July 25, 2006

  • La journée d ' un touriste .
    A day of a tourist .


    English version below the French texts



    Amphitheater of Arles ( Provence ) Photo Janine Fauquet June 2006


        Oui c ' est bien moi ce vaillant et fier touriste parti à l ' assaut des arènes d ' Arles en Provence ,  " tôt " le matin sous un soleil éclatant !


        Yes it ' s me , of course , this valiant and proud tourist being assaulting the amphitheater of Arles in Provence , " early " in the morning under a bursting sun !



    Dans les corridors des arènes ( amhitheater ) Photo J . Fauquet June 2006


        Déjà fatigué par la chaleur le brave touriste apprecie la fraîcheur des corridors et des escaliers des arènes .


       Already tired by the heat the brave tourist enjoys the feshness of the corridors and stairs cases of the amphitheater .



    Assis sur le trottoir .  sat on the sidewalk                 Photo Janine Fauquet June 2006


       Finalement il devient complètement épuisé et s ' effondre sur le trottoir . Il sent l ' appel de la mer non loin .
      Finally he becomes completely exhausted and collapses on the sidewalk . He feels the appeal of the sea no far



    Douce et bleue Méditerrannée . Sweet and blue Mediterranean sea  Photo J Fauquet June 2006


       Traversant la Camague , attiré par la mer , il arriva à un petite station appelée " Les Saintes Maries de la mer " et prit un petit bain de pied dans la mer Méditerrannée .. L ' eau était si chaude qu 'il eut envie de prendre un bain mais hélas il n ' avait pas pris son maillot ! Que faire d ' autre ?


      Driving over the Camargue , attracted by the sea , he hit a small resort called " Les Saintes Maries de la Mer " and dipped his feet in the Mediterranean sea . The water was so warm than he needed to take a true bath but he had forgotten his bath suit ; What else to do ?



    Sieste     nap     Photo J. Fauquet June 2006


     Après quoi une courte sieste apparut comme une nécessité  ! sur la roche !
     Afterward a short nap appears like being a necessity ! on the rock !



    Aperitif time before supper  Aperitif avant le souper Photo J Fauquet 2006


         Y-a - t - il quelque chose de plus extatique que de se noyer dans un pastis à l ' ancienne bien frais ?. Et en plus vous contempler dans son pot la bouteille du vin des Baux de Provence que vous boirez en mangeant . O délices ! l ' homme devient regallardi ..


        Is there someting more ecstatic than to drown  oneself in a glass of well refreshed aniseed aperitif called old fashioned Pastis of Provence  ? And doing this you are  looking at  the bottle of wine of the Baux of Provence that you will drink during  the meal . Oh ! delight ! The man  becomes restored .



    At the door of the night : beer , armchair ,paper and cicada songs .
    Aux portes de la nuit ; fauteuil ,bière , journal au chant des cigales  J Fauquet06


     Et quel autre délice apaisant  plus tard dans la nuit commençante que de deguster une bière , asis dans un bon fauteuil en lisant le journal tout en écoutant le chant des cigales


     And here is another apeasing revel  later in the beginning of the dark  night  : enjoying a beer sit in an armchair in reading the paper with in the background the cicada songs .


        C ' était une journée de vacances , toute simple .


        It was an quite simple holiday day .

Comments (87)

  • Ta photo de l'arène en Arles me donne de bonnes souvenirs de ma visite à cette ville historique, il y a 7 ans... et j'aimerais gouter un pastis encore une fois aussi.  (Est-ce qu'on a choisi le 45 ou le 51?)

    amitiés,

    Mike

  • Maybe simple but it looks like a wonderful holiday day to me. Perfect in fact!

  • Thank you for letting us see the holiday.

  • J'aimerais tellement voir l'océan! J'pourrais aller aux Maritimes, mais ça prend 3-4 jours à conduire de Toronto. J'aimerais aussi gouter un pastis... j'me demande si c'est disponible au Canada... à la recherche!

  • Looks like a holiday I would like to have someday!!

