I've been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Kara at Scattered Joy. Thank you Kara. But today, (or whatever day you read this) we should all give thanks to Kara because my seven secrets are going to be seven things that you need to know if you ever find yourself in Le Petit Village for an extended period of time, which could totally happen, because you never know. You know?
1. You must have a stocked refrigerator. The little local épicerie is only open from 8am until noon and closed altogether on Wednesdays. Plus, there isn't anything good in there anyway. And don't count on Le Petit Bar serving you food... that is completely on the whim of The Parisian. Case in point... Saturday afternoon, I headed over to read my book and have a beer in the sun (I'm reading Pillars of the Earth
if you're interested). It was a little after 1pm and a couple of tourists approached. I bonjoured them as they walked into the bar looking for lunch (see, Le Petit Bar, is actually a restaurant). They were turned away and told that lunch was not being served. That would have been kind of fine if The Parisian, his mother, sister and Mrs Parisian weren't all sitting there dining themselves. Oh well, another customer lost, way to go Le Petit Bar. No gold star for you. So basically what I'm saying is, if you have an empty fridge and are hungry, you're S.O.L.
2. Get yourself some Wifi (or weefee en français). Trust me on this one.
4. Learn French, or befriend the local English speaker (that would be me). Knowing French will enable you to yell at The Parisian when he tells you that he has run out of Heineken, Rosé, or Coke (I am not joking... homeboy has actually run out of all three of these at one time or another, and we can add Leffe, Whiskey and white wine to that list as well).
5. You must be able to entertain yourself. See numbers 2, and 3 above. And number 4 does turn into a bit of a hobby (albeit a boring, frustrating one). So actually, see numbers 2 - 4 above.
6. Develop a tolerance for high winds. The Mistral has been shaking my house for the past 24 hours. It's like the big bad wolf is parked outside and every time I bring Fifty for a walk in this, I'm scared he's going to get swept up and fly away (although watching Fifty fly would help with number 5).
7. Make sure to bring your camera, you don't want to miss any of this:
Glorious, isn't it?
And a bonus: if you see a Nazi Ghost Zombie, run (this probably should have been number 1).
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Do you have any versatile thoughts?
bisou
Actually, chasing Nazi Ghost Zombies in a high Mistral wind sounds rather entertaining. I'll be right over!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHahaha I love this!! I found so much of France to be just like this. It's such a beautiful place though! Wow!
ReplyDeleteSara your stories about Le Petit Village always make me pine for France! I do imagine certain Bar staff who can't be relied upon for food would become a bit annoying... but those pictures totally make up for it, no?
ReplyDelete<3 <3 MuffinLovesBiscuit
Le Mistral is actually INSANE! It is so bitter bitter cold!
ReplyDeleteAwww! Thanks so much, my dear Sara Louise! I think I shall have to claim the award for tomorrow after one of my umpteen end-of-semester meetings tomorrow. In the meantime I shall have to come up with my own seven things. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it lady, the five years I spent in small-town France just about drove me crazy. Give me grocery stores open until 9pm (and now sometimes on Sundays!) any day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sara! You know, you should open a restaurant, you'd make a killing. Not like you'd have too much competition. Don't forget to work in the Nazi zombie angle, that is a huge tourist drawcard.
ReplyDelete"should have been number one".....YA THINK!?! The NGZ could have got one while one was chuckling over another wonderful post by you.
ReplyDeleteLove your 7 secrets!!
ReplyDeleteHaha I love that the épicerie is only open for four hours! I should make "Being a French grocer" my back-up job. Those beautiful lavender fields don't hurt either... sigh. Sigh sigh sigh.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the award, and love reading your secrets:-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos....love the lavender fields.
ReplyDeleteMy big burly firefighter husband calls wi-fi "wee-fee" ever since our trip to Europe last fall. I think he forgot that it's not called that over here....it's cute so I don't correct him.
It sounds like one might be able to lose a few lbs. living in le petit as food and booze are scarce. This would be an ideal diet for me :)
I wanna see a nazi ghost zombie! Thanks for passing the award on to me. Do I list seven secrets about myself?
