Getting Married

i'm listening to the radio. not getting married. but everytime i sign on to facebook, my worldwide stalker gossip connection web, it seems someone else is getting hitched. and last weekend i experienced my first gay wedding. not My first gay wedding, but i waited tables and served drinks at A wedding. i must admit there were simple questions which arose in my mind, concerning those traditions we take for granted at any other wedding i have been to, and they were answered. there was no bride. just two grooms each wearing a tux. simple solution to a half joking half ignorant question. and honestly that was pretty much the only difference. both sides of parents spoke of gaining a son in law. i'm fairly certain there was a larger than average number of other homosexual men in attendance. the wedding party also seemed to consist of more friends than family as compared to the weddings i've been to, but this could be due to any number of reasons. so it was cool, they got married, everyone was happy.

1st of July, 2007: it has rained for the entire month of june. i need some sunshine. people have died in the flooding. will it ever let up? the 4th of july is only three days away.

French Riviera

Enthusiasm was wearing thin. Twelve hours earlier we were eating calamari in the old town of Nice. The sun still beating down on our faces. a few hours by bus and plane and we were sitting in an all night hole in the wall in north east England, chilly Newcastle. our train didn't leave until 4:30 and the train station closed at eleven so we took to the streets with luggage in tow. dark crowded unfamiliar streets looking for somewhere to pass the time. 24/7 city cafe. greasy English chips and chicken. the bars closed at 2:00 driving crowds of drunken teens towards our hideaway. i only begin at the end of the story in an attempt to persuasively convey our state of mind. harsh reality, optimism, out of touch. the shock upon returning to England was not overshadowed by excitement and expectation as was our shock upon arriving in France. maybe it was just getting late and we needed to sleep.

'French in Translation'
Monday afternoon seven friends and myself boarded a plane in Newcastle England. walking into the boarding area, i noticed right away that almost everyone getting on our plane looked retired. Monday evening we were on the beach in Nice France. the 21st century is an incredible time to live. (going through customs in France i remembered i didn't speak french). that same evening we each treated ourselves to a pasta dinner and a crepe with nutella. the air was still warm, the waiters were friendly, the night was relaxed. the french riviera must be an incredible place to live.

Tuesday was devoted to the exploration of Nice and with the aid of daylight we got our first true taste of the city. the colors, architecture, style, food, and sun all made an impression as we headed towards the beach. by the time we eventually made it there a cloud formed in the sky and a light rain began to fall. disappointment. we walked along the coast with the sea to our right. the bluest water I've ever seen washed up onto the stony shore. i had noticed the musical sound this created the night before, and now i could see the stones rocking against each other with each wave. a man fished from the high rocks below the road. bright orange red and yellow buildings stood to our left with romantically carved balconies and faded blue shutters. all an apparent contrast to the bricks and dull modern facade of England. the old town was bustling with activity, shops, cafes, and tourists in designer clothes. narrow winding streets, wash hanging from lines stretched between windows to dry. artists, butchers, florists, all side by side.

that afternoon the sun was shinning bright and we went back to the beach. I had restrained myself from jumping into the sea the night before, knowing that we would be back. now however, there was no reason not to swim. no one else wanted to come, so i waded in alone. the water was cold, but not unbearable and i quickly got used to it, swimming out and floating, opening my eyes under the water to see the stones below. ten minutes later i waded out with a giant red imprint of a jelly fish on my right forearm. life just isn't fair, i only wanted to swim.

Cannes, where they host the famous film festival, is a half hour south-west of Nice and it's the city of the Rich and the Famous. there's a certain luxurious aroma in the air. tanned, wearing designer clothes and gold chains or diamond earrings. everyone. sunscreen for 20 euros, i preferred to burn a little. Anna and i met an older gentlemen who noticed us speaking English. he was from Manchester and has spent the last 25 years in Cannes. 'I've met all the stars, Nice is a beautiful city, where are you two beautiful people from?' that sort of thing. private yachts and private parties on private beaches, 'no, I'm not registered on the beach'. high class my friend. it was the old women in gold diamonds and red sweaters with high heels and great big hats and makeup caked on sunken tanned faces that kind of makes you wonder. these people are slightly out of touch with reality. i can't say it wouldn't be a relaxing life to lead.

Monaco is extravagant. one city, an entire country. the wealthy and the royal. Monte-Carlo is a world famous casino with a prominent position within the country, high on a hill overlooking the sea. when it opened it was known as the cathedral of hell. we walked down to the beach and watched a volleyball game through a fence. jellyfish were out in full force. we took a ten minute bus ride across the country and surveyed the port and everything else from near the palace. everything was beautiful. we went to the aquarium and looked at the fishes.....

Time again...i was writing this last week just after we returned from France and that's why the date of the post is what it is and in any case, i was getting sick and writing very slowly and then Monday morning i got a phone call and a job interview and Tuesday i started working at the Radisson hotel and its now Saturday afternoon and its been my first chance to write and I'm afraid those wonderful stories of Nice will have to wait for some other time. i don't think it was going anywhere anyway.