We returned from France less than two weeks ago, and I had been excited to share our adventure with one person in particular. Agnes Sector was the leader of a group every Friday afternoon that got together to speak French and learn more about the language. Madame Sector, a French native, led us through a variety of exercises and gave us assignments to bring to the group.
It put into motion my four years of high school French from more than 50 years ago. I was among the newer members of the group and the poorest speaker but was determined to sharpen my ability prior to our 12-day visit to the country known for wine, cheese and wonderful cuisine. I couldn’t wait to tell her about what we visited and saw in her native land.
But just two days after we returned, Madame Sector passed away. My hopes of sharing with her were gone. But if somewhere in the great beyond she is able to look down, here are 10 of the unforgettable things from our visit in no particular order.
1. Le Pont d’Avignon. Most every child who becomes familiar with the language learns this song: Sur le pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse.
While we did not step onto the remnants of this famous bridge, we did get to see it from both sides of the Rhone River, and we danced in our imaginations. 2. A boat ride along the Seine in Paris.
The Bateau Mouche sailed down the river, past the cathedral of Notre Dame and then a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower with its Olympic rings. A great way to see some of the Parisian splendor without facing the traffic. 3.
French cuisine. What is a visit to France if one doesn’t try some of the local food. We did just that in Paris and Toulouse as well as on our river ship.
Beef bourguignon, breast of duck, escargots and ratatouille were exquisite. And the desserts were divine. 4.
The market in Lyon. This was an open-air setup within sight of the Saone River and featured beautiful produce grown in the nearby French countryside. There was also meat, cheese and vendors making crepes to order.
And an opportunity to use the French we had been practicing. 5. The Pont du Gard.
The aqueduct built nearly 2,000 years ago stands as a reminder of the brilliant engineering work of the Romans as this conduit took water from what is now Uzes to the Roman city at present-day Nimes. The 31-mile length of the aqueduct provided some 8 million gallons of water each day to the city. Above the river, this portion of the aqueduct rises a dizzying 160 feet.
6. Playing pétanque. This is a game similar to bocci, but played with steel balls.
We learned about the game in Touron-sur-Rhone and even played a match with shipboard friends from Delaware (we were behind 13-5 when the game was called). The object is to toss or roll the heavy balls as close as possible to a cochonnet, a smaller target ball, without hitting it. The scoring team gets a point for each ball that is closer than the opponent’s.
Think of it almost as a French version of corn hole. 7. Locks on the Rhone.
There were at least a dozen locks as the river descended from Lyon to Arles. Watching the ship easily maneuver into the lock, drop to the new level and then exit may not sound like an exciting part of one’s trip to France, but it was interesting to see this feat accomplished time after time without any problems. 8.
Samuel and Monique. Our tour offered us an afternoon visiting with a French family in Lyon. We were at the home of local tour guide and bar owner Samuel and his grandmother Monique.
They welcomed us into their apartment and shared sparkling wine and chocolate cake as well as conversation about their lives. 9. High-speed train from Paris to Lyon.
Yes, they go fast. The train zipped along at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour on a ride as smooth as butter sliding along a hot skillet. 10.
Speaking French in stores and restaurants. Our guide told us to make sure to speak to the proprietors when we entered a shop. And I used my very best French every time, which prompted a kind reply from the storekeeper.
At every turn my wife and I used the language, and although mine was often halting it was always appreciated by those we encountered. There were many more than 10 memorable recollections on our trip to France, but these are the ones I would like to have shared with Madame Sector (in French, of course). I hope she knows how much we enjoyed her home country and making use of the language.
Merci beaucoup, Madame..
