So, we’ve been in Apt for a few days now. Our routine is relaxed and based around
mealtimes. We get up late, eat a small
breakfast of bread and fruit and then we make our way to Meme’s house for a
traditional mid-day dinner. In the
afternoon we go to a pool, take a walk in a park or visit with relatives. Eventually we return to my husband’s uncle’s
house and help prepare for the evening meal.
Today, Sophia suggested we walk to Mémé’s house. Two weeks ago we would not have even
considered walking there as the average temperature was 38 degrees Celsius
(98F) Today, the temperature is 27C (80F) but a wind from the north, le
Mistral, is blowing and in the shade it is very comfortable. Apt is located in a valley and the Calavon,
which is just a trickle this time of year, cuts through the town. On either side of the river the hills rise
above the center of town and many houses are perched overlooking the
valley.
Mémé lives on the other side of the valley from where we are staying at my husband’s uncle’s house. The walk takes us down one side of the hill passing stone walls, fig trees, butterflies and countless odors of herbs and grasses drying in the strong, hot sun. On the way, what we thought was a tiny humming bird caught our eye. We tried to get a picture of it but it moved too fast. We now know it is a hummingbird moth. We have to watch our step when we pass by the fig trees because they are all over the ground and we don’t want to slip on the sticky fruit. Sophia said that she stepped on one today and it made a popping sound!
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When we get down to the bottom of the hill, we walk to the
dried up river and cross the pedestrian bridge that is the short cut to Mémé’s
house. On the way we pass by fences
covered in little white snails. Sophia
showed me how she likes to flick them off the rungs of the fence and watch them
fly through the air. I have to admit
that flicking snails makes the walk seem shorter. On the other side of the Calavon we have to
walk up the the hill to Mémé’s where dinner awaits us.
After dinner, we make the whole trip in the opposite direction. We descend la rue de la Halte, cross the
river, walk by and flick the snails, avoid the figs and this time get barked at
by a couple of geese that were not amused by us passing by. The geese were thankfully behind a fence, so
they were not able to sink their beaks into us but I’m sure that it crossed
their minds! Up the hill, more figs,
wafts of warm air perfumed with wild thyme and we are back at Tonton’s
house. The whole journey is only about 3
miles at most, and it really seems like with each step we discover something new.
