charlieh - While staying at the Alamanda years ago I would visit Orient Village to watch the Petanque or Boules being played. Finally, one evening, they asked me to join them. They all spoke French, but that didn't matter. They teamed me with a fellow my age and I did quite well that night. My wife finally wandered over to the village to see what had happened to me and couldn't believe I was playing. I played a few other nights with the same guy and had a great time. Couldn't understand a word anyone said, but still had a great time. They no longer play where they used to play, since there are more tables set up for the restaurants, but I did find that they play closer to the Alamanda. I now just watch and take photos since they are a different group than from when I visited before. Heading back in 5 weeks and will venture back to the same locale again and see if my French friend is involved once more and if he remembers me. My only problem is that I still can't speak French.