The Party/Martigues

Aix-en-Provence. Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote in this family circus. Dinner last night was some kind of salmon pate, Some salad, and some turkey hash and rice. It was good. For dessert, we had individual ramakins of undercooked chocolate cake soup, I ate most of it. It was C's birthday so I put on dinner clothes and we all had champagne and hors d'oevres before dinner. Little C wanted to answer the phone, because please, it's very important, but she wasn't allowed to. Later, everyone else at the table had at least one phone call. Except for me and D. There was a big discussion about the party; big C really wanted it to be the bomb, but I think his only idea was for V to be out of the house. You can imagine.

So the next day I had breakfast outside again, after which M took me into town. I walked around and around, looking for the post office. Finally I found it, and mailed my postcards, and bought more stamped envelopes, then realized that I had used the business entrance instead of the public entrance.

I walked home for lunch. That was not really a problem. I feel like I already wrote about this. I missed family lunch but I ate a porkchop, some rice-tomato-corn salad, some green beans, and a melon for dessert. I spent the afternoon reading guides about Martigues.

There was some confusion and a decision to make regarding whether we were really going to Martigues, Marignan, or Marseilles, but I decided to continue to Martigues. So we picked up J after I inadvertently told V that she and J were flighty in terms of spacial orientation.

We drove to Martigues, after only making one wrong turn, and V dropped us off at the Pont St. Sebastian, a tiny bridge over a tiny marina surrounded by colorful houses and a nice looking restaurant. The restaurant was in the guide and not too bad looking, but we took a walk through town and were too hungry to go back. So we ended up in a kind of gross place in one of Martigues' precious plazas.

First, we both ordered Panache, which is lemonade and beer, and it's very refreshing on a hot day. J ordered a seafood salad, and I got the grillade, which was skewered turkey, andouille and merguez sausages, rattatouille, and some preformed potato nuggets. My meal had been pre-cooked, and the merguez had to be sent back to finish. Our desserts: she had a lemon merengue tart--a huge piece--and I had vacherin, which is vanilla ice cream over merengue cookies topped with whipped cream and warm chocolate sauce. Too sweet. Desserts are big and serious in France.

Me and J waited around for V to show up; we were tired but the breeze was nice. When V picked us up, she dropped of J and we came back home to the party of big C. The music was loud, but (just like in college) people really wanted to talk, so they sat outside in groups. I think everyone else was at the pool, making a lot of noise, according to M. Whatever, I went to sleep.

When I got up, V had already mopped the patio and had to go stick some kid. I found out that O is not allowed upstairs. Some kid, friend of big C was hanging out creepily outside the bathroom when I came out of it.

So this morning I had breakfast alone; I made my tea, lipton Earl Gray, which was especially flavorful. V buys them in mouselline instead of packets; some pieces of baguette and butter. No idea what i'll do today; probably see the calanques tomorrow. I can go into town and take care of my postcards, but I'm lazy to walk or take the bus. Maybe if I get dressed, they'll offer to give me a lift. Or whatever.