Some of you will know this already but I was born and raised (to an alarming height) in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, also known as ‘town’. Ah St. John’s, home of fog, the Gut, Ches’s Fish and Chips, me mudder and to the longest continuously running sporting event in North America, the Royal St. John’s Regatta. Of this we townies are pretty proud and I think this year will be the 193rd, what I affectionately call, Regretta (beer tent, oily hot dogs, every person you’ve ever known in your whole life, need I say more?).
Alright the Regretta is pretty old but how about the oldest horse race in France? Right on the heels or in this case the hooves (god I slay me) of the medieval festival comes the Fête de la Bague right here in my little ville. Since 1639 they’ve been at this, 1639! If you think Paris is mired in dog merde you should have seen Semur last night, actually you didn’t even have to look, a deep inhale would have done the trick.
It’s a huge deal. The streets are filled to capacity with people from all over France. There are hundreds of stalls selling the usual type of market fare but also ones offering the somewhat unexpected. I suppose no medieval horse race would be complete without these:
Oh now this is right up my alley. Screw finding a hairstylist, all I need is a couple of these and I’m good to go. And speaking of manes, check out these lovelies:
These enormous beasts are run in the nod to history race which is so beautiful. They charge down a 2 kilometer gravel path lined by ancient chestnut trees that has been the course for 373 races. But the second race is fierce.
They run so close to the sidelines that you can hear every breath the horse takes and see right into their eyes as they zoom past. Absolutely breathtaking. All this and a haggle down on a gorgeous linen shirt at one of the stalls, pas mal.
But I’ve got my own race to run. Tomorrow is Fête de Sign A Lease In A Foreign Country. And they’re off, as we head into the homestretch it’s Rusty on the inside with Giraffe pulling up the rear…
Now THIS is what I wanted you to find for me in France! Love the wigs, love the costumed riders, LOVE your description of the second race (and the pic). You go girl, sign that lease! Good going on the linen skirt too! ;)
Lovely pics! Mind the horse pucky though. Nice segue from “town” to Semur too! Should be fresh fish in town by now – might be a nice day for an FCDG. Still loving your work, BTW.
Wigs! one in every color please.
Those horses are gorgeous. You know, when I was in France, the thing that struck me most besides all the dog merde was how old things were. We don’t know old here in the U.S. Not like that.
Congratulations on the new lease. Happy home to you and Neil.
Ah the Regretta. The boys are thoroughly poisoned that we’re missing it this summer. Nothing quite like the feeling of blowing $120 before you even get half-way down one side of the lake…..or the feeling a proud parent gets post-Regretta when their child says “There were boat races? I never saw any boat races!” Horses, boats….same thing, different country – all the under 9 male set wants are cap guns.
(Fi&Chi with D&G – will be craving this all week)
Translation for the non-townies: Fi&Chi with D&G or FCDG means fish, chips, dressing and gravy. Drooling here on the keyboard…
XO
B
Me too. That was one habit this mainlander adopted right quick like.
Bobbi, what a trip down memory lane – the Regatta. Thaks for that.
That last photo is amazing. (No way was that taken with an iphone)
Ah but mais oui, it was indeed taken with the iPhone!! That husband of mine is right talented. We wanted to take the big cameras but it was raining pretty hard and trust me those horses were really close so I was actually nervous have anything but the phones with us.
XO
B
Clearly I have an older model – when in doubt, blame the equipment.
I’m guessing this is France’s version of running with the bulls.
Lovely pictures! You make me want to travel the globe.
We went to a steeplechase in Georgia once. It was amazing, like being on the rail at a Nascar race.
I’m thinking the blond bombshell wig. The one towering over all others.
ahhhh…wigs at festival street fairs? my jealousy has reached new peaks.
our regatta is called heritage weekend and their are tractor pulls involved. tractor. pulls.