showing signs of growth.
Le place de la Liberté, Daglan basking in the sunshine.
La Roque-Gageac.
Medieval weekend last Summer held at Château de Castelnaud.
Included sword fighting demonstrations.
La Mairie de Daglan, Such a beautiful building.
Le Tour de Daglan takes a short rest in the village square.
The weekly Craft Session.
The picnic area by the banks of the Dordogne river at Castelnaud la Chapelle this morning. We have never seen the Dordogne water level so high covering all of the picnic area and the embankment.
Looking at Castlenaud from across the river. The treeline in the middle of the river is usually where the banks are.
This is where we like to picnic on the shore at Beynac. Today no land was to be seen it is completely water logged.
The boats above were on dry land last week.
Our French Dream 