Transats and parasols along the sandy beach in Cassis, France. That's Jean-Marc, in his Brazil maillot, to the left. Don't miss this entire post, with photos–click the link below.
"un transat"
deckchair, lounge chair, chaise longue, recliner
Today's word also appears in the story "Gaver (What, The French Pig Out?)"
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French words including transat aloud
Un transat. Hier, nous avons loué les transats sur la grande plage de sable de Cassis.
A lounge chair. Yesterday, we rented lounge chairs along the big sand beach of Cassis.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
When we heard the great sardinade, or sardine cook-out, was happening in Cassis over the weekend, we decided on a Plan-B to get to the busy centre-ville–where we were joining a pal of Jean-Marc's from his college days.
"Let's park outside the town and walk down. We will get our twenty minute walk," Jean-Marc added, so as to motivate me. He was referring to our recent goal to faire du sport. "There are many nice views walking down into town," my husband continued….
He was right. Rolling vineyards, modern and old-style houses, and a gorgeous ray of municipal flowers–including lots of popular purple-globed agapanthus–along the winding road down to the port.
"Jean-Philippe and Genevieve are here," Jean-Marc said as we reached the little town on the port. Our friends from French Country Wines in Houston were here. "Let's give them a call," Jean-Marc said. And soon we were facing a sea of colorful fishing boats, chatting with our French friend (and Texas transplant) who was back in France.
Me, Jean-Philippe, and Ayn Rand. We could not resist teasing Jean-Philippe about the book (only because we, ourselves, never managed to finish it). I'll stick with Michel de Montaigne–who's funny and relate-able this many centuries later! Or Fenelon–his thin book speaks volumes!
To see Jean-Philippe's wife and daughter, Pauline, we had to walk a little farther–past the boules court and past the hat salesman…to the beach!
On our way to find Geneviève, two familiar faces appeared from the line of transats on the beach. It was Hilary and Bruce, also from Texas. What a surprise! I was happy to see Bruce covered in sunscreen — his face almost as white as mine. Seeing another protect his or her peau is motivation for me to continue this many years after a very bad surgery.
But on to the funny part of this story. Geneviève, our friend at Bistro Provence in Houston, arrived next and began to make us laugh as she always does. "So you two still don't know when your house will sell or when you'll move on–after all this time? You know what we call that in French? Avoir le cul entre deux chaises! (To have your butt between two chairs!).
Still giggling, we said à plus (A+ = bye for now), and went to get our own transats, closer to the restaurant, where we waiting for Jean-Marc's school buddy and his wife for lunch. And when Jean-Pierre arrived, he had not changed!
"It's Chinese genes!" Jean-Pierre explained.
As we sat admiring those genes, we also admired the man Jean-Pierre had grown into. Once the youngest of the crowd of college buddies, who Jean-Marc sometimes lent a couple of francs, Jean-Pierre now lives in Hong Kong and enjoys a successful career that takes him all over the globe.
I so enjoyed talking to Jean-Pierre's wife, Bérina, who he met during graduate school in Berkeley. She is not only beautiful, but, Jean-Pierre tells us, she is the brains behind his success.
"Behind every good man is a good woman," I said, after listening to his story. Jean-Pierre agreed, and so did, to my surprise, Jean-Marc, who put his arm around me and squeezed:
"Et oui! Derrière chaque homme, il y a une femme."
College buddy reunion in Cassis: Jean-Marc, Jean-Pierre, et Jean-François. To comment on this story, see the link at the end of this post.
French Vocabulary
le transat = lounge chair
boules = pétanque or bocce ball
la peau = skin
avoir le cul entre deux chaises = to have the butt between two chairs
le parasol = beach umbrella
à plus = bye for now
le maillot = soccer jersey
derrière chaque grand homme, il y a une femme
behind every great man, there is a woman
Hats for sale along the port in Cassis, France
Good-looking sun hat with string — essential for windy southern France!
La Roche-Posay sunscreen
– rated top by Consumer Reports
Lounge chair with built-in sunshade
la fouta – wonderful quick-drying towel used in Mediterranean countries
SUMMER READING – "EIGHT MONTHS IN PROVENCE"
For thirty years, Diane Covington-Carter dreamed of living in France and immersing herself in the country and language that spoke to her heart and soul. At age fifty, she set off to fulfill that yearning. Journey along with her as she discovers missing pieces of her own personal puzzle that could only emerge in French, in France. And the deep reservoirs of courage and strength that have come with living a half-century.
Covington-Carter learns that it is never too late to fulfill a long cherished dream and that, with the gifts of wisdom and maturity, that dream can become even more powerful from the waiting.
One of the best-selling books of all time on my blog has been Eight Months in Provence! Diane's self-published book really struck a chord with readers and Francophiles who dream of living–if only for a time–in France.
