Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

December 8, 2022. Also known as La Castellassa, this tower originates from the 12th or 13th century and was part of a chalet built to protect a village that dates back at least to 965 and whose residents relocated to the current site of Mont Louis in the 18th century. I discovered it while trying to follow a trail through the forest after touring Mont Louis; I had to turn back because the snow, wind and rain made the steep descent too dangerous to continue, but not before seeing this tower. I travelled to and from Mont Louis on the 'Yellow Train', a narrow gauge track that runs up into the French Pyrenees. After returning I got a ride to Barcelona airport and am sayping at the 'Sleep and Fly'. https://flic.kr/p/2o4Q3ea

December 7, 2022. This is the town of Eus, clinging to the side of a hill in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. We drove around the area talking about consciousness, representation, and whether machines can think. Outstanding day; one more in these hills and then it's the long road home. https://flic.kr/p/2o4C9n9

December 5, 2022. I spent the day with Ray and Neus exploring forts and monasteries in and around Prades and talking about ontologies and distributed representation. It was unsurprisingly a perfect mix for me, and we have more time over the next couple of days to do the same. https://flic.kr/p/2o4gtbZ

January 28, 2018. On the way home from Bayonne in Charles de Gaulle Airport. I just noticed this unassuming entrance by accident to a secret passage that runs the length of terminal L behind all the shops and gates. I wasn't until I got home that I also noticed the French flag. https://flic.kr/p/22Qv1Sh

January 27, 2018. I had hoped to go to San Sebastian but there wasn't time, so I took a bus into the country and visited the small Basque town of Cambo-les-Bains in the Pyrenees foothills. It was very peaceful, very picturesque, and not even raining! https://flic.kr/p/JYn4ZZ

January 26, 2018. The conference organizers and I went down the coast, first to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and then to Hondarribia in Spain. One of the highlights was this church in which Louis XIV was married to Maria Theresa of Spain on June 9, 1660. The three-tiered balcony is exceptional (but not unique, as I would see another the next day). It was a great day and I learned about and saw a lot of basque country. https://flic.kr/p/22PEzXy

January 25, 2018. The weather only got worse on Thursday and I ended up cold and very wet after walking in the driving rain to take photos if Biarritz on the Bay of Biscay coastline. Worth it for the views, though. https://flic.kr/p/23RrzZb

January 24, 2018. Bayonne was shrouded in mist this morning as we walked to the conference venue. This was the view as we crossed the Nive River on our way. I gave y talk in the morning and went to the school for lunch some activities after (I had a long conversation with the restaurant manager who described how the food was locally sourced and how the students participated in its production - the food was overall quite good though sadly the beef failed my nose test. https://flic.kr/p/22wQShk

January 23, 2018. Sitting in the Adour River in front of the fortress in Bayonne this is the Djébelle, waiting for spring. Today featured a reception with dignitaries in advance of tomorrow's conference presentations. https://flic.kr/p/EeZtMp

January 22, 2018. Recovering from jet lat I took the opportunity to walk around Bayonne and though it wasn't cold it was very rainy. As I commented to one person, lousy weather results in better photos. This photo very much reflects my introduction to the city, through a blur of water on the lens and the bright colours struggling against the haze. https://flic.kr/p/EeSwKn

November 17, 2015. Arrived in Paris. The city was still under siege from the attacks of the 13th. Monuments, including the Arc de Triomphe, pictured. I deliberately stayed away from the targeted areas and toured the area around the Louvre and the Chapms-Élysées. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1MUr61B