Patinage et Un Rhume

Last Sunday we actually went skating in Marseille! There is one skating rink in town and the excursion has been planned since before Christmas. The arena is in a sports complex which also houses skateboard and BMX ramps. Before we even stepped on the ice, Keith and I were already laughing. As soon as we got there, one of the guys from the lab had to turn around and go back home to get gloves because gloves where required for skating. That’s right it was INTERDITE to skate without gloves. I don’t really know what the rationing is on this, really a pair of magic gloves is not going to make a big difference if your fingers come into contact with a skate blade.

The skating was amusing to say the least. I usually think of skating as a pretty laid back, calm activity, but as with everything else, the French engage in skating with a frantic energy that seems unnecessary. Firstly the rinks were packed. There was a circular rink attached by a tunnel to a regular sized hockey rink. By the time we had got our skate rentals in the mid afternoon there was a snowy coat of shavings on the rink. As is customary peopled flowed in a counter clockwise rotation around the ice, but as many people were novices this motion was not as smooth as we are used to. Predicting someone’s path when they are barely keeping their balance is difficult and avoiding those who had stopped for no apparent reason, or who had fallen down, really hampered any efforts we made to get any type of rhythm going.  Add to this the chaos of a couple of hotshots who would cut you off as they played tag around the people and I’m hoping you get the picture. I felt more like I was at a swimming pool with a bunch of teenagers randomly jumping and swimming in all directions than at a skating rink. I find it interesting how certain modes of behaviour and customs we just take for granted, even with something as unregulated as a free skate.

Regardless we did have a good time. Some of Keith’s lab mates where actually quite good and had had a lot of experience on rollerblades which seem to be ultra popular here. There were only a few who made their way around the ice in a halting manner. The rental skates where completely plastic and within five minutes of starting out Keith has a hole in the heal of his sock from the strange fit. There was also a place in the plastic moulding where your ankle was “supposed” to fit. This really wasn’t the case and we both came home with sore ankles, but enjoyed the active afternoon and the good company.

I had many goals for this week and one of them was to be sure to write on the blog at least twice. Well as you know this didn’t happen. I have been weighed down by a cold this week and it has sapped most of my energy. The interesting thing about having a cold was getting drugs. As my nose was continuously dripping and I had a bit of a fever, we thought it best to get something so that I could at least sleep. Well first of all, there is no over the counter medication. You tell your symptoms to the pharmacist and they go into their back room to get you whatever they think is best (even if it is just cough drops!). The other interesting thing is that combination medications don’t seem to exist. You cannot get something for nasal congestion and fever, but instead have to take two different types of medication. Another thing I find somewhat strange but also fun, is that medications often come in tablets or powders that need to be dissolved in water and then are meant to be drunk for faster digestion, I guess. All in all it has been a bit of a learning experience, but what I wouldn’t have given just to have a cup of warm neo-citron before bed instead of a pill and fizzy drink.