Les Pêcheurs et les Pécheurs

Saturday night: out on the town with Jessie! Dinner at Le Petit Bistro and then some deep conversations, really corny American music, and creepy glances at O' Shannon's Pub. We even got a stranger to say "Mardi prochain!"

Amelie, is that you???

My first real Guinness

Cidre!

La fontaine at the end of le Cours Mirabeau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning, I went to my first church service in France at the beautiful cathedral, Saint Sauveur!!! Seeing as it was the feast day of St. Vincent, there was a grand procession of altar boys wielding incense, lectors, cantors etc. in Renaissance garb, and finally, three priests. Or maybe this happens every Sunday- hmm. I may never know, because my plan is to visit a different chapel each week...I'm excited! The rhythm of the mass was very familiar, but of course, the responses and chants were all in French. While I wasn't always sure what was being sung, the man behind me had a beautiful voice, so I found myself listening to him and following his lead. I know the Lord's Prayer in French by heart, so it was fun to say that with everyone, and most of the other responses were printed. It's super interesting that the response to the French equivalent of "The Lord be with you" has always been "And with your spirit": "Et avec votre esprit"- no need to re-translate like the anglophones who have been saying: "And also with you"!  The homily was also much, much longer than those in the US (though I know it's different for every parish). This one had to be at least 20 minutes. Lots of Bible-hopping, but the priest spoke firmly and slowly, which meant that I could understand all of it! I realized though, as he was recounting the gospel reading of the calling of the fishermen, that the words for 'fisherman' and 'sinner' are almost identical and are pronounced exactly the same in French: Pêcheur (fisherman) and Pécheur (sinner). For me, at least, it added a new dimension to the story in that hearing of the fishermen was exactly like hearing a story about sinners- which it is, really.

Leaving mass

Les orgues

Puis, after lunch together, Josette and I drove through the countryside of le Rhône, (wine country- beautiful vineyards!) to visit her mother in a retirement home. We brought her chocolates and took her for a walk through the park. She often dropped her gloves, and when I would retrieve them for her, she would always say: "Merci, Madame!" Josette would then correct her: "Mademoiselle!" haha. Next, we visited the home of one of Josette's many friends for a celebration of Epiphany, complete with champagne and galette des rois (King's cake). Josette found the piece with the queen inside! I even got to cuddle with the dog, Whiskey, who joined me in the armchair. Wow. I don't think I have ever been so tired (or carsick!) What an unforgettable weekend!