The day before the braderie, a cloud of heavy, tense air descends on Lille. People become aggressive, easily annoyed and anxious because either 1) they don't want to deal with the noise, stench, and crowds of the braderie or 2) they can't wait to dig through old clothes, records, old furniture, and gorge themselves on mussels and wash it down with some cold beers.
Every centimeter of my street is "reserved", either officially through the City hall or unofficially through chalk on the side walk, tape or string strung up between trees or by camping out in a van on the parking space. Anything goes. Although no one is legally allowed to brader* before the end of the half-marathon tomorrow (1pm), festivities start tonight.
The braderie also marks my 7 year anniversary with my dear husband. We noticed each other as I shucked mussels and he opened bottles of beer. And we both realized it was "it" when I began dancing in the street like a total spaz to Michael Jackson "Dont' Stop Til You Get Enough" (see side bar).
The good chti** that I am, I will be partaking in mussels and beers to my heart's delight this year...in suburbia.
*brader = to sell off
**chti=a northerner
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6 comments:
Congratulations on your anniversary; funny story! I've often wanted to ask how expat wives/husbands met their partner. "Don't Stop Til..." was played at our wedding as well as during labor but that's probably TMI. Anyway, that song is very danceable.
And how did you get the video to post in your sidebar? I've been wanting to do that for a while but haven't figured out how to put the code in there.
Saw a news report about the braderie last night - they included video of the race. Maybe we saw you !
Oh, and wasn't Michael Jackson so much better looking before ?
I stumbled upon your blog while looking for illustrations for "Franco-American." I happen to be a Ch'ti from Lille (well, not actually Lille, Marcq-en-Baroeul) who has been living in the U.S. for the past 32 years (yes, time does fly...). Anyway, I think that I am going to add your blog to my blogroll, if you do not mind, because:
1. You are an American living in Lille.
2. I liked what I've read so far...
La Braderie is tons of fun. And I LOVE mussels, French fries, and beer.
pardon my French - you add a section to your layout and then resize the youtube link. I'd like to know how you get a picture in your layout with words to describe it (like your tub of ice cream!)
Thanks for the happy wishes Deb!
wcs, did you see my run by in my bright orange shirt and making a fool of myself trying to collect money for cancer? 4,90€!
Hi Elisabeth and thanks for linking to me!
Better late than never...thanks for the tip! I couldn't figure out why my video was too large when I tried the first time but duh, will resize. The picture thing works similarly (adding a section). I usually search for a photo and save it to disk, but there may be an easier way.
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