Today ย was the appointed time to drive from Uzรจs to the nearby town of Nimes to find the French market bites my friend Geoffrey raved about. He drove his well-worn Citroen and, along the way, he gave me French driving tips since I was to drive back. Our primary purpose was to visit the indoor market and have lunch at one of Geoffreyโs favorite cafes.ย
We arrived at the indoor marketplace at the center of Nimes. The market is attached to a multi-level, modern shopping mall and parking garage. The area surrounding the shopping complex looks a lot like many other commercial downtown areas worldwide, with busy, narrow streets.
Aux Plaisirs des Halles reminded me of the City Market in Cleveland or other huge marketplaces where vendors have permanent stalls for their food items. (Sorry, no pictures. I was too busy buying the cheese and sausages shown in the photos.
The market was closing since it was close to noon, so we stopped off for a quick flute of champagne at one bar, then onto dejeuner at Le Patio Littre.
The afternoon’s chatter and stories from Geoffrey are in my head, waiting to be spilled into another day’s blog.
Before we go on โฆ
There’s an old song with the lyrics, “It’s a fine friendship, but no romance.” Or something like that. Maybe I’m making it up because Google’s never heard of it.
Whenever I say I’ve met a new male friend, my good buddies who read the blog get the idea that it must be a budding romance. This 6-week adventure to France and Spain is not intended to be a take-off on “Eat, Pray, Love.” ย There’s been plenty of eating … and more to come. There’s been very little praying… although that’s bound to change tomorrow when I get out on the highway for the first time. And love? As trite as it sounds, I hope to learn to love myself.
There’s a quote in Kathryn Stockett’s book and movie, “The Help” that I want badly to internalize: “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.โ On this journey where I know no one, I don’t speak the language, and …I have a terrible sense of direction, I’m learning more and more to like myself.ย
Geoffrey is happily engaged to our friend, Nandine.
