Friday, August 12, 2011

Summer Afternoon Pétanque

Pétanque is the national sport/loisir/past-time of France. Everyone plays. And neither age nor sex nor physical abilities restrict the ability to play nor the effectiveness with which one plays. In some parts of the world a similar game of Boccé (or perhaps other names too?) is played, but not cherished as it is in France.

Pétanque has curious uniform silver balls. Initially shiny, you can tell a long-time pétanque officianado by his/her muted canon-ball like pétanque balls. Each set of three is marked with particular etchings to tell them apart. The game is played in teams of 2 (or 3, maybe more?), and the object is to place as many of your team’s balls as close to the marker ball as possible. Typically played on flat ground sandy courts, pétanque can really be played anywhere. And on a weekend afternoon, pretty much everyone comes out for a match. This may be the only sport best played with a glass of wine in hand, and truly accepting of all ages/types. Hooray pétanque!

4 comments:

Ryan and Emily said...

So I guess the phrase should read that "close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and pétanque?" (and I've always that that nuclear missiles should have been included in that list too.)

Michael & Joe Joe said...

I think that's fair to say, Ryan. Let it be known henceforth, "close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and pétanque." And stink bombs, nuclear missiles, and all generally explosive by nature items.

Anonymous said...

and STD's. Gotta stay away from that stuff too. You're welcome.

-paul

Aaron said...

Sounds a lot like bocce ball.