What a village can do...

 

Argelès-sur-mer, France is a village of 10,779 people, triple the number from when I bought my Nest (studio) in the late 1980s. 

Two weeks ago it had a Medieval fete where walls went up recreating how it looked in the 1400s. There were merchants, residents and visitors dressed as they would have back then. Displays of ancient crafts, music and more went on for the weekend.

This past weekend was the Fêtes de la St. Côme et St. Damian, where giants danced with the locals, parades, music, fireworks, correfoc (fire runners who shoot long fire streams from their bodies) and a picnic for over a hundred were just a small part of the three day-celebrations. The giants are an annual feature although it is only the saints that belong to the village. This year they have new halos. The rest of the giants who represent many professions and ages come from other villages and as far away as Barcelona.

One of the giants had a long string of pacifiers which she gave out to any small child who might be frightened. Such thoughtfulness.  

Because I'm undertall, I often have a wonderful view of people's backs, although I can hear the music or whatever is going on. It doesn't diminish the wonderful feeling of sharing the fun with neighbors and strangers. 

Our home in the middle of the village which means we can pop in and out when we hear the music, follow a band, stop for a tea, coffee or glass of wine at any of the cafés. 

Rick and I wandered away from the main activity to sit at l'Hostalet and some of the giants, music and dancers came to us. At the table in the middle of the bottom of the photo (six o'clock) is me and my friend Karrie is to the left in her blue sweater. I'm that little white dot. A great view, no backs.

The only downside was locking ourselves in the bedroom with loud music so the sound of the fireworks would be muffled for Sherlock our dog.

What fun. That a small village can regularly produce such entertainment is in itself a miracle.