A few notes on 'unusual things' and an enjoyable trip to ancient walled cities
In the grocery stores there is sugar named "Daddy"
A SUNDAY DRIVE
Recently we were invited on a drive and picnic. Myself, Christine and Jonathan were picked up at the Cha
teau by friends Sonia and John. The day was spent exploring ancient midieval walled cities in the mountains and hills north of Albi around St Antonin-val. Some castles were more in ruins than others. But in all the useable buildings modern-day people are still living and proudly making them their homes. We picnic'd on the side of the Aveyron river and watched the kayak-ers and canoers float by.
Innovative use of a small discarded microwave oven - it's now a mailbox!
A castle precariously clinging to the top of a hill
A hamlet across the valley
There are new and different things everywhere when you are in a foreign country.
Like here in France when you are introduced to someone or if you come upon a previously introduced friend, you are expected to kiss them on both cheeks - at the same time they are kissing you on both cheeks. It felt a little awkward at first but before long it just became the 'proper thing to do'.
People from different countries, even though they speak English, can have a different way of saying things. Like the English ladies I know, instead of saying the time is "two thirty", they say "half-two" (pronounced 'hof tew').
You wouldn't think anyone would rearrange the letters on a typing keyboard but they're different in France. Among other things, their 'A' is where our 'Q' is, their 'W' is where our 'Z' is and if you want to type numbers you have to shift to upper case. So any speed I've managed to build up on our standard QWERTY keyboard is lost to all the corrections I have to go back and make.
Men carry purses here. Not the fancy flashy fashion purses that women carry - they are more like a smaller version of a briefcase. Personally, I think the 'man-purse' is a good idea.
Yes there are McDonalds here in the larger cities. However, have you ever seen chocolate pudding, orange muffins, a slice of fresh pineapple or McCrisp (something that looks like a pile of chocolate covered corn flakes) on the dessert menu? French McDonalds have it. Besides the regular French Fries they have 'delux fries' which are potato wedges.
In the grocery stores there is sugar named "Daddy"
and there are vacuum cleaners named "Henry"
A SUNDAY DRIVE
Recently we were invited on a drive and picnic. Myself, Christine and Jonathan were picked up at the Cha
teau by friends Sonia and John. The day was spent exploring ancient midieval walled cities in the mountains and hills north of Albi around St Antonin-val. Some castles were more in ruins than others. But in all the useable buildings modern-day people are still living and proudly making them their homes. We picnic'd on the side of the Aveyron river and watched the kayak-ers and canoers float by.
Innovative use of a small discarded microwave oven - it's now a mailbox!
A castle precariously clinging to the top of a hill
A hamlet across the valley
No doubt this same hamlet was viewed centries ago by those living in the castle's walled city and looked much the same as it does today.
Festivities at the nearby town, lots of goodies and a welcome chance to rest at an outdoor cafe.
MOVING ON
Christine left for Berlin on July 15 to attend 'LadyFest' on her own. I said goodbye to all at the Chateau on July 16 to go to a retreat community in the mid-Pyrenees near Carassonne. And Jonathan left the Chateau on July 20 to meet up with Christine in Paris.
So we are all traveling once again. Christine and Jonathan plan to go on to Ireland. My plans will take me to Brittany next, and then on to Belgium.
I'll keep you posted!
