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Published: August 9th 2007
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When in Rome (Paris?)
What better way to spend a Sunday? PARIS - 29th April 2007 (Sunday 28º Sunny)
What a fantastic day!
What does any warm blooded Frenchman do on a fine spring Sunday? Rumour has it he would take a bottle (or two) of Moet & Chandon Champagne to the Park and get sloshed. When in Rome (or Paris) one should do as the Romans do………
Armed with a makeshift esky (which comprised a garbage bag full of ice inside a backpack) we pinched two glasses from the Hotel and headed to Le Jardin du Luxembourg. We found a nice spot in the sun with a reasonable view and set up camp. Me to paint, and Deb to drink & look good and expound on the virtues of French Champagne.
After a few friendly comments from locals we realised that perhaps the strawberries, aged goats cheese and Moet may not have been standard fare in the Park that day, but who cares. This was our vision of Paris and we did it to death.
As we sat (on the path) we watched the Grass Police hunt people off the lawn at regular intervals. They would leave and the people would creep back onto the lawn
Boules in the Park
Let the battle begin. The French love their Pentanque (Boules) and 30 minutes later the Grass Police would return and the whole process would be repeated. It was OK to smoke grass but don’t dare sit on it.
Not far from our picnic site there was a monumental struggle going on to which we were oblivious. This was until I went to the loo* and noticed the Pétanque Rinks that ran for several hundred yards and were swarming with serious looking French Men and Women of all ages shapes and sizes. Pétanque is a form of boules where the goal is to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (jack). The game is normally played on hard dirt or gravel, but can also be played on grass or other surfaces.
There is a saying in Australia about Football. It states that “Football is not a matter of life of death. It is far more important than that!”
Well the French equivalent is Pétanque. The casual form of the game of Pétanque is played by about 17 million people in France (mostly during their summer vacations). They play it with an understated fervour. They smoke continuosly and pace the rink
Boules in the Park
Spectators barely restrain themselves. A pitch invasion looks imminent. like caged lions. They yell encouragment to their team mates and cast dispersions on their opposition. They love it. It is fun to watch the game and you can't help but become enmeshed in the battle not to mention the antics of the eccentrics who play the game.
We leave the Park tired and happy and get rained on (sprinkled) on the way back to La Demeure.
That night the heavens opened and we skipped the puddles on our way to a nearby Restuarnt. It was called Canon on Gobelins and we had some fare that was reasonably French. A dish of veal and pasta for me and entrecote for Deb (with Red wine of course).
*The Loo in the Park - the Men’s urinal is out in the middle of nowhere with no walls or roof, it is as though Pierre the Pisser (readers will remember him from the garden near the Eiffel Tower) designed all the Men’s toilets in keeping with his habits.
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