Twice in a week!
Monday night we were in Argentina; last night it was Brazil.
At Café Plum in Lautrec a talented trio called Fado do Samba played a spirited samba set to a happy crowd of spectators, a considerable number of whom succumbed to a desire to get up and dance.
It was lovely.
We arrive late as usual.
The walled courtyard–open to the sky–of this recent and welcome addition to Lautrec’s cultural scene is jam-packed with holidaymakers and locals–sitting round the magnificent lime tree (linden) that reaches to the sky from its centre.
This time we bring our own chairs.
We edge in at the back behind the only two people wearing hats.
The woman’s is a jaunty synthetic floppy number and–luckily for me–see-through.
Her husband’s straw-looking trilby–on Meredith’s side–is not.
They dress alike: green tops each, a white dress for her and white trousers for him–to go with the hats.
She is bavardeuse (chatty) and he never says a word–I’m with him!
Stoicly we refuse to allow the slightly obstructed view to spoil our enjoyment of the music.
My feet start tapping involuntarily and Meredith has trouble keeping still while taping the panning shots.
We order a glass of red each and settle back.
Fortunately for us it’s not long before Monsieur and Madame Chapeau find the rhythm irresistible and get up to dance–un-obscuring our view.
Heaven!
We leave just before the encore and head for the car, parked a few metres down the street.
We can still hear the music loud and clear and like Les Chapeaux, find it irresistible.
Two foreigners dance in the empty street under a moonless sky, counting their lucky stars!
Robin Ellis 
Looks wonderful. Even though I cant dance I think the urge to get up and have a go would have won me over – well that or maybe a glass or two red wine as dutch courage!!
At the Olympics in Rio, I bet everybody will be dancing to the samba.
awww how romantic! 🙂 xxx
Where’s the photo of you and Meredith dancing in the street? Want to see that one! A fitting end…
Best,
Steven (and Lucy)
There was only us…!
Greetings Steven and Lucy.
You would have had to snap it Thelma and Louise style.
We didn’t have the presence of mind by that time in the evening!
What a lot happens in your little corner! Must admit to a stab of sadness – the kind of thing we might have done before my husband died. Count your lucky stars indeed…….
Your posts are beautifully written, Robin.
Thank you, Sophie-Jane.
The Lime tree is beautiful. Does it have limes growing on it? What a lovely night. We volunteer at White Clay Park on Wednesday, they have free concerts in the Park. We belong to the “Friends of White Clay. I dip water Ice and husband is the cashier. Love the outdoor concerts. Tribute to Billy Joel is this Wednesday.
Will your vignettes be put together in a book sometime? You give us such an up-close and personal look at living a life away from “home”, – a fantasy that many people have without making the opportunity to realize it. Thank you! I have my own set of Poldark and am forever in awe of your commanding performance. You own that part like Clark Gable will always own Rhett Butler – and Olivier will own Healthcliff. You lit a fire under that part! On your next book tour, I hope you will include San Diego, CA. and maybe take a part in our Old Globe (regional theater) winter season productions!
A job offer!? wow!
Thanks.
We’ll try to come to San Diego, Phyllis–if there’s a next time.
What a wonderful setting, So Meredith and you got your dance in the moonlight after all. Lovely.
I’d love to understand the phrase “Fado do Samba”; It would seem to be an oxymoron. Fado is continental portugues and it’s mournful, to say the least. Samba is an utter contradiction to fado!
I speak both Brasilian and continental portugues and can’t reconcile the two. Help!
It’s the name of the group–I didn’t get to ask them about the contradiction!
Awww, dancing in the street, just the two of you! So sweet!
And we were lying in the grass the other night watching the meteor shower–Mother Nature’s light show! 🙂
Meredith writing: I watched the tail end of the Perseids and saw a few cracking good shooting stars–but I missed the main event. Like you, I love watching the sky at night and here in SW France it’s quite dark–as I imagine it is up in New Hampshire….
It was pouring buckets the “peak night,” but still a good show the night after! Our house is on a bit of a hill, and the trees are just far enough away to see everything unless it’s low on the horizon. Gene’s great w/astronomy–he can tell the season by what’s in the sky. I only know winter’s on the way when I see Orion’s belt!
Cheers & hugs!
Fabulous! Could almost hear the music playing 🙂 thanks Meredith for the pics and for sharing.
If you click on the video link you will hear the music!
the thought of you dancing in the street, alone to the music, is so evocative. I hope you do put these little vignettes together in a book as Phyllis suggests..
PS Sorry if I asked a silly question about the sunflower oil, but as a type 1 diabetic, I wondered if the olive oil was necessary for some reason, not just a matter of taste. Sorry again