FRIDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING 1:30 AM
The party has just broken up. Michel’s parents, Marc and Delphine, and Albert were over for dinner which started with Pastis and ended with me attempting to sing the American anthem followed by their singing the French anthem. Between was an incredible Nante style dinner that Madam Roulliard prepared (traditional foods of Nante) consisting of crayfish, clams, crab and oysters.
Not to mention beaucoup wine. Michel’s parents left to go back to their apartment in Cannes. That’s when the singing really started. Marc and Gilbert led everyone in about 20 different French songs. Vianyette and Bernadette were dancing and in general it was crazy. I feel like I really missed something growing up. Corrine and Delphine have grown up listening and singing these songs. They will do the same with their children. I don’t remember really learning songs as a child. The only memory I have is being told that I couldn’t really sing. The French people I have met can only be describe as being fully alive. They know how unimportant work is and how important the family is. Their life style is very good.
Jackie and I spent the afternoon shopping (?) in Biot this afternoon. She seemed indecisive and couldn’t decide on anything. Finally we drove the back roads back to the house in time for Pastis.
It is really good to see Marc and Delphine again. Marc is quite a character and Delphine has a lot of her father in her. Her English has got quite good and she is not as hesitant as Corrine to use it. I did much better at dinner tonight as opposed to last night. I think I only had one or two Pastis. I could be wrong since I can’t remember the amount of wine I drank. We had white wine with dinner and a St. Emillon with cheese and singing after. It’s now a quarter to two in the morning. Jackie is reading in bed. She wants to got to Italy tomorrow, but I don’t think we will be up a five, ready to go! She hasn’t really been ready to go before 10 or 11 yet. On our first jaunt in France she slept most of the day. I’m not sure what we will do tomorrow (or more accurately today).
10:00AM
We got up at about 8AM this morning. Jackie went down to the pool for some sun and now is in the bath. She wants to go to Italy. I don’t really want to but… I ate breakfast with Michel this morning and Gilbert. They are going to Canne today for a boat show that Marc is working in. I have looked through my guide book trying to find something nearer than Italy that Jackie might consider an “adventure” but I fear the only adventure for her is Italy
I did wake up at 5:00AM!
No, the adventure is not Italy, but it is quite beautiful anyway. We’ve headed north, inland, to the Lac de St. Croix. The drive thought Grasse and into the mountains has been spectacular. We stopped at Castellane where they had a village market. We bought sausage, fromage, fruit and vine, but could not find a pastissere open. Fortunately we did find a baguette in Monstiers so now we’re rounding the lake and looking for a picturesque spot to enjoy our late lunch.
The weather is perfect today – about 82 degrees with a light blue sky and a few scattered clouds.
We found our spot in the shade by the lake on some big rocks. The silence and tranquility were great partners to our wonderfully pleasant lunch. Just as we were finishing our lunch a group of seven German teenagers decided to set up their beach headquarters right in front of us. So much for the tranquility. They brought music, their sailboards, a big umbrella and plenty of conversation. We only stuck around long enough for the two girls to creatively change into their swimsuits.
Driving though the canyon was quite beautiful.
The geology of this part of the French Alps is pushed up sedimentary. At one time it appears that this mountainous region was a large lake or shallow sea. There were several road side stalls selling fossils and a couple of signs relating to the prehistoric finds in the area.
Midway up the canyon walls there were several caves hollowed out from the water. They could have possibly been used by prehistoric man.
Some of the villas or chateaus are set up on the sides of isolated mountain sides. Its hard to imagine living that remotely. They had to have been very self sufficient to have survived like that.
We’ve pulled off the road in St. Vallier next to a park and can watch the locals playing Petanque across the road. Bob is napping in the seat next to me. We’re still quite content from our late lunch and are in no hurry to return for dinner.