  • HAHAHA!  A funny story of how much we melt in heat and are restored by liquids, especially water!  As for the Mediterranean being warm, I like it when the water is cool: so much more refreshing!  These are lovely pics of a lovely trip.  Thank you for sharing!

  • I love the pictures. It looks like you had a greta time. I have never been to the Mediterranean sea. You looked rested drinking the beer.

  • van Gogh, il a coupe son oreille a Arles?

  • Janine did a great job capturing you on your holiday! I only wish I could vacation in France. That would be divine.

  • You had a cicada IN the hotel??  Poor joke on my part.

    This entry shows the wonderful sense of humor you have, Michel.  I know I would have felt the same as you in the heat.  Did Janine take all the pictures, or did you take some of Janine, too?

    If it was so hot, I would have ventured further into the sea to cool off, even if my clothes did get wet.

  • a nap on the rocks!   what a lovely day!

  • lovely lovely, you look so relaxed, the aniseed drink refreshing.  What a wonderful way to show the very full day of the tourist!!!!!  lovely photos.  -g

  • Pourquoi vous êtes seuls dans toutes ces photos ? Je devine le photographe, J. Fauquet, est votre femme jolie, douce. Quelqu'un ne pourrait pas avoir pris quelques photographies de duo ?

  • Sounds wonderful as usual.

    Lovely. :)

  • un petit pastis???hmmm.....

    Mimi

  • Can I marry you in our next lifetimes? Hehe.

  • So I dipped my toe in Galway Bay but you got to dip your toe in the Med I am sure it was alot warmer than the water in the Bay. Your apprietiff ( hope I spelt that right ) look just the thing to have after a hard day as the holiday maker . How is your garden liking this heat ?

  • Hi Michel:  Very nice your holiday story with picture's to enjoy.  Love the one of the sea makes me want to get into my car and drive to the beach.  I love the pic of you sitting at the table an outside table we don't have them here but it would be nice to sit outside and enjoy nature, I guess one can do so at home in their yard but it would be nice to enjoy a meal sitting at such a table.  Shirley

  • How fun! Lovely, lovely pictures.

  • Simply inspiring!!!!!

  • Delightful!

  • Oh but you had a good time and exercise... then it is nice to rest a while.
    A wonderful holiday!!

    Rosemary

  • Ohhh you're such a sweetie the way you write, Michel! That was a great idea to have photos of yourself at different stages enjoying the holiday. The picture I like best is of you sitting on the pavement. Such a good idea!! Obviously you and Janine had a wonderful time.

  • LOL...you and Janine must have had a great time!!! It sure looks like it to me.......How beautiful....Thank you for the pictures...I will never get there but I can dream now through your pictures!

    God bless you and Janine!!!!(((HUGS to you both)))

  • Oh, the cicadas, I loved the sound as a child. Now I can't hear them.!

    I just loved your comment. You are so clever!!!!!

  • Looks like you really enjoyed yourself! I would like to spend a day like that too!

  • Ahhh....I am glad that the "tourist" enjoyed himself so well!  It was a marvelous holiday for you...yes?  YES! - Rachel

  • Of course, my favorite is the photo of you on the beach. I wish the waters here were warm. But, I dont mind the cold Pacific Ocean. It sure beats the hot Arizona sun!

    Welcome home!

  • quelle place spectaculaire.  je te envie. 

  • Be careful in that heat Michel - we expect the weather to break today in the NW of England.

    Great blog - you have great times travelling.

  • Wonderful vacation. You really know how to enjoy yourself.

  • I loved looking at your pictures again a second time. Yes, I have studied the cathedral of Amiens and hope to get to see it. We are leaving for Paris on Friday! I am so excited!

    RYC: Yes, I drive the Porsche and the Mustang. My son is in the photo driving the motorcycle. He just got it. You cannot tell by the photo but he was paralyzed in an accident (actually, you can see his wheelchair in the back of the motorcycle.) It is called a trike because it was especially made for him and has 3 wheels. I am so afraid he will fall off. But he always looks for the next thrill and wants to have a "normal" life.

