Villa Chipewa

 Villa Chipewa, diptych 80x100cm

This beautiful villa is located in Evian. It used to be my grandmother's summer house. Now it is my uncle's. He lives there when he is not enjoying the sun in Miami. It's a gorgeous place with a magnificent view over lake Leman.

It is where I spent some of my summers when I was a child, while my parents ventured the world during the vacation. The house usually woke up late, at around noon. I used to jump out of bed earlier but stayed in my room. I played with my toys in the attic or read cartoons, until I heard my grandmother open her shutters downstairs. Then, I had my breakfast and went out to play with the dogs, four great German Shepherds.

At 15:00pm I ate lunch in the dining room, usually a pizza and some vanilla ice-cream for dessert. Later in the afternoon, I did various activities with my uncle. Sometimes we would visit nearby local ancient roman ruins, expecting to find old relics. We also went to the local municipal swimming pool or enjoyed some company by the lake, at the club Lunica. We did the grocery shopping downtown before sunset.

After my dinner which was composed of fish'n sticks or "foie de veau" with green beans, I usually sat in the green velvet armchair in front of the TV set. I burst into laughter with my grandmother when they played a de Funes movie she was so fond of. It was an easy life. Nothing to worry about. The outside world and its troubles didn't exist. It was the life at Villa Chipewa.

Today the diptych "Villa Chipewa" shines with great pride above the plasma screen in our living room in Aubonne. Each time I look at it, I can feel the calmness and peacefulness I enjoyed at the Villa Chipewa.