Fete de la Musique

29 years and counting. Every 21 June this "Feast of Music" is played out. Begun in France, it has become an integral part of the cultural fabric.
It is quite simply, a celebration of music, all kinds of music, all over France and now in over 90 countries worldwide. (www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr)
On the 21st of June small towns and big cities close off their streets and people by the thousands, all kinds of peoples, young and old, rich and poor, peoples of every ethnicity all turn out for the music and it makes for one big ole street party!
It is really quite a fantastic thing to behold. The universal beauty of music to inspire, unite and entertain.
The experience translates perfectly!
And, in our little village, it is all this with perhaps a twist or two. The entire old town around the harbor is closed to traffic, and, it would seem all 18,000 residents turn out for the party. Everywhere, the streets are packed with a sea of people.
Bands set-up willy-nilly all over the village. They play simultaneously, a calcophany of sounds surrounds me.
I loose count at 15 or so bands, but among the varied styles a Celtic/Peruvian band is most unexpected, a decent N'awlins Dixieland jazz band, but most of the bands favor 60's and 70's American/British pop. It's really a trip to hear French people singing English lyrics. Many times I'm sure they don't understand what their singing--- sometimes neither do I.
Imagine this, a rendition of "Sunshine of Your Love"-Cream, the theme from Rocky, two nearly simultaneous versions of "Smoke on the Water", one a bit better than the other and ending "merci beaucoup", then segued into "I Shot the Sheriff".
There is a DJ with no dancers, the requisite "Riders on the Storm", "Highway to Hell", and "Hotel California" and much, much more.
It was tres, tres surreal!
Perhaps, most "disturbing" was the line dancing troupe, accompanied by the worst "cryin' in your beer country music", rebel flags, US flags, fringed chaps, cowboy hats and unfortunately unlike previous years, without the green blow up cactus props. Huuummm?
It was a uniquely French Experience.
One where a few street toughs in leather and mohawks milled through the crowds chugging cheap bottles of rose wine. Sandy muses if one of the toughs might be the designated holder of the "waiters friend" needed to open all of those bottles of rose. No screw caps here!
And in true French style, it is a spontaneous spectacle with joyous outbreaks of dancing, bobbing and weaving, young and old alike mixing it up. A good time was had by all and, most importantly, everyone just seemed to be "in the moment".
Just another of the many things that I adore about this place.
And on that night, at the very same time the very same drama played out in villages, towns and cities, near and far, all across France.
Now, how cool is that?
A bientot,
Cousin Kevin & Sandy

My So-Called Philosophy of Travel

I've purposefully become obsessive in travel. When I'm there- I want to really be there- not somewhere else or in some other time.
You will come to recognize my favorite expression "In The Moment", it is to become my guiding principle in life.

So, I

Go Slow
Go Small
Stay Local
Eat Local
Do Less
Dig Deeper
Open My Mind

Go Slow
The slower you go the more intimate your contact with your surroundings, so.
Don't fly on planes- ok, so I have to cross an ocean and there aren't many boats anymore, Do.... take trains- they are affordable, fast, easy, let you off in the middle of everything and I meet cool interesting people, local as well as fellow travelers. Do take boats to islands, it's what they're made for. DON'T drive cars- they are expensive, often inconvenient, too American, unwanted in many towns and cities and often just a pain in the ass. When all else fails, do a car rather than not do at all.
Do ride subways, trams and buses. They make big cities easy and when you know how to get around, big can be way cool.
Do bike or walk- the most intimate form of transport- you'll see so much more.

Go Small
Don't try to see it all in one trip! Don't try too many countries- Europe is bigger than you think. One country is usually way big, you'll find plenty to see and do, if you just slow down.
Do stay 2 or more days in a place, it takes that long just to begin to get a sense of place. Do day trips out from a well located town.
Don't be afraid to change your plans-it's ok to think on-the-fly.

Stay Small
Don't stay in big overpriced 3,4,5 stars, in resorts or American branded hotels.
Do stay in small 1,2 star family run hotels, inns, pensionnes, auberges, rooms above restaurants/cafes, guest houses, convents/monasteries, B&B's or even hostels. Don't be afraid of "bath down the hall" you know they work just fine.
Do these things and it will trim your budget and better plug you into the local culture.
Don't book thru 3rd party sites or rely on their "customer feedback". Don't book thru slick Internet sites sight unseen- you see what they want you to see.
Do use well-known guidebooks, tourist information offices or personal recommendations. Their only agenda is you.
Do, once you "know the lay of the land", try renting and apartment, gite or agritourismo thru a reputable site. These longer term rentals with kitchens and all the "modcons" can be the ultimate in "full immersion living".

Eat Local
Some travelers would say that you really haven't been somewhere until you've eaten the local dishes and drank the local wine and done so among the local people.
This is how I feel and more!
Don't eat in big hotel restaurants, or go for overpriced "stars", places with English or tourist menus, places "with a view' unless of course the view is what you're there for and not the meal. Don't do places where English drowns out the local language, and need I say it- never, never in an American branded fast food joint!
Do eat in small mom & pop restaurants/cafes on the backstreets, where a crowd of locals are, where it smells outrageous and where the menu is on a chalkboard and changes at the whim of the cook or the market.
Do try different things, eat more lunches- they're cheaper- and less dinners. Do picnic- go shopping- the local market, the grocery, deli, local wines- it's as local as it gets.
Absolutely do local outdoor cafes with a view, front and center. Do be sure to take time to "people watch", to sense the buzz of the place.
Do drink the local drink, inexpensive carafes of wine in a wine country and big cold glasses of beer in a beer country.

Do Less
As said before, Don't try to do everything- Do a few select things really well.
Don't go to every museum or ruin 'cause it's there- educate yourself about what's in there before you go, otherwise you can just be looking at random things- or just don't go at all. Do go to the principal cathedrals- they are the highest expression of mans creativity with an unlimited budget and they're easy to understand.
Do go to public markets- these are for the real people! Do go to a grocery store, they are real and a unique window into the local culture.
Do, make sure you allow some time to just "stop and smell the roses".

Dig Deeper
Do try to learn all that you can about where you will be. Do try to learn even a little of the language- it will so endear you to your "neighbors" Do try to talk to these "neighbors"- what is their everyday life like?
Do limit yourself as much as possible to walking- you will see, hear, smell and feel so much more.
Do look for the beauty in everything- big & small- do try and see it "through the eyes of a child"
Do try to imagine as often as you can, yourself living in this place.

Open My Mind
Do go as a guest- leave your judgements, prejudices and preconceptions. Do see everything anew. Do give the benefit of the doubt.
Don't be ugly
Do try and see life thru the eyes of the other.
Do always practice humility and respect.
Do try to always carry a smile.
And, DO ALWAYS TRY YOUR MOST TO BE "IN THE MOMENT"!!

Cousin