    I look forward to your next posting.

  • Hello Michel:  Yes, the bat is dead.  Ginx caught it one morning  while I was taking her for her walk.  The painter wasn't all lucky with his first born daughter, she does have some health issues.  The mother didn't use the heavy drugs like he did though she did use drugs so that did save the little girl some major health issues.  It has taken me some time to get use to the paintings on the buildings some are small and not bad while others are too much but then I like the clean look without the paintings but one can get use to it I guess.  When he comes back to town I am going to ask him if he will do a 11x14 painting of me and my 2 kids I would love to have one done.  Shirley

  • Have a great time touring! (If you plan to do more). I love aperitifs, especially with this heat!

  • Nice reportage of a vacation day.

    It is not amazing how some stone stay fresh  in the very hot sun of the provence? (Michel on the rocks)

    Is the Pastis of the provence a different one of the normal pastis?

    La siesta is a wonderful thing to do. It is a pity that modern life killed the siesta habit in a lot of places. It is very difficult to take a siesta at the office.

    I thought that in the french coast taking a bad naked was allowed. I saw a lot of naked in Ramatuelle long yers ago.

  • Ah..mon ami.  You live such a tough, hard life!  I'm so glad that you enjoyed yourself and took me a long with you on this photo journey!  I know I want to thank Janine for taking those pictures.  I see you had her "working" while you were relaxing...

    Love to both of you.

    Fran

  •   Love the shot of you sitting on the sidewalk.  What a fun blog! 

  • these pictures are just great~!  You look like you're having a wonderful time.

  • What great pictures!  The sea looks beautiful.  I especially like the cafe picture -- so quaint. 

  • Ah yes, you are right, my friend!  I need photos!  I will try to work on that.  Seriously, once I get "into the groove" of putting more photos on here, I may overwhelm you with them!  I need to emulate your style, many (just the right amount, not too many) excellent photos.

    Even this morning I thought of some -- the "pail" (bucket) with our blackberries in it, then the "still life" of my blackberries and whipped cream, then a photo of the "blackberry milk shake," etc.

    I will definitely work on this, so "watch this space" for more photos on my site!

  • You look very surprised in that first picture and very relaxed in the last.  It looks like a wonderful time!

  • " The Day in The Life Of A Tourist " Very clever arrangement Michel, aided of course by a fine photographer Oh ! I'd love to have my feet in he sea right now. It's still sweltering hot here. Ten days before I go away to the beloved Isle Of Man. Then I too will go paddling. Marie

  • RYC: A chemical plant is a factory where they make chemicals. In my case, it is a factory where they produce tons of petroleum products. My job there is going to be making sure that the quality of the product meets the requirements. I don't know yet if I want to work in a place that could possibly explode.

  • Oooohhh, Arlèes et Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer... que de doux souvenirs montent à mon coeur du passé (mais il y a aussi le souvenir d'un lot de moustiques, a Les Saintes Maries!).
    Merci à Janine pour avoir enregistré les instants de ta journée vacancière, et merci aussi à toi pour les avoir partagés avec nous. Je voudrais moi aussi avoir les pieds dans la Méditerranée... mais probablement on n'aura pas de vacances marines, cette année. C'est dommage, je n'avais jamais pensé de devoir un jour manquer mes vacances dans la mer. Ce sera pour la prochaine fois, j'espère - si nous ne serons pas encore trop vieux.
    J'espère qu'il ne fasse pas trop chaud chez toi. Ici on en meurt!
    Ciao.

  • A totally relaxing and heartwarming day

  • my prof once gave us a lil bit of pastis... but i dint like it at all.. hahahaa

  • I like your phrase, "at the door of the night", although I think perhaps you meant it differently than I read it.

