39 Comments
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Kari Luna's avatar

Ahhh, le pipi :). A riot, as usual, K!

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Rachel Bucci's avatar

Love the descriptions … I can see everything! Also tres worried about the asthmatic felon 😂

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Thanks for your kind words. I've watched the AF a lot, and I think he just has a really terrible stroke. At least I'm hoping that's the case!

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Rachel Bucci's avatar

Kudos to him for gutting it out!

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Betty Carlson's avatar

Read today in an article about "destination dupes":

"Instead of Nice → Go to Collioure

Nice can be lovely, but especially crowded, especially in summer. Collioure, near the Spanish border, is a colorful Catalan-infused seaside town that once inspired Matisse. Think vibrant facades, rosé by the harbor, and a slower pace."

(Especially..especially..)

Have fun with that!

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Karen Karbo's avatar

BETTY! Mon Dieu! What the dupe-ers missed is that Nice has 300,000 people and we have 3,000 people (ish.) Collioure is a petite village with no stoplights, a single grocery store, no night clubs, and nothing much to do except sit on the beach two centimeters away from someone else. (Am I selling it?) Thanks for breaking this alarming news!

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Betty Carlson's avatar

I've been to Collioure, in the summer actually, but many moons ago -- in 1992. It was just about navigable at that time but I would never, ever go there during high season again. It sounds dreadful. (I know it's pretty though.) And yes, the idea that these are somehow comparable destinations is quite hilarious.

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Ann Higgins's avatar

Love this. Thank you.

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Karen Karbo's avatar

I live to poke fun. :)

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maryse's avatar

In 3 weeks I’m heading to the Atlantic Coast of France and if need be will turn on the clime. I’m pro the Devil’s Appliance. 🤣

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Karen Karbo's avatar

You go girl. You have my full support.

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Sacha Cohen's avatar

Hilarious and spot on post as usual 😊

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Thanks, Sacha. x

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Rita Dragonette's avatar

Ha! I won’t visit in the summer any more in the summer. No AC!!! Had too many previous experiences with le pipi, including boys being encouraged by parents to just do it.

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Ann Higgins's avatar

Fun barely relevant fact. The corners of Venetian streets have stones placed so as to direct any stray peepee onto the feet of the peepee-er. And if you are caught peepeeing into a canal you are likely to be pushed in.

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Karen Karbo's avatar

This is genius.

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Rita Dragonette's avatar

Love it. Hope it deters

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Cynthia Rowden's avatar

Such a great post! Just the thing I needed while sitting in our Toronto condo with struggling air-conditioning contemplating indoor tasks to avoid the “35 feels like 43” degree weather outside. It seems like the whole world is having a heat wave. I think I’ll plan for a trip in September with the hope that the floating bandages and tampons will be gone by then.

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Caroline Smrstik's avatar

bon sang! pass the pastis...

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Natalie Serber's avatar

Yes 🙌🏻 and is the sea-wading smooth-jazz-covering saxophone player back?

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Pablo! He is. Noodling away 'neath his red umbrella-slash-parasol

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Stephanie Vanderslice's avatar

Love it. Do you have a beach you recommend? I realize the irony of this question after reading this, but we hope to drive down from Quillan at some point soon.

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Stephanie Vanderslice's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Karen Karbo's avatar

HA! Yes, I do. All are BEST in the morning no later than 10:00, and in the evening no early than 7:00 pm. You'll want to head over to place St. Vincent. It is lovely, There is a sweet beach shack there for excellent wine and tapas, too.

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Carrie Talick's avatar

This is hilarious. Love your writing which makes me wish we were best friends.

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Karen Karbo's avatar

That is really the nicest thing to say. <3

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Natalie Serber's avatar

What a gorgeous thing to say! Makes me love the world !

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Absolutement! x

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Patricia Sands's avatar

ROFLLLL(out loud) ~ MS to editor deadline in three days, this was just what I needed. Bon été! Mille mercis.

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Courage ma belle! I'm glad I made you laugh.

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Mary Martha's avatar

This is so funny, thanks for the laughs! With our third day of a metro strike here in Marseille, I suppose summer can be a challenge everywhere in France!

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Yikes! How long's that strike going to last? It's got to be annoying in the extreme. Normally it's pretty intense here in July and August, but somehow we've gotten off to an early start with the insanity. Thanks for you kind words.

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Mary Martha's avatar

I think today was the last day! Thankfully I didn't have any urgent needs to get anywhere. I hope things calm down for you!

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Kristin Fellows's avatar

What a funny and original set of vignettes, a perfect composite postcard ~ merci!

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Karen Karbo's avatar

Thank you, Kristin. I imagine there's something universal about the locals vs summer visitor dance.

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John Howard's avatar

I guess I'll be staying at home this summer. Jayzus!

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Karen Karbo's avatar

It's not for the faint of heart!

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