I’ll Keep You Posted

Beziers, France

10 May 2024

Dear Family and Friends,

Since I’ve been back, I’ve lost my routine. I’ve been surprised at how difficult it has been to get back into my schedule.  The first week back I blamed jet lag. The second week I was still feeling the need to give extra attention to Manny and Moe. This week it has been the holidays.  There were two holidays this week. Wednesday and Thursday were national holiday, and obviously lots of folks are taking Friday as a vacation day to create a five-day weekend. Who can blame them?

I’m distracted by it because you don’t really know what is going to be open or closed, who is going to be working and therefore unavailable to go outside and play, and who is going to be out clogging up my favorited walking paths, and sometimes there’s the pleasant surprise of friends stopping by because they have a moment. I know it’s a lousy excuse and it’s probably more to do with frustration at getting back into the French studies, but I’ve felt a bit unhinged this week and I really need to recenter myself.

The French study has been particularly hard this week. That damn computer program really doesn’t like the way I pronounce things and it really gets frustrating when I do the same lesson over three times because the program won’t give me credit and allow me to advance because it’s not satisfied with my pronunciation.  Not really something I should complain about, I’m blessed to be here and doing these things, but it really does mean that I need to muster up some self-discipline and get back to studying.

I’ve started to get back to my walks and explorations.  I made it back to that picturesque road along the Orb to take another picture, this time with leaves on the trees.

I also found one of the trompe l’oei,; that I’ve formerly only seen from a distance.

Trompe l'oei is what the "murals" that "trick the eye" are called. I don’t know how many I’m up to now, but I do know there are at least 16 and I’ve got a ways to go before I’ve captured them all.

There is nothing to report on the apartment front. I’ve successfully transferred the money and converted it all to Euros, so barring any surprises, I hope that I am ready for the final steps which will happen in early June. It’s a waiting game at this point. I don’t particularly like waiting games, but they are a part of life. Just waiting, but I will keep you posted.

The weather seems to be changing for the better. The gray rainy days have started to dissipate, and sunshine and warmth are a welcome replacement. My first summer in Beziers is starting, and I’m really looking forward to the many new experiences that lie ahead. 

In anticipation of summer, I love to ask people about what to expect of the coming months.  The first thing that everyone talks about is Feria. This is the week of the bull fights in Beziers. The population of Beziers goes from 70,000-ish (it all depends on who you ask) to over 1.1M (again, depending on who you ask.) So, where are do these people stay, is always the first thing that I ask. My favorited answer “everywhere.” Obviously there are not enough hotel rooms and short-term accommodations for over a million people. Sleeping anywhere they can is how it’s been described. That and drinking copious amounts of alcohol are the two things everyone first talks about. The bull fights are the next topic. Most people say, “I went once.” I’ll probably do the same.  I’ll keep you posted.

The next favorite topic is the heat.  It’s supposed to be hot. I will not have air conditioning, and because I’m in the historic district, I cannot have air conditioning. Depending on who your talking to, they will either downplay the heat and say you manage the heat by closing your shudders and the thick walls keep you cool, or they kind of hedge and say it doesn’t last that long. I know we all have different tolerances, but it fascinates me to hear how differently people describe the heat. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes as well.

I hope y’all are well! I’m always thrilled to hear from folks and encourage you to find me on FaceTime, WhatApp or email.

Bonne Journée!