    Looks like you were broiling yourself on the rock!  : )

  • Michel, Glad to see you on my site. If you read the whole series of articles on weight you would have seen I discussed expectations of men to be muscular and slim that are unreal. Of course they feel bad when they can't get rid of thier bellies but this particular article was about women and where there creativity center lies.
    The whole of the Universe comes through women men included. I also was talking in this article about belly dancing and that is mostly a women's sport. Very few men have eating disorders. Research suggests that about one percent (1%) of female adolescents have anorexia. Research suggests that about four percent (4%), or four out of one hundred, college-aged women have bulimia. About 50% of people who have been anorexic develop bulimia or bulimic patterns. Only about 10% of people with anorexia and bulimia are male.  But it does not mean men who are over weight or obsese do not suffer. I know they do. Judi

  • you look so happy and relaxed!! glad you enjoyed your holiday!

  • I just stopped by to take a look at the blogs that I missed.  How wonderful to be able to travel the photos make it great for the rest of us who do not get to see the parts of the world that you see.  Nimes bridge got me singing "sur la pont" this morning.-g

  • Hi, Michael!

    You mentioned your wife crochets?  What sorts of things does she make?  Does she do anything else crafty?

    Besides posting lots of pictures along with writing on xanga...do you have any hobbies, or specialties?

    Does your wife have a xanga website? 

    Please forgive me for asking so many questions.  You just have my curiousity, that's all! (smile)

    I am glad you are enjoying my photos, as well.  Have a great day!  God Bless.

    ~Kim~

  • how grand - the day sounds wonderful!

    i'd like to try that aniseed drink! i've not heard of it before :)

  • Dear Michel,

    Thank you for your wonderful offer to meet at the cathedral in Amiens! It would be the highlight of my trip I'm sure! I am ashamed to say I speak no French at all. None. I am happy and grateful that the French people are so smart and helpful and all we encountered spoke English, so we are very excited to explore more of Paris this time, knowing we can get around the city and ask for help if needed. You write English amazingly, I never would have thought you don't speak it. I told StW that I was going to take a French class this Fall, as it appears we both love France enough to keep going back. As you have seen, we have quite a busy itinerary scheduled. Can you tell me how far Amiens is from Paris? StW seems to think it is too far for a day trip. Do you agree? Anyway, how about this? I will email you from Paris as soon as I know which day we will be going to Amiens (I really hope to go) and then if it works out that you can come, you can email back and let me know what time. I would love to meet you, even if communication consists only of "bonjour" and smiles. We leave for Paris tomorrow.

    ~Christine

  • that was a wonderful day to spend with you. thank you for taking us all along!

  • Beautiful pictorial! What a wonderful holiday. ryc: I get most of the jokes and funny stories from my friend in Colorado! Love to you.

  • concernant ton commentaire dans mon site:  tu as raison, Michel.    je ne m'occupe pas de ton franchise.  en fait, je suis réellement reconnaissant pour ton commentaire.  merci beaucoup. 

  • What a full and wonderful day, Michel! 

  • I saw the word Arles and instantly Van Gogh came to my mind.   I have seen reproductions of paintings he did while there,    and had an idea it was a sunny clime.

    I remember in my drinking days I used to enjoy sips of Anisette,  a calming, peaceful    sort of drink.

    RYC
    Yes,  you said right,  my grandson-in-law goes to where the horses are stabled to do his work.   Many miles per week.    Thanks for your comment.

  • hello michel! it looks like you had a fantastic time! i hope that you have not been suffering in such heat like we've had in the UK recently!

  • I love it. The picture with the wine is the absolute best. :D

  • You look very much relaxed and enjoying your vacation in these pictures, Michel, in spite of some tougher walking! I'm pleased to see you had a chance to visit all these wonderful places!

    Wendy is well, she just hasn't been in Xanga much recently. I will give her your regards.

    Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!

  • If all of those wonderful treats happened in one day....a sensational day indeed.

  • Bonjour, Michel!

    I am sorry that I have not made it in here as of late. I've lost a bit of passion for Xanga for the moment. I'm waiting for the fire to return! I have not forgotten you, though. You still remain my favorite Xangan.

