I read this several days ago but hadn't "archived" the email. I only just noticed it was recorded. I, too, feel that I heard and even saw the scenes you described so beautifully, that I didn't need to hear you read it. What a treat, though, to have this recording of a voice so dear to me!
So glad you enjoyed the journey, Betsy. Foreign language is an interesting thing. Some take to it, some don’t. There’s so much grammar etc. to go through before you ever say much! And language classes aren’t always the best place to learn. I studied french forever but didn’t really become totally fluent until we hosted a few exchange students. What a way to play around with language!
Sometimes I wonder if we were better off with superstitions that brought communities together. Science and modern medicine are great, but they leave us to suffer alone in hospitals and nursing homes -- no communal processions required.
What, I wonder, is the origin of the phrase "Ramène-pas ta fraise?" Is it the back end of a longer phrase, akin to "(F you ....and the horse you rode in on", along the lines of "Mange la marde, et ramène pas ta fraise!"? Or is fraise a euphemism for a body part? Je ne sais pas!
You’re so right, Jean, that we need community so badly! And that’s coming from someone who also cherishes her solitude! As for ramène-pas ta fraise, who knows? I googled it just now - fraise = tête - but only ‘ramene ta fraise is discussed, so we’d have to extrapolate to think what it means in the negative, or…we could just have a glass of wine and forgeddaboutit.
I was discussing this with some older Francos who remember the song. There's a dirty version of it, found here: https://www.musixmatch.com/fr/paroles/Les-Charlots/Ah-Les-fraises-et-les-framboises. But the older Francos (all former seminarians) insisted that this is not the version they knew and used to sing. However, their cleaner version still made women blush when some man mentioned just the title of the song. Kind of like if someone in the English-speaking word said, "Barnacle Bill the Sailor." The dirty verses then come to mind without having to mention them. :-)
Oh boy, Kate, this is a lovely set of stories. And ending with the Romeiros is perfect. As we head out into our days, good to carry that with us. Or me to carry with me anyway. THANKS!
I can hear your voice saying “don’t take back your strawberry!” in English but with a French accent!
You betcha, ma petite! (I recorded this one!)
Oh that’s right! I didn’t listen (but don’t need to!)!
You’re right. Yiz can hear it in yer head. 😘
I read this several days ago but hadn't "archived" the email. I only just noticed it was recorded. I, too, feel that I heard and even saw the scenes you described so beautifully, that I didn't need to hear you read it. What a treat, though, to have this recording of a voice so dear to me!
Oh, thank you, m’dear! I’ll have to write about Rincón and Paros someday!!
Like the touch "an historic". Very British wot?
That’s me. Very what what. I had to make up for my gerund failure! ( I thought ‘an historic’ was required on both sides of the pond.)
I love being able to channel my desire to learn foreign languages through you....I am so limited...but what fun you have had in your travels!
So glad you enjoyed the journey, Betsy. Foreign language is an interesting thing. Some take to it, some don’t. There’s so much grammar etc. to go through before you ever say much! And language classes aren’t always the best place to learn. I studied french forever but didn’t really become totally fluent until we hosted a few exchange students. What a way to play around with language!
Obrigado!
Someone should pay to be a travel writer. Loved your stories.
Muchas gracias, mi amigo. 😘
Sometimes I wonder if we were better off with superstitions that brought communities together. Science and modern medicine are great, but they leave us to suffer alone in hospitals and nursing homes -- no communal processions required.
What, I wonder, is the origin of the phrase "Ramène-pas ta fraise?" Is it the back end of a longer phrase, akin to "(F you ....and the horse you rode in on", along the lines of "Mange la marde, et ramène pas ta fraise!"? Or is fraise a euphemism for a body part? Je ne sais pas!
You’re so right, Jean, that we need community so badly! And that’s coming from someone who also cherishes her solitude! As for ramène-pas ta fraise, who knows? I googled it just now - fraise = tête - but only ‘ramene ta fraise is discussed, so we’d have to extrapolate to think what it means in the negative, or…we could just have a glass of wine and forgeddaboutit.
I was discussing this with some older Francos who remember the song. There's a dirty version of it, found here: https://www.musixmatch.com/fr/paroles/Les-Charlots/Ah-Les-fraises-et-les-framboises. But the older Francos (all former seminarians) insisted that this is not the version they knew and used to sing. However, their cleaner version still made women blush when some man mentioned just the title of the song. Kind of like if someone in the English-speaking word said, "Barnacle Bill the Sailor." The dirty verses then come to mind without having to mention them. :-)
Merci, Mon Ami, pour la belle histoire des fraises. J’ai Trouvé Les Charlots. Ils s’amusaient bien, ces mecs!
Maudite bande de croches! :-)
Oh boy, Kate, this is a lovely set of stories. And ending with the Romeiros is perfect. As we head out into our days, good to carry that with us. Or me to carry with me anyway. THANKS!
Oh Beth, thanks for reading and so glad you enjoyed the trip!