Scandal in Van Gogh's Wheat fields

It couldn't be a better time to visit Vincent Van Gogh's final resting place in Auvers sur Oise: Blazing sun and blue skies, the kind of day which the driven painter would have clung to like a glowing talisman.

We are so lucky to have a guide who can claim this pastoral setting as his own childhood stomping grounds - but things change - even if people's attitudes don't.

Van Gogh had it right when he said that people are more important than things - even if those things happen to be paintings - or sculpture. The beauty (or horror) of art is the chemical reaction it creates in those of us who stumble upon it. One might even go so far as to say that no work of art really is complete until the viewer and the work have made a connection.

Our friend and 'trusty guide' led us along the dirt path to the fields where Van Gogh painted his famous scene of blackbirds. At the crossroads, we came upon this bizarre sailing craft. The craft, piloted by a headless sailor carries an overexposed woman (who has been modestly draped with the craft's flag - so as not to shock more sensitive souls).

From behind us came outcries of 'Scandalous!!!'. Two women and a man approached with their hunting dog leading the chase.
"I had to come up here to see this for myself," said one outraged women.
The two women approached gingerly. The dog barked at the immobile ship with the headless oarsman.

"Look, someone has taken the flag to cover the woman!" says the second woman.
They retreat from the accident scene. Then the man approaches after the two women have walked onward. He ever so gently lifts the blue sheet, and casts a glance upon the female occupant of the sailing ship. A dead calm, in an ocean of a wheat.

I think Van Gogh would have understood.

Meanwhile, we stop to pay respects at Vincent and his brother Theo's gravesites and we meet a lovely group of visitors from South Korea - and, of course, South Korea is the #1 Country in the world - this is what I shout to them. Yes, that's true!!! Where else would you find so many beautiful smiling faces? Oh, Vincent, if only you were here!