CH 13: Remember the Sea Backstory
The real stars of RTS are Yannick (the host of the B&B in Bordeaux, which in reality is a boarding house for students), the food and the setting. Though the events of the chapter are fiction, there is such a man as Yannick (and his wife Lucie), and their home is largely as portrayed in the story. And if anything, my descriptions of the food fall gloriously short of the real thing.
My daughter (Jade) spent her junior year of college abroad in Bordeaux and had the good fortune to stay with Yannick. His home encircles a courtyard and he has it divided into several apartments for visiting students. I was lucky enough to meet him when I went over to visit Jade, and we’ve been fast friends ever since.
Mirabelles (Courtesy Jours Heureux – 750g.com)
As the climax of the breakfast scene, McGhee experiences a confit tendered by Yannick cryptically named Mirabelles. See the picture above. It is nothing short of miraculous. That, and the other elements of breakfast (and the scene in the courtyard) were just as described. It was positively uplifting to see how much they enjoyed their food, and the delight they took in sharing it. If you’d like to buy a case of it, you can find it here.
Yannick, expanding his rooms, pictured from opposite courtyard at back of his property.
As noted above, one of the stars of the chapter is Yannick. I can’t say enough about this guy – he’s one of those persons who came along in my life just when I needed such a friend. Our discussions (and there were many at the time, and since) always unfold in a manner that gets to the quick of big topics. He’s philosophical and full of life in a way uncommon from my experience. In many ways he’s the beating heart of the novel, defying whatever nihilistic tendencies are present with life-affirming enthusiasm. If you ever make it to Bordeaux, look him up. He’ll greet you with a smile, no matter who you are.
The end of the chapter is set west of Bordeaux on the coast of the Atlantic at a place called Pylat Dune. You may recall from the story McGhee and Yannick climb the dune on a set of stairs – they aren’t visible here, but ascend the dune from the forest on the right.
Pilat Dune, Bordeaux, FR.
Alas, the encounter noted on the dune did not occur, though Yannick and I did spend a splendid afternoon there.
