I recently went searching for the pétanque set I bought in 2001 when I returned from my own total-immersion experience in Hyères, France. Just like Alyce, pétanque was the only thing taught to me in which I showed any immediate aptitude. Pronounced “pay-tonk,” it’s a type of boules and has been described as a cousin of Italian bocce and American horseshoes. It’s played with beautiful engraved metal balls, making it the most elegant of lawn games.
It’s popularity is easy to understand. Anyone of any age can play, from children strong enough to throw a two-pound ball somewhat accurately, to the elderly. Even women in short dresses.
It’s perfect for family gatherings. It eliminates forced smock (small talk) and lets you avoid questions you’d rather not answer. Intense rivalries, however, can surface but isn’t that more constructive than grabbing the last piece of mom’s apple pie before your brother, or purposely serving a food your allergy-sensitive sister can’t eat?
Here are photos from my introduction to pétanque. Look at the intense concentration! The shiny balls. The bonding experience.
Action shots from ELFCA, the school I attended.
Now you try it and tell me how it goes. I hope you don’t have an Alyce mishap. She accidentally hit a female member of one of her host families in the face with a ball. Even though she pleaded, “Women in America pay a lot of money to get their lips to puff up like that!” she still got the boot.
Here’s a short video on petanque
Where to buy everything pétanque in the U.S
Official rules (10 pages) should any heated debates arise