Carcassone France (Elisse)

This morning in Arles, we saw a Roman theater, a Roman colusseum and an obelisk--all still (or again) in use for their original purpose.  Well, I don't know the original purpose of the obelisk--it is a fountain now.

In Perpignan, we lunched with Dad's friends.  Marie Therese (our hostess) served first, a unique lemon, apple sprite with herbs, also melon balls on toothpicks.  That was just the first course.  The second course was roasted vegetables, salad, and bruschetta.  We thought it was a nice light summer lunch.  And it was delicious at that!!  Not so--there was more:  3rd course came out after a polite amount of talking.  Meatballs on white beans and potatoes.  (Huge meatballs! in mushroom sauce.)  It was delicious!  We began to feel full. 

Then... 4th course of cheese and bread was served.  After that, we all stretched our legs, then decided to take dessert outside in the garden.  But before dessert, we ate our 5th course which was fruit salad topped with cream. 

More talking.  Then, out with the 6th course:  dessert of currant and blackberry tart.  It was a very agreeable way to spend an afternoon!

Well-fed in both spirit and body, we then looked at two local Moor-ish castles.  Then away to Carcassonne where we washed laundry, ate pizza and admired the walled city lighted to show off its charm and beauty.

French Initiative in Montpelier France (Elisse)

[Dad needs to make a call to his friend in Perpignan to explain that we've had congested traffic and will be a little late to our lunch appointment.  So he stops to use the phone at a gas station along the way.]


Dad:  Why won't this telephone take my credit card?  I'll go ask the clerk.

Dad:  Can someone help me make the telephone work?

Clerk:  Hey, manager, can you help this guy make the phone work?

Manager:  Oh, I see the problem--your credit card isn't right.  It has this long magnetic strip on the back and instead, it needs to have a little magnetic square on the end here.

Dad:  Do you have any other phones around here that will take my card?

Manager:  No.  I don't.

Dad:  Do you think there are any other rest stops along this road that will take my card?

Manager:  I don't know.  Maybe.

[Manager walks away.  Dad shakes his head.  Garry suggests we see if they sell a phone card.]

Dad:  Manager, do you sell a card that will work in that phone?

Manager:  Oh yes!  Clerk, help this man.

Dad:  Clerk, do you sell a card that will work in that phone?

Clerk:  Oh yes!  No problem.  Here you go.

[Dad shakes his head at their lack of initiative and makes his phone call.]