Happy Easter--April 12

While some did, others of you did not get to see the pictures from the last blog. So, here goes again.

Happy Easter from Marseille,

Since our last blog, we had a wonderful visit (although the weather was not always wonderful) with Nancy and Lou Waltman. In spite of the less-than-perfect weather, we had a great time together, mostly spent walking (lots and lots of it), visiting the sites and shopping the streets of Marseille, and of course trying many kinds of wine. One evening we ate at Etiene’s Pizza, a famous place that Lou found on the web (see pic), while one rainy afternoon, we kicked back, drank some wine and watched the movie Australia.

Last weekend was rare in that we had two sunny, gorgeous days. We spent Saturday in Toulon, France’s largest naval port on the Mediterranean Sea, about an hour’s train ride from Marseille (see pics). On Sunday we took a 20 minute train ride to Cassis where were invited for déjeuner (lunch) at the home of our French science hosts, Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel. We had our first true French déjeuner—which had 6 or 7 courses—we lost count. We then went on a hike to their secret cave and then took a car ride up the mountain next to Cassis. The cliff on the seaside of the mountain is the second highest in France and presented some spectacular views (see pics).

Kathy's sister has a theory--no toilet in France works the same as another one. Each is unique and so fixing them can't be easy. It’s no different in our apt. We have 3 bathrooms, each toilet different. The one in our guest room has a motor on it, makes a giant sucking sound when flushed. We always have to warn our guests as they may be frightened of being sucked into it. Two weeks ago, the last of 3 couples visiting in March left for a day trip. We took them to the bus, stopped at the grocery store, and when we got home less than 2 hrs later, our apt stairs was full of people running around, telling us (we thought as no one spoke English) we had a water leak in our apt. Inside we found the guest room toilet running over. Three men were in another bathroom trying to turn off the main water valve to the apartment but they could not turn it off. The valve is old and no longer turns. Kathy was bailing the toilet out, Garry got the water to that toilet turned off. Water was 2 inches deep on the bath floor, water was standing in the bedroom, and the in room next to it. The guy who lives below us, he doesn't like us anyway but that’s a long story and not our fault, was telling Kathy that she should never go away and not turn off the water! he speaks English. Kathy was telling him, "get real, we were gone for 2 hrs." The Fire dept. was called, the "pumpers", who surprisingly are not on strike that day arrived but also spoke little English.

Thankfully, no one could get that main water valve off or we would have no bathrooms to use for now--14 days and counting. Our guests could still use the shower and sink and we have 2 more toilets. Getting this repaired has been a lesson in French culture. We reported the problem to the owners who live in the US. They called plumber #1. Plumber #1 is "closed" and no info on if he will reopen, or is out of business, or went to lunch. Next, they call plumber #2 who contacts us for an appt. Nothing happens in France without "an appt". Not a lot happens with one either.

3 days after it broke, the plumber came. Of course, he did not fix it. He "evaluated" so the he could eventually make an estimate. Since we don't speak French, Garry had written out our toilet's history and then translated it on paper. The plumber was very polite, introduced himself, shoot hands, read the history, noded his head and says, "oui, oui", spent maybe 2 min with the toilet, then shoot his head. The problem was the motor on it, it was burned out. Probably it was super old--like everything. He was a cute plumber who knew we don't speak French but he insisted on explaining all this to us and said it all so nicely. We couldn't understand, so Kathy called some people to translate. The plumber told our translator (friends of the owners who handle these things) the problem. The translators then told us about the French way to fix a toilet. There are "several steps needed in the process". 1st, you need an appt. to determine the cause, then a visit to diagnose the problem and estimate the repair, then the owners must "approve the estimate,” then the plumber will make another appt. Then, he will come and fix it, hopefully. Very French, very slow, very frustrating—one part of French life we will NOT miss.

We have had past toilet experience in the US—the plumber returned the call right away, came and fixed it. He didn't need several visits, each of which would cost, didn't need multiple appointments—we just had to be there when they came, but they weren't always so polite or cute—but they sure were fast!

Not long until we return; so, not many more blogs for you to suffer through.

Wishing all of you the very best,

Kathy and Garry

---

---