Petanque- Brazilian Style

Rule Numéro 1: The game of boules should be played on a Sunday afternoon when the weather is particularly fine. Not too hot-- as that would make the competitors sluggish and worthless.

Rule Numéro 2: The match should be preceded by a lunch feast with multiple courses in the French Sunday tradition. Roast beef with garden vegetables, salad and fromage, tarte tatin... (The heavier the better.)

Rule Numéro 3: Said meal should be accompanied by copious quantities of wine, preferably a different bottle for each course. Aperitifs and digestifs are mandatory. (As is a small cup of espresso before departing for the local park and boules courts.)

Rule Numéro 4: There is no such thing as a tie. It's imperative to use a measuring device to determine who has scored closest to the cochonnet (that's the name for the little ball). Thus, the tape measure pictured at right. Though a simple stick will also suffice.

We introduced my favorite Brazilians, Maira and Bruno, to the brilliant game of Petanque on a lazy Sunday afternoon in Limoges. I believe it will become a Sunday tradition.