Almost Forgot - Valentine's Day

Several people asked me if the French celebrate Valentine's Day - yes, they do. On the walk to the bus station last Saturday morning, every block or so, we saw an elderly man walking home from the flower market in the town hall square with flowers for his wife. Apparently, however, Valentine's Day is only for couples here so you wouldn't, for example, wish a friend Happy Valentine's Day. One girl recounted the story of going to the fish market that morning and after buying her fish, wishing the man a Happy Valentine's Day. He gave her a concerned look as if to say, "I just sold you a fish - it doesn't mean I'm in love with you..." Erin gave Madame candy the night before and explained that in her family, her dad always sends them all candy for Valentine's so she wanted to give people candy this year. Madame seemed to think this was strange, but apparently she wanted us to feel at home because there were bags of marshmallows waiting for us on our beds when we got back from Arles.