Order Diane Covington Carter's book here — I think you will agree – Eight Months in Provence is the ideal summer read.
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Was there anyone at that college whose name didn’t start with “Jean-“?
Hi Kristi,
What a fun day! Love all the photos! I just ordered Eight Months in Provence! Looks good!
Thank you, Eilleen. It is a page-turner. I really enjoyed the book and related to what Diane says in it. I hope you like it too.
I am ordering one of those towels for all nine members of my family!
Also why do most French men have Jean as their first name?
For some reason the colon is stripped out of your Amazon links and I always have to add it back in in order for the link to work.
Haha! And then there was, no kidding, Jean-Charles and… and…
Hi, Carrie,
Re why the French often have Jean as their first name, Jean-Marc explains that it really is not as common as that (though it certainly seems so!) . As for yesterdays meetup, it was a coincidence that all three were named Jean.
Thank you for ordering via my Amazon links. If you go back into my blog post and try the link now, it should work. Let me know otherwise. Many thanks.
Fun day. Planning a visit to French Country Wines this Saturday. Need more Mas de Brun rose. Hope they have someone minding the store while they are on vacation.
A delightful story, Kristi. It reminds me of an experience I recently had, although my surroundings were not quite as colorful or exciting as yours.
I had the longest lunch ever with two high school classmates, one was a really nice and interesting guy with whom I have been reacquainted for years. The other was his best friend and very good buddy of mine from our school years. I had not seen my buddy for 50 years. He had not changed at all and had aged very little. Amazing how the years melt away. Whatever was there as the base of a friendship seems to re-emerge. Even if people do change, the eyes tell the story of the past. It is so interesting to learn about life accomplishments and both have had a supportive woman behind them over the years. That is a great accomplishment for a couple, as you and Jean-Marc bear out, over and over!
We were there last year on a brilliant Sunday in May, and unbeknown to us there was a show by the Patrouille de France, and the town was beyond crowded. We had a group lunch at Le Grand Large and took a boat ride out to see some of the calanques. And sat for a very long time in traffic on our way out.
Two years earlier we were there, again in May, on a cloudy weekday. We had it nearly to ourselves.
Hi Jim, Good to hear you were there. We ate (and got transats) at the same place! I forgot to mention this — and that the water was freezing cold… in July of all months! Like ice cubes. We swam anyway and so did our friends.
What a neat event . . . . re-bonding with classmates in such beautiful surroundings!
I’ve kept in touch with both college and high school classmates via e-mail and it’s fun to follow the different paths that some have taken.
Not sure my high school “class of 1948” will have a reunion next year. . . . after 70 years our numbers are dwindling.
Enjoy the blog.
A+ (a plus) is short for a plus tard, which is short for “later”, as in “see you later” – kind of bye for now…
Our dear Kristi,
What an absolutely wonderful post(and pictures!)!As always!
Thank you for bringing us along to this happy meet up with dear (and accomplished!) friends in such beautiful surroundings.
What a fun,to-be-remembered day!
I completely agree with yours and Jean Marc’s sentiments about a good woman being behind every good man;you and JM and Jean Pierre and his Berina are complete proof of that!(I only hope that,now, approaching 52 years together,my hubby,Rod,will agree,too.) (sounds so long but has gone so fast!!)
Also loved Diane’s “Eight Months in Provence”.Many good thoughts there.
(previously ordered from your blog).
Needless to say,too,that reading Montaigne is like talking with a trusted friend!Even after all these centuries later!How right you are!
Happy Fourth of July!!!
Love
Natalia XO
Does that mean that the S of plus is not pronounced? That is, I’d it’s short for a plus tard? Help!
Thank you for including Jean-Marc reading the sentence so that we can better understand the correct pronunciation (to aim for!). Otherwise I would not have known that the final t of transat is not silent, but the final S of Cassis is silent.
Merci!
Darling Natalia,
I love your note to Kristi…thank you for being such a
loving and loyal friend to my precious Kristi.
XOXO – Jules
Thank you Kristin for the lovely story. I love Cassis and the suggestion of parking outside of town is a great idea. it is hectic trying to find parking there. I didn’t know that you could rent transets on the beach.We’ll have to look for the next time.
Kathleen
That is indeed fun to meet up with school mates. My recent cruise starting from Marseille was my meet up with old Highschool classmates. Before the cruise, I visited Cassis and Calanques. Your photos bring back so many wonderful memories. I was actually there, where you were standing in the photo with Jean-Philippe, buying une glace.
What a wonderful reunion! I find it delightful that all the names of all the men in the company start with ‘Jean-‘. 🙂
Ah yes! Thanks for pointing that out. I would have naturally presumed that the final ‘s’ in Cassis (ville) was pronounced – as per the fruit!
I believe that the term “transat” is actually short for “transatlantique” (transatlantic). The name was originally given to the deck chairs found on the passenger ships crossing the Atlantic.