    These pictures are tres magnifique. I have always wanted to go that Amphitheatre ever since studying about it in French class. Your holiday has succeeded in making me quite jealous, as I want to see all of these places one day. To see that sea and to be in that city would be a dream. You are looking great in the photos. You also look as though you've lost a bit of weight.

    I hope my comment finds you well. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! God bless.

  • Great pictures! I feel like I'm on vacation with you.

  • It's amazing that those ancient Roman structures are still intact. Being a tourist is hard work but I agree that wine is an excellent cure!

  • wow!! you have a great time going out hehe!!

    Enjoy your trip with your beautiful wife!!

  • So nice to see you again.  How was your vacation?

  • A great holiday! Thank you for the pictures and your refreshing comments. I've been away from xanga for months now, but I did manage to post today, so you are welcome to come and look.

  • Dearest Michel,

    How I wish I was able to travel to France...there is such history in Europe...and some very wonderful people over there too!  :O)  I love this post!  It shows your humorous side! 

    I am so very thankful when I see that you have updated and am especially glad to see pictures along with your descriptions - the English version is great and so very appreciated.  I think there are quite a few of us who wonder what life is like in France.  Thank you for taking the time to show us the beauty of your country! 

    My love to you and your family!

    Cat

  • You travel to such wonderful places! And you look like you would be a lot of fun to hang around with!!! I answered your question about my swordfighting in today's blog. Thanks for asking it! Hope you and Janine are doing very well. My best to you both!

  • sounds very nice :]

  •   Simple, perhaps, but lovely scenery & very relaxing. The intricacies of the archways in the first photo are fascinating. And the humor with which you tell your story makes it all the more enjoyable.

  • So nice to see you enjoying yourself.

  • Salut mon ami! La vie en France est comme une reve - Je veux visiter la France (et l'Europe en general) lorsque je finis l'ecole en 1.5 ans!! Quand j'arriverai a la France, je vais vous visiter!

  • Thank you so much for your kind words. :) It really means a lot.

    I enjoyed looking at your pictures! Before I switched to be a nursing major, I was studying French, so I enjoyed trying my hand at translating your French before I gave up and read the English version. :)

  • The water is SO blue - I like that picture!

  • Exactly! It's the cervical vertebrae. They are hoping to make it 'relax' so it doesn't cause all my migraines. I won't know til probably Wednesday. THEN I have to go back in on Monday and get another 9 shots. It's worth it if it works.

    I MUST be swordfighting by September!!!!!

    Thanks for all your support, it truly means a lot and your words always inspire me. I print them out for my fighter training book to keep my spirits up.

  • My kids and I would love to join you and Janine someday touring the places you know to teach us and practicing my high school French! I have missed reading your newsy, fun, and informative blogs. HUGS!

  • Dearest Michel,

    I would have loved to have been a student of Janine's as she was canning the jellies/jams along with the vegetables.  I was just reading about clafoutis and how to make them.  I can make tarte tartins but have not attempted the clafoutis yet!  Maybe Janine would be willing to show us how? :O)  I have been making the tarte tartin in a skillet and it works very well but would love to have a tarte tartin pan...only $150!  I think my skillet will have to do for now!

    Enjoy your August!  Many of our friends from France are away on holiday and I won't hear from them until they get back.  I am not sure if you and Janine have made any plans but enjoy whatever you two decide to do!  I'm sure with all the leeks you planted (1000?!)...you will be very busy.  You have inspired me to plant some leeks! 

    Love to you and Janine!

    Cat

  • i have posted. hehe..

  • Commented on the wrong post ~ ***hits self in forehead dramatically***

    I shall NOW go and read this post!

  • Vivent les vacances en Provence :)
    Très belles images souvenirs Michel !
    Me rappelle aussi bien sûr nos années marseillaises ... :)

    Mille mercis pour tes gentils commentaires sur fotolog !
    Je crois que je ne prendrai pas vraiment le temps d'y poster d'autres images avant notre retour en Asie le 18.8. ...
    Vivent les vacances, je disais ;) ))

  • Ahahaha... what an enjoyable post! You should have a little fan with you. How long will the summer last? Shall I mail one over?

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