January — A New Year & a New Look
Well, only a slightly new look … since I’m now an « apple-holic français » I’ve switched from Window’s Calibri font to Apple’s Aptos ; and will be using guillemets — these « birds » (guillemots are auk-like shorebirds) instead of inverted commas — « why ? (porquoi ?) » you may ask — well, for the simple reason that I like the way they « look » , but I promise to try and not over-use them.
2026 began in an interesting fashion — as in the Chinese connotation of interesting — and that’s all I’m going to say about that. At 90, I’ve mostly discontinued making resolutions. In the past, when I did make them, I usually never thought about what I had resolved beyond the end of February — if that long — but for this year 2026 I’ve made one (actually two). (1) to try to not bore you with an old guy’s palaver and (2) to try to entertain you with images from my life here the previous month with « just » a minimum of commentary.
Ligne 5 — Place du 8 Mai 1945 in 2023-2025 — Renaissance !
In April 2023 we had leased apartment N° 15 in 55 bis Ave. Georges Clemenceau (above) in Place du 8 Mai 1945 (named for the date of France’s liberation in WW2) despite the obviousness that construction on Ligne 5 would be taking place.
In October when we returned to live in N° 15, little progress seemed to have happened, and Ave. Georges Clemenceau—our principal route to L’Ecusson—was now a construction zone all the way to Cours Gambetta. But construction picked up speed
the work went on day and night for months. Then the track bed itself became visible, and the track started arriving !
In the summer of 2024 (when the above photos were made) the banner on the Ave. de la Liberté viaduct over Place 8 du Mai 1945 was changed from « Your line 5 tramway will finally be here before the end of 2025 » to proclaim « LINE 5 TRAMWAY WILL ENTER SERVICE ON 20 DECEMBER 2025 ! » and on that blustery Saturday (below) that’s where we were !
What Does Ligne 5 Mean for Montpellier?
Line 5 covers approximately 10 miles between its termius to the northeast of central Montpellier in Clapiers and its terminus to the southwest in Grés de Montpellier. Including them, there are 27 total stations (6 of which were existing for Montpellier’s other 4 tramlines) and time between trams is around 10 minutes (more frequently during peak times and less frequently on weekends and holidays) with estimated arrival times electronically posted at each platform. The total travel time, including the stops at each station, is between 45 minutes and an hour. Ligne 5 shares the stations between the Boutonnet and St. Denis stations with Lignes 1, 2, 3, and 4 thereby integrating it with the entire TaM system ; and since 21 December 2023, when the use of the system became free to all Montpellier residents, ridership has significantly increased. Now those residents who live or work in these new areas served by Ligne 5 can more fully enjoy that benefit. But what is it like to ride on Ligne 5 ? What makes the Ligne 5 experience different from its sister Lignes ?
New with Ligne 5 is a driver’s cabin with improved visibility for both drivers and riders ; every car (typically 7 with the first and last having a driver’s cabin as the trams are bi-directional) has an area prioritized with the universal symbol for riders in wheelchairs; and there is LED lighting at the bottom of entry/exit doors and the edges of the doors to indicate their direction of motion There are also clear audio messages (in French of course) announcing the arrival at each station along with audible signals of the door opening and closing for the visually impaired. The photos above were taken mid-day on a Thursday. So : what is our opinion of Montpellier’s new Ligne 5 ?
« C’est très bon ! »
The day was a bit chilly when I made this selfie photo as we waited to board in Grés de Montpellier to ride Ligne
5 all the way to Clapiers for this La Vie (which might explain why I don’t have a happy grin on my face) — but I can assure you that we are very pleased with this addition to « nous vies » — and you never want to see my grin !
But Wait ! There’s More ! — Les Grands Buffets Encore !
So, here we were on 21 January, back in the Private Bar of Les Grands Buffets again awaiting our feast with anticipation!
And what a feast! From Caviar to Lobsters to 6 kinds of ham—plus every kind of meat imaginable!
White tablecloth & napkins and a map to find your way—to desserts and a chocolate fountain—in Belle Époque ambience. 2026 began with a bang for us! In case you are wondering what we had, I can sum that up in just 3 little words: way too much. Obviously, Les Grands Buffets is not your typical French restaurant; as popular as eating there is throughout France—reservations must be made months in advance (ours was made back in September) with a credit card payment and a strict cancelation policy—it is virtually always for a special occasion, and even when, like us, that occasion is « just because » no one « should » make a habit of it because while it is literally « all you can eat » some regard for one’s health is necessary. The quality of the food on offer is very high, and its presentation is exceptionally gracious; but the necessity of waiting on line and the politeness (or lack thereof) of one’s fellow diners requires a certain level of tolerance; nevertheless I highly recommend trying the
experience at least once should you live in France or come to visit Occitanie.
À bientôt !
John
La Vie de Montpellier 
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