It was the only real road trip that we ever had together when she was living in Manila. It would have been nice if we were able to do more. This is re-living that drive on a cloudy, windy day in a clunky, good old, red car as we hit the road to the south of Luzon. She taught me how to drive in that piece of beauty. Too bad she sold it when she went back to France. She swears a lot, I think more than anyone I know, yet she's one of the nicest, sweetest gal and its partly because of that. I was with her when she got arrested by a faux police in the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Vito Cruz (violation: not in the right lane) who asked to just settle it with some hefty "loose change" for merienda. She gave in, helpless, but not after a fit of beautiful profanities. I was at the front passanger seat watching this frustratingly funny drama unfold. She had at least three of those unpleasant "encounters with the corrupt kind" during her two year stay. She left Manila because of those, and because of pollution, and of other kinds of disenchantment. Sadly, this was not to be the city for her, and she was not the girl for this city. But I'm glad she was here. I will never forget the first time she came to my office asking for some Filipino dancing lessons. She not only found a teacher (the lessons didn't last anyway), but also a friend. And that she can have for keeps. We shared many other things; she saw me and I saw her.
This is for you Delphine, Mademoiselle Bulle, to provoke more road trips to come.
***
En route...
Lawa ng Sampaloc, Lac Sampaloc
San Pablo, Laguna
Kusina Salud
Tiaong, Quezon...
Off the beaten path:
Alaminos, Laguna
Delphine et moi...
A bientot!
* "Viaje del Sol" is the name of of a well-curated travel route suggestion that takes you to interesting and tasteful locations that blend delights in culture, art and gastronomy in the south of Luzon, mostly in the province of Quezon, some in Laguna and Batangas. For more information, visit their website, http://www.viajedelsol.org/index.htm
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