ReplyDeleteLove the list but the photos with your last one are the very best... le sigh
ReplyDeleteYou would be great and quite successful with a restaurant even if you only had bologna and pimiento cheese sandwiches due to #s 2-4 on your list. However, one imagines that the "rouge tape" would be quite a mess with many French government hoops to actually get in business. Well, then you could write about it and help with #5 on your list - hah!
Love your stories, my dear!
Bises,
Genie
Yes, learning the language is very important for defending yourself. Love that you yell at the Parisian when he doesn't restock. Maybe he should let you take over sometimes. That would take care of #5 AND I'll bet tourists would be ever-charmed by the Franco-Texan serving them lunch! xo
ReplyDeleteGreat list - love the honesty! The French are a law unto themselves, but somehow that adds to the attraction. (Mostly.)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this list - I laughed so many times, but can definitely imagine that learning the language might just be a necessity ;)
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are absolutely stunning. Le sigh, you are fueling my desire to visit France with each and every post!
These kind of post about le petit village never fail to make me laugh. If fifty does start flying, or you see a nazi ghost zombie! LET ME KNOW!
ReplyDeletexxx
congrats on the award! these are always fun to read :)
ReplyDeleteI swear...After seeing these photos I really am just going to show up on your doorstep. With A New York Times, Starbuck's, and now Heineken (just in case.)
ReplyDeleteI have to visit Le Petit Village and of course YOU!
ReplyDeleteI love your post and I love your village.
Bisou, Babi
Again you have me chuckling aloud. Love the homeboy reference and the image of poor Fifty possible airborne. I still am curious how Fifty got his name. Gosh, it would seem France would be THE place where food and wine are aplenty all times of day or night. Have a wonderful day ~ xox Alexandra
ReplyDeleteAh, you're too funny! :)
ReplyDeleteBut I really can imagine now how your life is in le petit village. Thanks for sharing!!
May I ask where you took the last picture? It looks sooo great.
I've been to the Provence some years ago and it was one of the most beautiful holidays I've ever had. If it wasn't for speaking French, I would be back in a hurry. ;-)
XO, happy week!!
The first and last picture are absolutely beautiful. You make it difficult to NOT plan a trip to "Le Petite Village!"
ReplyDeleteAgreed! The Nazi Ghost Zombi should have been number 1! That would most definitely freak me out...a definite need to know!
ReplyDeleteMistral winds reminds of my favourite movie - Chocolat. And those fields of lavender are heavenly. I can just imagine the scent!
ReplyDeleteI love this post...how cute! Is your first picture from near your little village?
ReplyDeleteRemember when I asked you if you wanted to trade lives?
ReplyDeleteAfter this post, I take that back.
I would die without food, and I rarely have a fully stock fridge because Mr. A eats everything.
I have no patience.
Foreign languages and I don't seem to get along. I have been learning Spanish for over 10 years and am still not fluent.
I'm a tiny person, and high winds tend to sweep me away.
But I do always have my camera with me. So there's that.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
For any who was wondering about the photos... the lavender field photo was taken outside Saint Michel l'Observatoire and the other photos are of Le Petit Village. BISOUS TOUT LE MONDE!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun list & wonderful photos! I read Pillars of the Earth - I really enjoyed it. I think the BBC has turned it into a series? I can't look at a church the same way
ReplyDeleteah, the field of lavender is fantastique!
ReplyDeleteas for the weefee - where does one find theese in le petit village?
Thanks for commenting on my post! I used to have a beautiful blue Jeep Grand Cherokee, too!! I loved her but alas she was old and conked out on me the summer before college. I'm always a Jeep girl at heart! Haha.
ReplyDeleteTake care!
Amanda
Those pictures totally make up for any lack of weefee and an actual convenient convenience store.
ReplyDeleteHow is Pillars of the Earth in book form? We watched the miniseries which was pretty good, but I imagine the book is much better as usual.
ha ha, this is awesome! :D
ReplyDeleteWe are going to Toulon, France -- in a month, for a month-- I need some packing advice -- I am thinking the dresscode will be different than Moscow, you know, like I can leave the fishnets and 5 inch heels here?
ReplyDelete