Day 145 : Valentine’s Day in Marseille

It’s Valentine’s Day! 

Strangely, I didn’t noticed any flowers sold on the street, nor couples carrying flowers while walking along the streets of Marseille.  Considering how romance is always related to France and all things French, I thought Valentine’s Day would be a big thing in Marseille.

I found out later this evening that romance seems to take on a different meaning in France….

The night before, I had found a very reasonably priced 3 course set dinner for Euro 17 at L’Ecailler restaurant and decided will have a good dinner on Valentine’s Day (The prices went up later to Euro 20, as it was a busy night and the restaurant probably decided it’s best to cash in on the V-Day festivities).

As I walked into the restaurant, I was assigned a table located awkwardly just outside the kitchen. 

One of the staff remembered me from the night before while I was outside the restaurant looking at the menu, and told me to follow him to a different section of the restaurant – From what I gathered, different waiters are assigned to different sections of the restaurant to wait on a few specific tables, and that area was waited on by him. 

I had a nice corner table.  Sitting at the table next to mine, separated by the passage way, were 2 men – an older guy in his late 50s and a younger guy about 30+ years old.  Throughout the whole time I made no communication with the table next to me. 

The waiter served me a complimentary aperitif (bubbly), a drink served to all customers in the restaurant, and shortly after took my order – Appetiser : Half dozen oysters, Main : Prawns, Dessert : Chocolate Tart, and a glass of white wine. 

I was given an additional complimentary bubbly after I had finished my 1st glass and the waiter also served me the glass of white wine without charging it on my bill. 

In addition, he made sure to point out when my oysters were served, that there were 8 instead of 6 . 

The waiter also constantly checked in and offered more complimentary wine if I wanted, and made eye contact with me even when serving other tables. 

While still having my meal, the 2 guys seated at the next table had finished their meal and prepared to leave. 

But before they did, the older man came next to me and said goodbye and attempted to kiss me on my lips. 

Thankfully I quickly turned my head to the side and he could only kiss me on my cheek – what the Fxxx?!?  Trying to take advantage of a “little” girl on V-day?!?

I continued with my meal and at one point the waiter came by my table and said “Toilet is upstairs.  5 mins”.  I thought it was strange, and didn’t think too much about it, other than perhaps the waiter don’t speak very fluent English.  I later realised that he was trying to hit on me. 

I had given the waiter about a 30% tip for the service and freebies he had provided when I had asked for the bill. 

A couple minutes after leaving the restaurant, the waiter came chasing after me and asked why I went off so quickly.  He continued and said that when he saw me, his heart went “boom boom”, and tried to ask for a kiss.  I ducked and said no.  He continued to try, but I continued my stance and made my way back to the hostel. 

There must be something strange in the air in Marseille on V-day.  Is this what French regards as romance?  Tsk Tsk…