Bonne 2014

Armsful of tulips at the flower shop

I think that I can safely wish everyone a good new year, now that the calendar has turned to the month. My own Saint Sylvestre (that's the Catholic saint's day that corresponds to New Year's Eve) was quiet but enjoyable.  I did hear the new year ring in, but there was a noticeable absence of fireworks and explosions. I guess they don't shoot guns here like they do in Brookings.

"My" flower shop was open, at least for the morning

The streets were unnaturally still this morning--I've never heard them as quiet as they were. I did take myself out for a walk, hoping to find an open tabac  where I could buy my daily newspaper.  My regular spot was closed for the day.  The streets held very few people and almost nothing was open except for the tabac, and the flower shop. One thing that I did observe was that almost all of the people who were out and about were men!  It was quite curious.  When I went into the tabac to get the newspaper, the guys in there looked at me as if I had alit from a spaceship.  I felt like I had alit from a spaceship.  Where were all the women?  I don't know, but you can bet that I am going to ask Marie tomorrow when I go in for the paper.  

Our taxi stand is made of marble, what else?

I think Saint Sylvestre was peaceful here in Carcassonne, unlike in Paris, where I believe they had a rash of car fires.  There weren't any garbage or party left-overs littering the streets here.  I went to the train station to get the newly minted schedules so I can sketch out my trips to Castelnaudary, Quillan, and the coast.  They are calling for snow up in the Alpes and the Pyrenees, but it's supposed to be relatively mild here for the next few days.  It will be nice for poking around in a new town.

Now you have the number, should you need a taxi.

 I spent the day working, writing and editing.  It was a good day and a good start to 2014.  I hope everyone else had the same.