the most grand day.
this morning we woke up to what sounded like a parade outside our window. even better, it turned out to be five old italian men, wearing matching stripped shirts, bow ties, and suspenders. there was an accordion, saxophone, little drummer, tambourine. they settled down at the teahouse outside of our apartment. lauren and i rolled out of bed, threw on dresses, and ran outside with our sketchbooks and sat at a small table directly behind our little gentlemen. we ordered our coffee and tea and basked in their italian voices and peppy tapping. they acquired quite the french congregation. one saucy french-italian woman sang and swayed along with the men. clapping her hands and snapping her fingers. there were heads out windows and people dancing around the fountain.
the lovely drummer turned around while singing and noticed lauren and i sitting behind him. he sang his love song to me. stole my heart with a wink. then he asked if we wanted to join him. so lauren and i got up, they gave us hats, and i received a tambourine. for the next song we became part of the italian band.
everyone was so lovely to us. the french women chatted sweetly, the italians swooned, and lauren and i were adopted by the most divine grandpas.
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then we bought cherries.
next we went to a cafe to watercolor. there was a sweet french couple eating at the table next to us, visiting aix. the man asked, after trying to be discreet, to take a picture of me painting. when we left i gave him the watercolor of the church i was sketching.
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later in the afternoon we were sitting by a fountain watching a wedding at the hotel de ville. a woman with a beautiful bow on the back of her gown held small white flowers. when we were leaving three french fellows (one an art student) asked if they could join us for coffee soon. very charming. very subtle.
then a group of spanish dancers performed right in front of us.
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i’m not sure that i can leave.
what the heck is lauren playing?
and by playing i mean holding like a dead fish.