Katharine: après le deluge

A massive summer storm romped through the Languedoc yesterday en route for Northern France
and England - sorry times for British holidaymakers on the beach in August.

But we were rewarded with this wonderful sight at the end of the day, the Pic St Loup, shrouded in mist,  is in the background:

Jane: Sommières en fête

I took my visiting English cousin to Sommières on Sunday as the town was having a 'fête'.  It was not clear at all from the leaflet what exactly was planned for 11h00 but we set off nevertheless to find out.  As we turned up, a vintage Caravelle sports car was approaching us down the road, followed by three equally old tractors, then a couple of majestic workhorses pulling carts but it was really what followed afterwards that impressed us.  This was a most impressive parade.  

 

After the vehicles were people dressed in the most wonderful period outfits - some were dressed for picking and sorting the lavender; others were ready to go for a swim circa 1910; there were ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in dresscoats; plus of course peasant men and women with their sheep and goats; and so on, until a flock of sheep brought up the rear. 

We both commented that this would never happen in England.  The effort on behalf of the participants was admirable and it was an absolute pleasure to see them so proud of their inheritance and traditions.

After the parade, there were two abrivados and finally, 20-30 horses were escorted through the village. 

Bravo Sommières for an excellent parade!