Election Day. We have vowed no TV today as even the French are now having almost non-stop coverage. Tonight they have Dan Rather coverage all night!!! There is great interest in this election and the world seems to holding it's breath to see what the Americans do this time.
I was in the process of ordering plans for an Ark when the sun broke through. Decided to postpone that order. Off to the Park Kennedy bus stop to catch the #104 St. Raphael/ St Tropez bus to St. Algay and their market. Waiting for the bus we met a very nice man and he started the conversation. He is French, but anxious to get back to California, though he did not say how many years he has been away. He had retired 10 years ago from UTA (now part of Air France) as a flight engineer. We had a nice chat about "how it used to be" in the airline business and how it had changed all over the world. We both got off at the same stop and he was off to visit his friend and we to the market.
Last week this had been a huge market as we passed in the bus. This week it was about a third the size. As usual in France, there were dogs helping to owners to sell their wares. Did not take long to do the market and as St. Algay is a rather new town there was no old town to explore, so we headed to the sea.
The sea was mad today. There is a small path/sidewalk along the edge of the water, so we headed off to the west. Crossing some of the little indentations we got a little wet. Ultimately we had to turn around and retrace our steps as we came to a point that to continue meant getting in the water. On the return trip we met a Frenchman and exchanged "Bonjours". He later stopped as he passed us on the way back and we talked in broken English and French for awhile. We pretty much agreed that all politicians in any country were after the money. He was concerned that we where in St. Algay and not voting in such an important election. We assured him that we had voted by mail and he seemed to be relieved. I did not mention that I was a "disenfranchised" voter. Later we saw him in town and as we walked on down the street he hurried after us to introduce his family to us and we had a nice visit. His son spoke english well. It is amazing how friendly people really are.
Our intent to walk at least part of the way home was ended as the dark colds started to roll in, so we stopped in a Brasserie and had coffee and a beer and caught the bus back home.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page. --Saint Augustine
