May -- The month of holidays
It does seem that the month of May is one of the busiest holiday months in France (my guess is it competes with November). May 1st is Labor Day, May 8th is Victory Day, and the 25th is Ascension. Since that one is on a Wednesday this year, my guess is that lots of folks will take Thursday and Friday off work as well.
Besides that, this week is what is known as "Les Saints de Glace," or the Ice Saints. The locals have it that the REALLY nice weather doesn't come until after this weekend. You would think that was just legend, but bizarrely, today the weather has gotten unseasonably cold, as it also did last year. So, clearly, there is something to it!
The month of May also seems to be the official opening of "the season" for festivals, salons, races and events of all types. This past weekend we were invited to a comics festival in Gruissan, a port city just south of Narbonne. We had a great time. The organizers of the festival were charming and delightful. Although we're not talking huge numbers, there was still a decent-sized crowd in attendance and we were able to talk about American comics to many people who really weren't all that familiar with them.
Next weekend is another festival in Port Vendre, which is farther south, almost on the border with Spain. I'm looking forward to that as well, as we haven't had a chance to visit that area since we've been here.
Certainly, these affairs are far more laid back than events like Comic-Con in San Diego or the Angouleme festival in January/February. But, that suits me. There's a much greater opportunity to chat and visit, and you don 't feel overwhelmed by the crowds. Plus, we've been able to bring Maggie with us, something I wouldn't feel comfortable doing with a bigger more hectic event.
Speaking of Maggie, our hosts in Gruissan invited us to a lovely buffet lunch at a hotel/restaurant right on the beach. Maggie was resting under the table, when suddenly "Savage Maggie" burst forth! For some reason, she had decided that the very sweet dog who lived at the hotel was a threat and growled at him to let him know he wasn't welcome. I'm always a little embarrassed by "Savage Maggie." I know she's just defending what she perceives as her territory, but it is not an attractive part of her personality!
I hope that "Savage Maggie" takes a back seat to "Good Maggie" next week in Port Vendre. I would hate for us to become pariahs in another city!
Ciao for now.
Randy
Besides that, this week is what is known as "Les Saints de Glace," or the Ice Saints. The locals have it that the REALLY nice weather doesn't come until after this weekend. You would think that was just legend, but bizarrely, today the weather has gotten unseasonably cold, as it also did last year. So, clearly, there is something to it!
The month of May also seems to be the official opening of "the season" for festivals, salons, races and events of all types. This past weekend we were invited to a comics festival in Gruissan, a port city just south of Narbonne. We had a great time. The organizers of the festival were charming and delightful. Although we're not talking huge numbers, there was still a decent-sized crowd in attendance and we were able to talk about American comics to many people who really weren't all that familiar with them.
Next weekend is another festival in Port Vendre, which is farther south, almost on the border with Spain. I'm looking forward to that as well, as we haven't had a chance to visit that area since we've been here.
Certainly, these affairs are far more laid back than events like Comic-Con in San Diego or the Angouleme festival in January/February. But, that suits me. There's a much greater opportunity to chat and visit, and you don 't feel overwhelmed by the crowds. Plus, we've been able to bring Maggie with us, something I wouldn't feel comfortable doing with a bigger more hectic event.
Speaking of Maggie, our hosts in Gruissan invited us to a lovely buffet lunch at a hotel/restaurant right on the beach. Maggie was resting under the table, when suddenly "Savage Maggie" burst forth! For some reason, she had decided that the very sweet dog who lived at the hotel was a threat and growled at him to let him know he wasn't welcome. I'm always a little embarrassed by "Savage Maggie." I know she's just defending what she perceives as her territory, but it is not an attractive part of her personality!
I hope that "Savage Maggie" takes a back seat to "Good Maggie" next week in Port Vendre. I would hate for us to become pariahs in another city!
Ciao for now.
Randy
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