Bonne Paques--Happy Easter

Spring is coming!

Just a few observations this Easter Sunday.  After a spectacular day yesterday, I heard it raining in the wee hours of the morning.  It's actually a nice sound, dripping from the curved clay tiles. But now the sun is out, so a walk is definitely in order this afternoon.

One of the arches of the Pont Vieux

There are a lot of tourists in town, mostly Spanish and British.  Restaurants that would normally be closed today are open.  I am not sure if this heralds the beginning of the season, or because it's a holiday and lots of people like to go out for Easter dinner.  I find myself helping people with directions--I have mentioned before that I must give off an air of something,(I would like to think it's kindness)  because tourists are always asking me for help. 

Saw these growing wild along the banks of the Aude

I had a little tumble in the market yesterday.  I don't think anything was seriously injured, except my dignity.  I had that awful "shaken" feeling that comes with a fall, but I walked home and up the stairs with only minor difficulty.  However, my right knee had a knot on it the size of a small orange and was too painful for any words in my vocabulary.  Since I am a typical American in my need for ice, I always have plenty on hand.  It proved very useful yesterday afternoon.    I was wearing jeans, which everyone knows are darned near bullet-proof.  Both knees look like raw hamburger, but I am so happy I didn't tear the jeans; they're my favorite ones.  A fall nowadays leaves me shaken in a way that never happened 60 years ago.  I guess all that milk or all that weight bearing have made my bones very strong.  I ache today, but the shock is worn off and walking actually helps with the stiffness.

One of the light fixtures by the bridge

I told Marie about my fall; she shared with me her own story of taking a tumble right up the street.  It is a small comfort to know I am not the only person to whom this happens.  What bothers me as much as the pain is that I am so embarrassed.  I am twice the size of so many of these people; it's hard enough to blend in.  Something like that only calls unwanted attention to me.  The other thing that made me frustrated was that a perfectly BEAUTIFUL day went unexplored as I could not put on anything to touch the raw skin, and I needed to be near the ice pack.  Oh well, I DID count my blessings that nothing seriously went wrong.

Easter dinner will be a turkey thigh, roasted fresh potatoes (the first in months), broccoli salad, fresh steamed peas, apricot and mushroom dressing and fresh strawberries for dessert. When I bought the turkey from Michel, I didn't recognize it at first; it's so big I thought it was a cut of beef! It makes me wonder just how big was the turkey who donated it.   I am craving ONE slice of coconut cake, but that is not going to happen today.  I am still chasing down the required ingredients.  I promised a slice to the couple at the market from whom I buy eggs.  She asked for the recipe.

Maybe he caught an Easter trout?

Today's paper laments the passing of the Easter egg hunt.  I wondered about that.  I saw that there were some in a couple of villages closer to Toulouse, but I didn't see anything here in Carcassonne.  Oh well, to keep those traditions alive, someone actually has to organize things. It's hard when the torch doesn't get passed.  

Shapes of the river

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday.  Lots of things are closed here on Monday, a bit more than the usual quietude after the weekend.  After all the work for Easter Sunday music this morning, I am ready for a down day.  And a day where my body can just recover from its shock.