Andre, Michelle, Christian, Bernard, and Paul. These guys are amazing. I'd put them in the top 10 for just the best group of people I have ever met. They are all retired and, I think, over 60. They all are certified divers, and are underwater archaeologists. Well, minus Michelle. Michelle is Bernard's wife (we think…we didn't really know and since only Andre spoke really good English, this is just information we gathered that we think is correct). They all referred to her as their Cook. Very jokingly, but that was their whole attitudes. They just joked all the time. Everything they talked about they just made into a merry conversation.
Bernard had a very jolly face, with large glass held on by croakies, very defined forehead wrinkles and crows feet that just seemed to be how he always looked. He was basically bald, and was the head diver. Michelle was very sweet and an amazing cook! Even though they were joking about that, she really was there, well probably for Bernard, but cooked for them for the 15 days they were there. She was very happy and just smiled all the time. Paul was Andre's brother. They look almost exactly alike, although Paul is a bit shorter. He has been a diver for most of his life, and Andre said that one day after Andre retired Paul told him to come diving because everything is better in the sea. Everything is better down beneath the water. I have to say, I agree with him. Paul was bow-legged and had a big beard. He spent a year in California back in either 1961, 62, or 64-we're not sure exactly. He was very happy though, and when they had been diving that day they collected some oysters that they saw. Paul was on the back porch shucking oysters for us to eat. They hadn't been prepared or anything, so he was offering us very fresh oysters. We all tried one, and as much as I wanted to like it…I nearly hurled. It tasted a lot like the ocean, but idk I just couldn't handle it. Maybe if I had had some wine to go with it or lemon juice? My mom loves them, so maybe if we have some again I'll have to try them and see if they are better prepared. Andre and Paul kept saying though (in very broken English with thick heavy French accents) you either love or hate oysters, no in between. Andre was absolutely ADORABLE. He spoke pretty good English, and we could all communicate with the help of a few translation problems that were solved with help from conversation between Dr. HIll and Andre. He kept making sound effects to describe all of the different marine archaeology techniques he was describing. Andre was the most agile person I've seen in a while, especially considering he had to be at least over 70 yrs old. It was amazing all the things he was doing. I think, and he says so as well, that they, referring to him and the French in general, are in much better health than Americans because they eat and drink better. They eat a lot more chicken and fish instead of other meats, pace themselves during meals, and drink more red wine. He said though that you shouldn't have more than 2 glasses within a hour, well the men shouldn't. The women should only have one. Andre was so knowledgable. He really really reminded me a lot of my granddaddy, Dr. Ed Clement. They way he just kept wanting to talk and talk to us, like he could just learn more and more, and how knowledgable he was. He knew SO MUCH! He was a biologist of some sorts before he got interested in marine archaeology. He told us all about marine archaeology, and presented it to us in conjunction with the rise of diving. One guy, his name has slipped my mind right now but if you search diving his name will come up I'm sure, well one French guy helped advance diving more so than anyone in the 50s and 60s (I think) so the French are very proud of this and like to boast about it, naturally. Christian was my favorite. He had about hair that come down a title bit past his shoulders, that was grey with his dark hair remnants underneath. Big bushy dark eye brows, and a very defined face. He had a swimmers build, and was the jokester out of the group. He spoke pretty good English. Andre told us that most French people learn English while in school, and kept encouraging his friends to speak it because he knew they could. Christian spoke pretty good English, and was constantly managing a project of some sorts.
They all were constantly fixing things. We couldn't figure out our gas situation because the car took diesel, but we didn't know if there was a different kind to use or what (turns out there is this gas called gasole or something like that and it is just a different form of diesel), but ALL of the guys, minus Andre who was presenting to us, were trying to fix the gas situation. They were just magnificent! They are searching right now for the ship Elephant, a vessel carrying sugar that sank just off the shore from where they were. They had found some metal remnants in the sea earlier that day, but didn't know for sure if it was from the Elephant or not. Through them we were able to stay at the same place they were- a series of beach houses that had 2 full rooms, 1 room with twin beds, and 2 futons downstairs, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer. It was AMAZING. I felt like I was at the beach. They made us dinner and breakfast, and we all sat around for a long time visiting and talking about anything and everything you can imagine. It may just have been my favorite part of the trip so far.
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