By chance, I made the perfect choice for a rest day - the hottest day yet. Temperatures reached 95°F by mid-afternoon but it was predicted to cool off by tomorrow. The plan for the day included a few morning chores followed by hours relaximg in my air-conditioned room. But this was the weekend of the Solstice, a day celebrated throughout much of France with music, Fete de la Musique. Adding to the overall excitement was the finish of the four-stage La Route d'Occitanie, which was predicted to roll through town around 3 pm.
Despite my best intentions at a full rest day, I found myself sneaking out to take in the activities. The day is best told in pictures and captions.
I ventured out in mid-afternoon to see the conclusion of the 4-stage La Route d'Occitanie. Although it was blistering hot, it drew a fairly large crowd who mostly huddled in the shade of small trees while awaiting the riders
The stage and overall race was won by Nicolas Prodhomme of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, seen here in the center of the first three riders as they race toward the finish line. He's the one in the black and teal helmet.
Fête de la Musique was a big deal in Saint-Girons, with folks and families coming into town from the surrounding small villages. Multiple outdoor performance venues showcased a wide range of musical styles while small parades and one-man bands added to the festivities. There were a lot of families present, but also a cast of characters that reminded me a bit of the "back to the land" movement in early 70s USA.
Food stands and food trucks set up under the colonnade of plane trees offered a range of local and international fare, but hamburgers were clearly the most popular item
4 days ago
4 days ago