En route to the pharmacie to pick up medicines, we paused, as you do, at the Bar/cafe in the town. This is where the men gather to read the daily paper and drink a glass of wine, and the ladies come in for a chat.
To our surprise it has been taken over, and the new owner came to shake hands with us and wish us good morning. This greeting is an essential part of life here, and as each newcomer enters he/she stops to greet friends (handshake, kiss kiss kiss kiss depending on gender), with a polite Bonjour to all others.
The new owner has made inroads already, despite having only been there for two weeks. The place has been repainted, the awful old pictures on the wall have gone, and the seating has been re arranged. It's a comfortable place to pop in for a coffee.
Ladies came in with Junior in a pushchair, who held his hand out to all and sundry with a winning smile. When a gentleman took his hand, assuming he was saying Bonjour, mother laughed and said "It's not for bonjour, it's for chocolate!" Each cup of coffee comes with a tiny chocolate, and he knew all about it!
14 commentaires:
thats what i love about french village life everyone seems so civilised!i spent 3 weeks in a lovely village called bouc bel air in 2007 and by the time we left we were on freindly terms with the local cafe owner who greeted us warmly each day we arrived and seemed so glad to see us return. i am afraid the same cannot be said for where we live in ireland!
I'm glad that you are up and about, and hopefully feeling a bit better. It sounds like a lovely cafe - I wish that I had one in my village!
Pomona x
It sounds like a wonderful respite in a busy day. I love little places like that where people are friendly and you can take a break.
Hi Elizabeth,
I'm so glad you are better. To have a dr. pop in is lovely.
Your previous post tugged on my heartstrings. Tomorrow is Veteran's day here and it has a very different feel for me with Jeff in the army.
Your cafe sounds fab. The Photo looks like the french press flour sack towel I showed a couple of posts ago. I'm on your French wavelength-hehe.
Hugs,
Barb
I'm glad you are feeling better Elizabeth. That cafe sounds like the nicest place. I wish we had places like that here where everyone knows each other or at least acknowledges each other when they come in.
Hope you have a great day.
Hugs, Rhondi
Oh that cafe must be about to become even more popular than before! Wonderful that you are out and about again.
We try to have that same sort of ambiance at the shop, offering friendly greetings to all, and biscuits to ... customers' dogs, who then definitely remember where they'd like to return.
xo
How nice to live in such a friendly place - and glad to hear you're better and getting out and about
How lovely! I can just picture the scene! Thank you!
You reminded me of:
The Customers
(Christine Kane)
Imagine way back when
When angels were deep within
And a light in the North was your only proof
In August lullabies
You were watching the fireflies
You were naked and under a midnight moon
Now nearly everyday
Everything's just shades of gray
It's kind of like you're tired and blue so blue
You work like a dog because
Think about it everyone does
As opposed to the thought that there's no one like you
But there's this cafe you pass on the way home
With the steam on the glass and a soft glow and a piano and a mood
And the customers look happier than you
But there's this cafe you pass on the way home
And when you're tired and you're trashed
And you're sort of like a list of to-do's
The customers look happier than you
So imagine if you will
Angels are singin' still
And though it's been years
You can still hear that sound
You're cynical these days
But oh, you pause cuz they say,
All those who labor lay down, lay down
And the cafe you pass on the way home
Takes you back in your mind to a lost time when you had time to lose
And the customers look happier than you
Very glad you're up to popping out for a coffee! Your bar does sound a lot more friendly than those in our town, which are very 'mannish' and local.
OK, you have a cafe, we have bars. That's probably the difference!
I love little places like this. I think I would have held my hand out for chocolate as well.
We used to have favorite places to go have coffee too. We stopped when it got more difficult for me to be out and Jos bought an automatic coffee machine. It grinds beans for each cup of coffee as you want it. Do you live far from things like the shops and pharmacy? I somehow picture your house as being out in the countryside.
Are you feeling all better again?
Hugs ~
Heidi
What a lovely village and lovely people that inhabit it.
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