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| This home says "Cathy" on it |
It was a long
Sara day yesterday – in the sun all day. We were up late (for us) and without a
doubt dehydrated. Today we will take it
easy, wind down and explore the small town of SMDLM.
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| One mosaic of Sara on the street |
NO matter
how late we stay up it seems we always wake up early. Today is no different. Off
to the patisserie which makes the best quiche for breakfast; they also have
seating and serve a nice, rich coffee. Today we want to walk along the length
of the boardwalk. It spans the town and is not likely to be the mob scene it
was yesterday during the Fete. We intend
to pretend that we are here for the sea, sun and surf not, gipsy’s. Town
already feels emptier, even though today is the Procession of the Sainte
Maries.
SMDLM has a
wonderful, sheltered port for all sorts of small water craft. From the port, if
you have the right kind of boat, one can head up and sail the Rhone River. This
is also where the fishermen bring their daily catch for sale. We walk along the boardwalk, from one end of
town to another, passing the bull ring which sits on the edge of the beach. The
towns EMS is located there, as well as the fire department. almost at the very end
of town, we turn down a side road that looks like it follows the wetlands that
surround SMDLM. We have come across a lane of gypsy trailers camped in the
public parking of the town (they are allowed during the Fete this privilege.)
I don’t care
so much about the gypsy’s caravans but, I am fascinated with the options for contained
cooking and washing modules. There are special small trailers just for the
fridge, kitchen and washer. I want one!!!
As we stroll along, many are breaking camp and will be departing this
evening and tomorrow. The city administrators are keen on getting them out of
town quickly, once the fete is over.
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| The Guard begins the processional for the Maries |
All the homes are painted white here, with colorful shutters all around. We continue
to amble and wander thru scenic neighborhoods at the back side of town – the
Arles side. Time for another noisette, so onward to La Fontana, where we spent our
day yesterday. Café du crem, please. There are no gypsy’s playing here today and it
looks like the café is back to normal. Being a small town, we run into Cathy
and Elena who slept in and are of course, still stalking music. We chat and
compare notes and then part our separate ways until the afternoon. Before we leave the Procession on Saintes Maries passes us by.
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| The Banner Guard |
I have
promised Harvey a nap today. I think I would like one too! We both feel beat up
after the last several days of gypsy stalking, staying up late and sleeping on
a not so comfortable futon. Sometimes, we feel our age and no amount of caffeine
can change our minds (or bodies). One of our new lessons for travel is to
listen to our bodies, not everything must be done all the time. To give Harv an
optimal nappage, I go out in search of un petite time for myself and for a
ceramic Sara to place in a new tile mosaic. I want to replace the one that was
sold with the Sebastian house. Not only find her, I find 2 different versions,
one which she is portrayed very, very black.
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| There they are |
Later in the
evening when I have caught up to Harvey, we stop at a bar near the roundabout
for a glass of wine and Tapas. I spot the waiter from the previous day. Small,
bent over with curly white hair, we had watched him run all day during the Fete
at La Fontana. We buy him a beer. He comes over, introduces himself and sits
with us. We never understood his name, even though he spoke pretty good
English, because his teeth were in his
pocket. Ha. I will remember him as Marcel. It is truly a small world. Marcel
tells us he has lived in SMDLM for 24 years and spends his winters in Chang
Mai, Thailand. Hahahahaha. Thai girlfriend. He states he is only 58! Oh, mother
of god, he looks 90. Harvey and I are horrified. I expected he was in his
seventies, at least. We have a great chat with him until our drinks are gone.
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| Dinner and Laundry on the porch |
Tonight, is
a salad and the rest of the roti chicken; eating the rest of what is left in
the fridge, as we leave tomorrow. We will meet the girls for a drink and desert,
while they eat dinner.
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| This Paella plate is 3 feet wide |
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