Postcards from Europe #8
A series of my first time travelling through Europe before settling into my writing residency at the Chateau d'Orquevaux. This postcard is from Joinville, France
The Postcards from Europe series chronicles my first trip to Europe visiting Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Novi Sad (my father-in-law home town), Belgrade, Paris, Dijon and Joinville. After this I commence a three-week writing residency at Chateau d’Orquevaux.
Hello my dear Musers
I’m writing to you in the quiet of my last few hours in Joinville. My son J has just left me to head off on his own adventures for the next six weeks, and I have realised that I have not really been alone for over a month. It’s lovely to sit here in the quiet of the 1563 house while I reflect on the wonderful time I have had, the privilege to travel and spend time with my hubby and my son. How bloody lucky and I! And I still have three weeks to go.
Today, I will be joining the other twenty four artists and writers at the Chateau d’Orquevaux. I’m tingling inside at what beholds me for my time there, but I’m not wanting to jump ahead. Rather, I am trying to still myself so I can go in open minded.
My backpack and pack are packed, ready to slide on my back and front before I jump on the train back to Chaumont. Now, I enjoy this space in this house and listen to the Notre-Dame church bells ring on the quarter hour.
Is this your first time reading these postcards?
You can catch up on previous postcards that have followed my travels from Australia to Joinville via Brighton UK, Brussels, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Paris and Dijon. Start with this one:
Joinville, France
Our trip to Joinville was long but not because of the distance. To get here from Dijon, we had to change trains twice. The first stop was Culmont-Chalindrey. We had about an hour and a half there. I had imagined that we would find a cafe and hang out. Unfortunately, the town had that feeling that I know well from my travels in rural Australia. A town on the brink of death. In 2022, the census showed that there were 527 people living there. The only place (not quite) open for a coffee was a pizza place (there’s a lot of pizza places in Europe). They understood the language of coffee.
When we arrived in Joinville, the rain began. My first rainy days on my trip. It was easy to find our house that was in the old part of the town. A plaque was out the front about how it was one of the oldest houses in the town, built in 1563 (yes, I’m still amazed about that).
As the rain set in, we made a run for a place we’d passed that was open (it was Sunday, and it didn’t seem like much else was). They spoke no English, and with my terrible French, I ordered champagne (from close by) and our dinner. It was potentially the best meal I have had in France.
Joinville has turned out to be much more than I expected. It ticked the box for me to be in a quieter place and still the noise around me. In a month, I’ve been to ten different places and I was tired. A lot of packing and unpacking, so much to see. I didn’t want to do the ‘box-ticking’ thing, but it’s hard when you in amongst it.
Here, I thought there’d be nothing to ‘do’. There wasn’t a heap of information I’d found on the internet (not that I’d done much looking as I thought it was just a little town). But there were wonderful walks. And very, very old places.
Like the one I stayed in (yep, there it is again).
Outside the bathroom window, the spire of the Notre-Dame church looks like I could reach out and touch it. On the quarter hour the bells rang with more accuracy than most other bells I’ve heard on my trip.


There are so many things I loved about this place like the air, connection to nature, the small walkways between buildings, the canals and waterways, the signs around the town explaining what things were in English as well as French and the people. There are so many kind people in the world!









In a break between downpours, we walked to the top of the hill where the castle used to be and some of the ruins remain. It was like being in a Robin Hood set. Many times, J and I have remarked that it feels quite surreal walking through these places.









Some things don’t pause while travelling. Like hair growth. So yesterday I took my terrible English to one of the many hairdressers in town (at last count, I’d found 11 in walking distance which is a lot for a declining population of just under 3000 at last count in 2022). Between Google translate and my level 19 Duolingo French I managed to ask the bemused hairdresser (and man who came in while I was asking) for a trim. She said cash only and I explained I would have to go back to get it. ‘Après,’ she said. Very trusting! For €25 I got the full works. Wash, trim and blow dry bouffant style. Très bon!


The Chateau du Grand Jardin is one of the tourist draw cards of Joinville. It dates back to the 1500s but was renovated in the 1700s with amazing gardens. On our walk there (the long way so we could see more of the town) we accidentally found a washhouse behind the grounds. I say accidentally as it began to rain (again) and I saw a shelter so ran into it. Inside was this amazing washhouse that I later learnt was hundreds of years old (of course) but also feeds the Chateau’s gardens. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the chateau itself as we could only see two rooms and they were bare.









Now, I am in the train on the way to Chaumont. By the time I post it, I most likely will have met the other writers and artists but I’ll hold off talking about that until next week. Which also means you have a whole week’s break from my postcards! I hope you’ve enjoyed them!
One pack on my front and my back and I’m on my way.
My writing
This week, I begin something new. It’s so new that I don’t dare talk about it in case it is frightened away. But, it is influenced by things I have seen along my way.
How about you?
What’s going on in your world? Are you writing, drawing, painting, day dreaming? I’d love to hear what’s going on for you.
Don’t forget about what I’ve got for the writers. All of it for those who wish they wrote more, need more focus for their writing or are looking for more support and/or community. I’d love to have you join.
Effective goal setting masterclass – Mon 4 Aug at 12.30 pm Melb time. It will be interactive and fun
8-week online writing group starting Wed 6 Aug at 7.00 am Melb time out more. Some solid writing time and accountability
I love hearing from you!
Until next time, with a postcard from my first week of my residency!
x M
PSST: if you’re new here, welcome! It’s lovely to have you here. If you haven’t checked out my Welcome post, I’d recommend that to find your way around
I have no idea what this new thing is and I can’t wait to hear about it - when the time is right - of course. I love that you braved a haircut! You’re looking relaxed and adventures - If that’s even a word!