Elsien's Traveblogue

Saturday 3^rd December 2011

I have a real love-hate relationship with Christmas, like a lot of other people, I imagine. I loathe the commercialisation of it, yet I quite enjoy the Christmas displays, even the Christmas 'tat', cheap rubbish no one in their right mind wants to receive and yet lots of people buy it … I hate the crowds, but at the same time I enjoy the buzz of the shoppers. I love the fairy lights and even the awful Christmas muzak. I love eating all the Christmas food, even though I have to go on a diet and exercise regime afterwards and even though I have to jostle to get the food and drink I want to serve up to my friends and family ….

It's quite exciting being in Montpellier for Christmas: it looks pretty, the food on display looks great – I am already planning the French Christmas menu in my head and I am trying to select Christmas presents for my English family that are neither liquid nor heavy as I have to fly them across by EasyJet …

The poor 'indigné(e)s' are not putting on much of a show in Montpellier. For a start, there's only a few of them, I think and the whole of the central square, the Place de la Comedie, is taken up with a large Christmas tree, a permanent fountain and an extensive Christmas market, so they find themselves squashed between the fountain and the Christmas tree, sharing the square and competing for attention with the 'normal' beggars, most of whom can play the accordion … I saw a few 'indigné(e)s' crunching organic apples outside the Bio-Shop, but most of them seem to hang out at McDonald's at the corner …

We already have a Christmas tree, which has survived three summers on the terrasse in Brussels and has come with us down South. She looks fairly healthy … have to buy some decorations for her... Got the large dining table to groan with French dishes and a LIDL round the corner (as well as a Carrefour and little 'artisanat' shops. I have been paid by one of my employers, so can start planning and buying!

posted by Elsien Gale  # 3:24 AM