Four Diverse Events That Exemplify Summer In La France Profonde

Summer in south west France means a social time with so many local events that sometimes it’s hard to fit them all in!  Four events were particularly memorable in the month of July.  

Exhibits by Thomas Lasbouygues

The first was the opening of Exoplanet Lot – a contemporary art exhibition set in the Lot Valley, between Cajarc and St Cirq Lapopie.  Author Tracey Warr was writer in residence for the project and it was to support her that we went along.  We had met the artists six week’s previously at an open evening where they explained their ideas and plans for the exhibits.  They spoke with so much passion and enthusiasm that we were looking forward to seeing the finished results.  The evening began with an opening ceremony at the Maison des Arts in Cajarc.  A coach was provided to ferry people between exhibits.  A small group was chosen to cycle some of the route - I declined!  Blue Exoplanet Lot signs guide you to the various sites.  To see the installations in such a stunning, natural environment certainly got people talking.  For me, it was made more interesting by having met the young artists and to have an insight into their vision.  The exhibition is on until the 4^th September and, if you are in the area, is well worth a visit.  Tracey wrote a future fiction novella, Meanda, as part of Exoplanet Lot, which is available from Amazon.

Flying Boat by Tania Candiani

Le Tour de France passed close to where we live so I went along to watch it at the village of Memer.  The atmosphere was buzzing.  The day began with the caravan going through lugging freebies into the crowd.  There was a carnival atmosphere and, as the time approached for the cyclists to arrive, the excitement was tangible.   I was intent on taking photos so I didn’t see very much, but I was aware of the speed and power as the riders whizzed through.  It was a hot day though – 31 degrees and it was enough to be a spectator, let alone having to cycle in such heat.  I even managed to capture the yellow jersey in my photo – more luck than judgement!

On a Sunday evening in mid July we went to hear a scratch choir singing Mozart’s Requiem.  The event was to raise funds for the restoration of the Abbey at Marcillac Sur Cele.  Our friend, Vanessa Couchman, was singing in the choir and it was through her that we heard about the evening.  It had been a sweltering day and so, it was with relief, we took our seats in the cool interior of the Abbey.  Another friend, Evelyn, explained how Father Guillaume Soury-Lavergne has been busy raising funds for the Abbey, even doing a skydive – he seems quite a character and has even set up a Facebook page.  The singing was atmospheric, the voices of the four soloists incredible and it was an honour to be there. 

   

Sora Yaa Band

AFRICAJARC – a rhythmic beat in La France profond.  Once a year, for a weekend in mid-summer, the town of Cajarc on the Lot River becomes Africajarc.  We wandered the narrow lanes to the sound of bongo drums and stopped to browse at stalls selling African trinkets.  Along the way we met the odd bewildered pilgrim (Cajarc is on the GR65 – St Jacques de Compostelle route) who no doubt wondered what they had stumbled upon. We watched three great bands – our favourite was the Sora Yaa Band.