Turtle
Veteran
I won't start a thread about who is going to 'Les Rencontres D'Arles' quite so early, but 2011 was my first visit and I have been very much hoping that the dates will allow me to do so again (and again). It is not far away now (early July most likely) and hopefully there will be a slew of RFFers there again in 2012!
I suspect there are quite a few people who are in the position I was last year. I had read various threads about 'Les Rencontres' and gleaned what I could from Roger Hicks' website, but still found myself buying a car, hopping on a cross channel ferry and driving about a thousand miles without a terribly clear idea of what I was going to find at the other end! It turned out to be a wonderful experience, both getting there, being there and getting home again, but for those considering visiting in 2012, there is now much greater potential for being prepared and organised! Roger has just written an e-book guide to Les Rencontres (http://www.rogerandfrances.com/e-books.html), which will inform, educate and amuse in equal measure. To say it is comprehensive is quite an understatement (it contains 20,000 words for $1.99) and you can be sure that it will not only give a good feel for the experience (and all its component parts), but point you in the right direction on quite literally all matters logistical and practical. I won't even attempt to summarise its contents, but if I tell you that amongst other things, the price, availability and measures of rose wine are fully explained, I am sure you'll get the idea!
For anyone unsure as to whether Arles is likely to be 'their thing,' I am confident you'll know once you've read the ebook. Being at Les Rencontres is a very difficult experience to describe (partly because it comprises so many different layers) and conveying the overall feel is something the ebook does particularly well, so much so it seemed somewhat more crystalline than my own recollection. That should be worrying!
In anticipation of later threads, all I will say is 'hope to see you there!'
I suspect there are quite a few people who are in the position I was last year. I had read various threads about 'Les Rencontres' and gleaned what I could from Roger Hicks' website, but still found myself buying a car, hopping on a cross channel ferry and driving about a thousand miles without a terribly clear idea of what I was going to find at the other end! It turned out to be a wonderful experience, both getting there, being there and getting home again, but for those considering visiting in 2012, there is now much greater potential for being prepared and organised! Roger has just written an e-book guide to Les Rencontres (http://www.rogerandfrances.com/e-books.html), which will inform, educate and amuse in equal measure. To say it is comprehensive is quite an understatement (it contains 20,000 words for $1.99) and you can be sure that it will not only give a good feel for the experience (and all its component parts), but point you in the right direction on quite literally all matters logistical and practical. I won't even attempt to summarise its contents, but if I tell you that amongst other things, the price, availability and measures of rose wine are fully explained, I am sure you'll get the idea!
For anyone unsure as to whether Arles is likely to be 'their thing,' I am confident you'll know once you've read the ebook. Being at Les Rencontres is a very difficult experience to describe (partly because it comprises so many different layers) and conveying the overall feel is something the ebook does particularly well, so much so it seemed somewhat more crystalline than my own recollection. That should be worrying!
In anticipation of later threads, all I will say is 'hope to see you there!'
