Last night the fete began with a bang…literally. This morning at 9:00 AM an artillery barrage confirmed that the festivities have begun.
We spent a large part of the day in our continuing effort to ship a suitcase back home before we leave St. Remy. The replacement car we got after my auto accident is smaller than the original car and we don’t want to try to stuff the extra bag into it. However, we have received the incorrect forms from the shipper 3 times. Today we finally got the correct forms, but the print shop where we can print computer documents was closed. To the rescue our friend and fellow artist, Denis Lacaux! He printed our documents from our thumb drive and we are ready to go!
We saw much preparation and knew the streets were closing from 2:00 to 10:00 PM today. At 5:00 a Parade of Ancient Crafts began. This is the parade I saw 2 years ago. Families and individuals dress up in period costumes and as people plying old trades and march around the town several times. Everyone joins in and what a treat to see young and old side by side celebrating their heritage…vinters, sheep herders, farmers, horsemen, gypsies, bakers, politicians, suffragettes, and even a brass band! Here is a sampling:
The dance begins at Place de Republique in the center of the village at 10:00 PM. The promise “New Music” so we must attend to learn what that means. Time to put on the dancing shoes!
Paul
Travels With Picasso 
It’s such an varied parade. Interesting that the boy on the white pony seems to be using an American-style Western saddle.
You’re right. The saddles were of all types. Most of the men rode a flat saddle with little rise in the back and not much of a horn in front. One rode bareback. Only two women rode side saddle. Many of the “cowboys” who drive the bulls for the bull runs use western saddles as well.
Makes sense that riders running bulls or cows would ride Western…. the horn is for the rope when roping the cattle. What you describe as a flat saddle is an English saddle (saw them in the photos but didn’t comment as they are common in Europe…. just not the American Western saddle)
Interestingly they never seem to carry rope. They each have a 6-10 foot pole that they use to prod the bulls when they want a change of direction.
Maestro: I like your pictures. I am afraid that you might be sorry about the new music. Tomorrow morning, it is adieu to Barcelona from our viewpoint. There were festivities here yesterday but nothing like what you saw; I suppose that what makes the difference bw the country and the big city. Big city does not always win.