Course Camarguaise

Well today Karl was up and off to work.  I got the boys into some schoolwork and then we went down to the market at La Joliette to get a couple of goodies.

As we had a rental car that plan was that as soon as Karl finished work we would head to Arles (a town about an hour a way) to watch the Bull Games or Course Camarguaise.

We didn't really know what we were getting into; I knew it involved bulls; I knew that it was family friendly; and I knew that it was not the traditional bull fighting where the bulls are hurt.  And we knew it was held in the Arles Amphitheatre, a two-tiered amphitheatre build in 90AD - crazy place to go to watch an event.

Anyway with no GPS we found our way to Arles, found a park and got to the amphitheatre with ease - me and the boys had been there before on the train but not Karl so we had an idea of where we had to go.

The event began with one minutes silence to recognise the tragedy in Nice and you could have heard a pin drop.  There was less people at the event than was expected and we believe it was due to the attack in Nice.

These events have had an impact here in France as was evidenced yesterday when Karl said we were going to an event in Arles one of his workmates said "are you going out where there will be other people, it is dangerous to be with other people".  He also said there was real fear among his colleagues.

This is really sad and while we are certainly aware and taking care, we, and the people of France, need to and will continue to live their lives.

What a great night - the kids were excited and we were on the edges of our seats.  What it involved was a group of young boys (in their teens).  Some of them were the "bull teasers" while others were the "bull fighters" - the bull fighters had to try and get the ribbons that we on and around the bulls horns without getting mauled..............there were some very close calls!  

 On two occassions the bull managed to jump the railings into where the boys jumped to safety and where some of the locals sat - this created some quick movement and a lot of excitement.

 Man, the kids were athletic and there were a couple of stand-out boys that got the majority of the ribbons. This guy below was one of them..............

This was a very close call -

 As was this -

 Lachlan enjoying his night out at the amphitheatre -

  This was one of the good guys - the same one as mentioned above

 This guy in the next few pictures however was the superstar - getting the majority of the ribbons =

We were enthralled for the full two hours and during the break could go and explore the amphitheatre - great night.


Our plan for later in the evening was to watch the fireworks display in Marseille as they were not set off on Bastille Day due to high winds.  They were now cancelled due to events in Nice.  There is also now a three day national mourning in place and the country remains in a state of civil emergency.