July & August

I love July and August in France because it becomes like a deserted island. Everyone and I mean everyone goes on vacation for at least 15 days and most of them up to a month. You can practically hear the thundering of hoofs as they leave town in a herd; same day same time. And then they all come thundering back.

I like to stick around. Parking is easy, the streets are deserted. When you walk around at night, you feel as though the city belongs only to you. (I am exaggerating, they are people around, but the numbers are cut easily in half and you can feel the difference.) The shop keepers that are open, the restauranteurs, are more amiable; they have time to sit back and shoot the breeze.

In August, things really come to a screeching halt. Clothing stores are closed, restaurants are closed for a month, bakeries (town ordinance makes sure that at least one bakery in each neighborhood remains open), pharmacies aren't open, even many post offices are closed! I know, crazy!

This week, I am beginning to see the difference, by the end of the month, it will be a whole other town ....

Gros bisous et a demain!

Love, Charley