I’ve never really had to watch my weight, but during le confinement I put on a couple or five pounds--maybe one or two of you have joined me--and have had to resort to The Diet. I’m following the recommendations of Harvard researcher Dr. David Ludwig, in his book called Always Hungry? (because that’s me).
I share this only because I learned a lovely new Italian word from his book. As part of the diet, he suggests following the Italian custom of the passeggiata, after a big meal.
I am very familiear with this Italian custom, though I didn’t know there was a word for it. After dinner the Italians get out their finery, slip on their elegant Italian leather loafers or pumps, and take a twilight stroll through the piazzetta del villaggio, the village square. They stop to chat with neighbors, maybe take an espresso or a digestif. In addition to strutting your stuff, the passeggiata is good for the digestion, and the figure.
The passeggiata corresponds somewhat to one of my favorite French words, flâner. Flâner is to stroll along the boulevards, dapper and chic, wandering aimlessly, observing, and savoring the day.
The Europeans in general are big walkers. Not power walkers, but flâneurs. Take a drive through the French countryside on any Sunday afternoon especially and you will see multi-generational groups, strolling along together on village or country roads.
Ron and I have been doing our evening post-dinner passeggiatas, which have been full of unexpected pleasures. One evening this week we heard beautiful live jazz music wafting out into the twilight, along an otherwise quiet residential street—but where was it coming from ? We followed it through a large courtyard (trespassing, most likely), around the corner to a narrow alley with an open second floor window, where obviously a practice session was going on. A couple of fellow flâneurs had done the same. When the music stopped we all applauded, and monsieur leaned out the window, saxaphone in hand, his face full of surprise. "Prenez une chaise!" he said. Pull up a chair!
So especially since the beautiful summer weather is emerging, and maybe especially to address those pandemic pounds, take a little meander after dinner and see what you might discover.
In the COMMENTS: Debby, I really hope you get back to the Côte d’Azur soon. Thanks to gardeners Bonnie, Aryn, and Marcia for identifying that gorgeous vine as thunbergia grandiflora. (There were other guesses, but we shall let the majority rule). Natalia, your comments are kind as always, and merci to Kristi for introducing us, as well as so many other of my readers. I agree about her book, The Lost Gardens. Ellen, that fisherman made the jump! Bev, we hope to see you stateside too. Francine, malheureusement on vas partir mi-septembre. Une autre fois! Et bien sûr, Eze est formidable. Kathie, I’m dying to go to St. Lucia, please send a report if (when!) you get there. Sandy (who “roams in retirement , full time, which is also the title of her blog), have fun in Montpellier, and in all your travels. Virginia, sure hope to see you in Provence, if we can get down there. Bon voyage soon. Tom, that’s quite a roadtrip, and I love the idea of the lavendar with the cherry jam. Frank, hope to meet you in Beaune, bon voyage.
Favorite VIEWS: Want to drool over some beautiful artwork today? First up, my friend Julie Messerschmidt is an exceptionally talented artist, an American who lives here in Burgundy. She does classic still lifes with an old world feel but often with contemporary themes. See, for example, her still life of "Oysters and Bud", or of southern biscuits in the making, which you can check out at her website, here. And who could resist the French cheeses below?
And a Francophile Alert: our loyal reader the artist Gail Wendorf has a whole collection of gorgeous French landscapes, village, and market scenes, like the one below, that will make you long for France. You can visit her on-line gallery here.
