We decided to venture out for brunch while were in beautiful Nice, France. The weather predicted sunny skies and I was feeling particularly brunchy. You know the feeling, it’s a Sunday and you deserve a freaking quiche.
The cafe, Déli Bo, was recommended to us and we were willing to wait for a table. The host approached us and said ominously, “We only have tables outside.” By this point, rain clouds had rolled in and I waved them away with only thoughts of my quiche.
I soon realized my mistake. The wind left no prisoners. Lettuce from our salad littered the ground like leaves. Napkins floated in the air like birds of dark omen. Receipts floated away – did we still have to pay?
Children and adults alike couldn’t be saved. Strollers rolled away with babies still in it.
Parched mouths reached for their drinks only to find unknown bits and someone else’s hair at the bottom of their glass.
Menus were blown off tables and people would throw up their hands and say, “Just surprise me!”. Waiters shielded their customers’ eyes from debris as they ordered. Quality customer service.
Customers would hold down napkins while waiters placed down silverware in vain – teamwork was at play here.
No one felt like a plastic bag drifting in the wind, but they were certainly attacked by one or two, entangling them like tumbleweeds from the dumpster down the road.
Though there was not a ray of sunshine people donned sunglasses to act as lab goggles to protect themselves.
One intelligent woman used her turtleneck to its full potential by pulling it up and over the lower half of her face. A classic move I’ve now coined, ‘the turtle-shell’. Genius.
It could almost be seen as an experience.
Come dine in the wind tunnel, we’ll blow you away!
Then there would be a moment of pure bliss – the eye of the storm if you will – when the wind would cease, but only briefly. Fathers gripped their children to their chest in suspense.
A family of four who just wanted a nice Nice brunch (see what I did there?) was hit the worst. Waters and juices crashed around them drenching both parents and child. The baby was removed from her stroller only to have her cries carried off by the wind.
Yet there was still a line to get onto that patio of hell. I’d honestly still recommend it. Great quiche.
