PICTURE THIS
Let’s try something a little different. Instead of a bunch of pictures, we are going
to try a thousand words. After all that
is what a picture is supposed to be worth, is it not?
While shopping in town I heard a rather loud commotion about
a block away and progressing toward my location. Across the intersection I could see a crowd
swaying and dancing toward where I stood.
At the head of this multitude (over a hundred) was a casket held over
the heads of the pallbearers and being turned from side to side as they moved
to the music and progressed down the street.
A couple of young men with painted faces stepped into the
intersection and rerouted traffic as the assembly prepared to go by. Soon, they were on my side of the street and
passing within a few feet of where I stood.
Everyone in the marketplace paused as they went by and gave their
attention, if only for a moment, to the funeral. There appeared to be a mix of friends, relatives
and paid mourners all in some stage of emotional display of respect and honor
for the deceased.
Upon inquirery I was told that this type of display was
reserved only for those over seventy years of age and respected in their
community. It was one of those moments
that are best remembered in the mind’s eye rather than on a little piece of
photograph.
Minutes after passing, the market was back to business as
usual.
Another time and place:
As a special treat I am taking myself out for dinner at my
favorite restaurant, La Douceur. This is a little place that Jon and Heidi
introduced me to on my visit in 2010.
Had a little trouble finding it this trip and spent many trips up and
down back alley ways on my moto trying to locate it. Even after finding it once, finding it again
was a challenge. Now if I start at the
“major” intersection in town I can find it readily and do so whenever I seek
some special treat.
I call the street an alley as a courtesy as it barely
qualifies for that definition. La Douceur
is a Hotel Restaurant that might be called a Bistro in France. Come with me. As we enter from the street
level we pass thru an area with four tables and a TV on the wall. It is almost a terrace area, only not truly
open to the street. Descending several
flagstone steps, we pass by a sitting room that leads to the “lodging” or hotel
area. A few more steps downward and on
our right is a small bar with seating for half a dozen, although it is empty
but for the one server on duty. Curving
to the left as we descend the final eight or ten steps we arrive at the dining
area.
Our table is ahead to your right, the second table from the
entrance and about eight meters from the central source of entertainment (a
small TV) on the far end of the room. Look around you as we seat ourselves. The room is about twelve meters square. The quarter to our left as we entered is
partially walled, behind which is the “kitchen” area. There are three tables (four tops) in this
area and where we are sitting three more. In the center area another table and
at the far side a table that will seat fourteen or maybe sixteen. To the left of that on a raised dais is a
table for four that would be for guests of honor.
Our table is for four
and your seat faces toward what is the back wall, if there was a wall. Two full sides and part of the other two
walls are open to the garden surrounding the dining room. The garden is about three meters deep and
walled from the outside world. From your
seat, you could lean to your right and touch the plants that are moving in the
gentle breeze. Notice that they are
still wet from the rain that has only a few minutes ago stopped falling.
Here is our server. “Bonsoir”. Knowing that my French is less than limited,
she has brought our menu and a small dish of shelled peanuts to munch on. Selecting a small salad to start and an
entrée of “bœuf bernaise” and “pommes frites” with
Tonic for me and bottled water for you,
we are free to enjoy our own company for the next fifteen minutes as everything
is prepared to order.
Notice the pillar in what would be the middle of the
room. It is about two feet in diameter
and eight feet tall. From the top
radiate twenty eight 3X3 inch poles, like the ribs of an umbrella, they reach
to the thatched roof that is at least twenty feet overhead. Rain still drips from the edges and adds
background to the chirps, peeps and sounds of the insect life in the
garden. With the sun setting the
activity increases. An iguana looking
for his evening meal creeps along the wall nearest your side. A chameleon doing what he does best is almost
unnoticed as he blends with a colorful plant behind me. Don’t be surprised if a small rat is among
the visitors over the wall, he lives here too.
What? What are you
looking at? Oh, the TV behind me has
what program??? OH, NO! It is Urkel of “Family Matters” and
he is speaking French. That has got to
go! “Madame!” “Madame, s'il vous plaît!!!” “Ah, merci beaucoup!!”
That is no way to
spend our time together. He was annoying
in English. In French he is how you say
annoying. This gentle African music
makes a much nicer background.
Ah, here is our
meal. “Bon appétit”, says our server as
she places our plates before us. I like the simple garnish of a small tomato
sliced lengthwise and with the heart cut out only an outline remains. The sauce is excellent in flavor and the beef
itself is so tender you can cut it with your fork. The French fries are not as greasy as we are
used to in the states, but almost a baked crispness. I find that with the salt clumping in the
moist climate it works best for me to take the lid off and coax the salt out
with the handle of a small spoon.
…….and so it goes.
I have enjoyed your
company and hope we can do this again soon.
This is my treat to
myself and I wish you could be here to share it with me.
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