Last night was another exciting peak at local culture. Our hosts, Christina and Nico, invited us to come along to a Full Moon Party. We drove out through the countryside on one of the small roads that lead out of Cuxac Cabardes. After many kilometers we left the blacktop and curved along a gravel/dirt road until Nico stopped in front of us and we parked beside them. Flashlights helped us walk the 200 meters to the party site in the woods as the full moon was not above the trees yet.

We came to a large stone teepee with a stone cabin attached to one side. It was lit by candles with a wood cookstove in the room we entered. The middle of the teepee is filled with a large firepit, topped by a conical chimney that rises through the peak of the structure. The place was filled with Dutch, French, English, Flemish, Canadians, a woman from Namibia, Africa, and one lone American couple – us.

The purpose of the Full Moon Party is to have a party once a month! On the night of the full moon they gather in this rustic cabin to celebrate life. The evening involves food, drink, music, and (if my nose hasn’t lost its touch) some interesting smoking materials. We met and talked with wonderful and interesting folks, sang songs together, and sweated next to the overheated firepit.

It was a relatively early evening as we left the party a bit after 11:00. The walk out through the woods was beautiful with the full moon lighting the way. Then the drive home along the dark roads through the Montagne Noir (Black Mountains) was great fun. No, I didn’t drink any alcohol so I could drive home safely on those roads. (When we arrived home I had a splash of Irish Whiskey.)

It was a very fine evening. We met some people that we hope to see again at a local art show tomorrow and perhaps at at music night at a local club on Saturday. The art show involves a painting group to which Christina belongs. We are eager to meet the artists and see their work.

Party time in the Black Mountains!

Paul