So, we arrive in Montpellier. Many people have told us this is a wonderful city. I had stumbled around researching a place to stay and had finally found, what I thought, would be perfect…….3 minutes walk from the City center, 10 minute walk to the Mediterranean Sea, swimming pool. Ok, what we learned when we took the taxi to our hotel, was that we were staying in the resort village of Palavas Les Flots, about 12 miles from Montpellier. Oh well, I didn’t care, I just wanted to be near the ocean, have some sun and practice my “francaise”.
We walked around the very small town to scope out a laundry mat and see what there was to see. A lot of restaurants, many small groceries, pharmacies and shops. The sun was shining and warm until we got near the sea, at which time the wind whipped up and the temperature dropped atleast 15 degrees. Not much beach activity. Sand blowing in the eyes and ears. The average age at Palavas Les Flots appeared to be around 65. Needless to say, Molly was bored before we unpacked, but as always, a good sport.
My girl had hooked up online with a young man from Montpellier who participated in the Couch Surfing program. This is an online network that connects travelers to hosts all over the world. The host may offer a place to stay or advice or a visit or whatever. Molly and Damien had talked about getting together to see Montpellier……but, as it turned out, we weren’t really in Montpellier. Oops.
Regardless, Damien came to Palavas Les Flots (it is a fun name to say and write) and we visited and another friend of his showed up………they suggested going to the local Casino, the only form of entertainment in the town that I could see, and that option was exciting to Molly, who, of course, can not go in the US until she is 21….. now, gambling is nothing new to me……I know how to gamble………and I like it……….when I am winning……….
I now know, that in the French casino’s, you must have I.D. to get in. I guess I am now registered with the Big Brother of France as a gambling addict, I don’t know, but they have my passport number. This casino was very small and very quiet! I gave Molly some money and she and the boys went off to play roulette. I headed to the blackjack table. At first when the cards turned over, I was shocked. They weren’t “K”, “Q”, “J”, but “R” , “V” and something else…….okay I figured that part out. The game was the same, but you couldn’t bet for the dealer and couldn’t bet in increments less than the minimum bet, both things different than at home. I had a hard time keeping quiet and soon had all the table talking, just a little……….not a friendly, fun game, like at home, but pretty serious. I won enough to cover Molly’s losses and had some extra for dinner.
We had not had dinner and it was about 11:00. The guys took us into Montpellier for dinner, a special treat, McDonalds…..hahaha……they thought we would like that. What? We laughed and told them “we love McDonalds”…………..they we went into a favorite bar, had a mojito, listened to one song and the bar closed. We took a cab back to our resort town in the suburbs and laughed about a funny evening…….
We walked around the very small town to scope out a laundry mat and see what there was to see. A lot of restaurants, many small groceries, pharmacies and shops. The sun was shining and warm until we got near the sea, at which time the wind whipped up and the temperature dropped atleast 15 degrees. Not much beach activity. Sand blowing in the eyes and ears. The average age at Palavas Les Flots appeared to be around 65. Needless to say, Molly was bored before we unpacked, but as always, a good sport.
My girl had hooked up online with a young man from Montpellier who participated in the Couch Surfing program. This is an online network that connects travelers to hosts all over the world. The host may offer a place to stay or advice or a visit or whatever. Molly and Damien had talked about getting together to see Montpellier……but, as it turned out, we weren’t really in Montpellier. Oops.
Regardless, Damien came to Palavas Les Flots (it is a fun name to say and write) and we visited and another friend of his showed up………they suggested going to the local Casino, the only form of entertainment in the town that I could see, and that option was exciting to Molly, who, of course, can not go in the US until she is 21….. now, gambling is nothing new to me……I know how to gamble………and I like it……….when I am winning……….
I now know, that in the French casino’s, you must have I.D. to get in. I guess I am now registered with the Big Brother of France as a gambling addict, I don’t know, but they have my passport number. This casino was very small and very quiet! I gave Molly some money and she and the boys went off to play roulette. I headed to the blackjack table. At first when the cards turned over, I was shocked. They weren’t “K”, “Q”, “J”, but “R” , “V” and something else…….okay I figured that part out. The game was the same, but you couldn’t bet for the dealer and couldn’t bet in increments less than the minimum bet, both things different than at home. I had a hard time keeping quiet and soon had all the table talking, just a little……….not a friendly, fun game, like at home, but pretty serious. I won enough to cover Molly’s losses and had some extra for dinner.
We had not had dinner and it was about 11:00. The guys took us into Montpellier for dinner, a special treat, McDonalds…..hahaha……they thought we would like that. What? We laughed and told them “we love McDonalds”…………..they we went into a favorite bar, had a mojito, listened to one song and the bar closed. We took a cab back to our resort town in the suburbs and laughed about a funny evening…….
